OUR CHOICE

OUR CHOICE  Opening Reception Fri.  Apr 28, 5-8pmLiving as the female of the human species has many challenges, from birth onward. There is childhood conditioning which pushes girls to adhere to societal norms. They are encouraged to wear pink and play with dolls. Girls help Mommy with cooking and housework, and sit quietly in the classroom while Frank and Johnny answer the questions asked by the teacher.These ideas get stronger as girls mature into teenagers. They are taught to defer to men in power situations, dress in a certain way so as not to sexually stimulate men. At the same time young women must adhere as closely as possible to the body shape most desired by men, or risk bullying and ridicule. In short, women are taught that their worth comes from men, how men perceive and value them is what matters most.Once puberty hits, there is the constant fear of pregnancy by rape or accident or thoughtlessness. The burden is on women to handle birth control and pregnancy, because they bear the children.  All of these pressures are compounded for those in our transgender and nonbinary community.Access to abortion is necessary because women need the freedom to decide whether or not to carry a child. Men cannot be relied on, and women can’t do it alone. They need the federal government to protect their right to choose what to do if they get pregnant. And the government is not able to secure those rights at this time. This group of artists feels compelled to act now by making artwork that states their feelings on this dangerous assault on women. What we do with our bodies is OUR CHOICE.Featuring the work of: Rachel Ahava Rosenfeld, Donna Bassin, Marissa Bridge, Noelle Iovino, Dee Mallon, Virginia Mallon, Maggie Rose, Mary Cathryn Roth, Yvonne Shortt, Jonathan TalbotMore than just an art exhibit, OUR CHOICE is a protest against the attack on women’s reproductive rights in the United States of America. 

Opening Reception, Friday, April 28, 5:00-8:00pm

• Exhibition dates: April 27 - May 20, 2023
• Gallery hours: Thurs – Fri 2-6pm, Sat – Sun 12-4 pm

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.