Curatorial
Artists, musicians, writers, performers, and dancers take on pregnancy, birth, postpartum depression, PTSD, and motherhood
Collaboraction Theatre
1579 N. Milwaukee Ave
Saturday, May 25th from 6-9pm
Tickets $8 (space is limited)
Visual Art
Lise Haller Baggeson-reframing the language of the mother-artist
Seeley Cardone- miscarriage and being an artist/mother
Christa Donner-fertility
Aimee Gilmore- changing the narrative about motherhood
Michelle Hartney-maternal mortality, obstetric abuse, postpartum PTSD
Katrina Majkut-pregnancy
Music
Angela James- postpartum depression
Becky Levi- time
Lea Tshilds- fertility
She Speaks In Tongues-carrying the mental load
Dance
Mary Sue Reese
Mother May I…
A short movement vignette that explores the exhaustive and seemingly defiant measures that, as a stay at home mother, I have recently adopted to demand my whole self be respected and realized beyond the role of caregiver.
Performance
Michelle Hartney
Kimberly Said No
In 2013, Kimberly Turbin was the victim of a brutal and unnecessary episiotomy that her doctor forced on her during the birth of her son. She told Dr. Alex Abassi and her nurse that she had twice been the victim of rape, and to be gentle with her and to keep her informed of exactly what they were doing at all times. Even though neither Kimberly nor her baby were under any medical distress, Dr. Abassi cut her vagina twelve times despite Kimberly’s begging and pleading with him not to. The entire ordeal was caught on video by a family member.
Kimberly’s complaints to the hospital and her doctor were ignored. With the help of the non-profit Improving Birth, Kimberly sought legal counsel, and her doctor was charged with assault and battery. Mark Merin, a prominent lawyer who has been involved with many high-profile civil rights cases is representing Kimberly. A ruling in Kimberly’s favor would set historic precedence in the United States, given legal protection for women during childbirth is uncertain.
For the performance, actresses will read the transcript from the video aloud.
Readings
How We Do Both: Art and Motherhood edited by Michi Jigarjian, Qiana Mestrich (balancing motherhood and being an artist)
BABY LOVE-How My Infant Son Became The Other Man by Christen Clifford (post-partum sexuality)
MOTHERNISM- Lise Haller Baggeson
