More Arts News: Profile of Heather Ault

Heather Ault, a visual artist who has been featured on this blog more than once (see Visual Artist Has Designs on Birth Control), is the subject of a major profile by Eleanor Bader in On The Issues Magazine. Ault has created posters illustrating the history of birth control and abortion over the centuries, and Bader describes how Ault came to focus on this work.

Some selections from the story:

"I'd assumed that prior to the Roe decision in 1973, there was just illegal abortion, that women had never been at the center of any reproductive practice. As I dug," [Ault]continues, "I found a lot of information, along with illustrations, about birth control and abortifacient products going very far back in American, and world, history. I was shocked to see these practices, some advertised on the back covers of women's magazines throughout the 1800s and others dating as far back as the ancient Egyptians."

Since that first foray, Ault has created 50 brightly colored posters, all of which seek to educate viewers about timeworn efforts to control reproduction. Called 4000 Years for Choice, the posters introduce a raft of little-known information. For example, did you know that in 1500 BCE, the Egyptians used a contraceptive plug made from an acacia plant, honey, and lint? Or that ancient Roman physicians wrote about using wild cucumbers to end unwanted pregnancies? Or that, throughout the 1960s, Californian Patricia Maginnis stood on San Francisco street corners and handed out information on how to obtain safe, affordable, albeit illegal, abortions? Ault's paean to Maginnis — a bright red likeness on a peach background — calls her the "first abortion rights activist in history" and lauds her1961 creation of the Society for Humane Abortion.

"We use terms like fight, defend, and struggle and use the coat hanger as our symbol. I think we can use something better than the metal hanger, which suggests death and desperation, not empowerment. Once I got back to Illinois, I redesigned my posters so there's one large word on each one — words like affirm, cherish, discover, love, unite — to note our history and invoke victory. I also use bright, lollypop colors so that the posters are cheerful and inviting."

"I believe art has the ability to encapsulate consciousness-raising ideas in formats that are widely accessible," she adds.

Read more at On The Issues Magazine.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above, screen shot from 4000 Years for Choice by Heather Ault.

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Opportunities: Send MookyChick Choice in Haikus, Poems, Lit

They're calling it Feminist Flash Fiction -- a contest for writers who know how to do it in brief. Here is a great little creative opportunity to spread some prochoice words, some positive thoughts about abortion, contraception, reproductive freedom and justice! And to win a little prize along the way, too.

The Feminist Flash Fiction is sponsored by MookyChick, a British-based web space and fun-loving feminist site for "alternative" women. As it explains on its site, "Mookychick is the indie bible for babes with attitude." The word "mooky," it says, means: kooky, cool, intelligent, funny, alternative, leftfield, stylish, irreverent, inspired, adventurous.

Its first feminist fiction contest promises to be kooky, cool and inspired, too. People are invited to submit a 200 word haiku (three lines with first and third lines of five syllables and the middle line of seven syllables), poem, or piece of flash fiction by November 30, 2011. There are a couple more details to contend with -- before submitting, you need to post the writing your own blog, Tumblr or website. Below the entry, you must copy and paste the following bolded text: "This is an entry for the Mookychick blogging competition, FEMINIST FLASH FICTION 2011. Enter now." And "FEMINIST FLASH FICTION 2011. Enter now." needs to link to this URL: http://bit.ly/femflash

With this step, you email competitions@mookychick.co.uk with your entry. the email subject header should say: FEMINIST FLASH 2011. The email should include two things: the URL where your entry is posted and your name.

Those selected from prizes can win one hundred pounds (or equivalent dollars), a one-year digital subscription to Bust Magazine, publication on the MookyChick site. Runners-up will also be published on this site, and the top couple get get a bit of cash, too.

Sounds like a fine opportunity to send out some pro-choice vibes into the blogosphere, and a new and different way of organizing an online campaign to spread the word far and wide. Mookychick says its "keywords" are "information, playfulness, opinion, action and generosity of spirit," so the really generous of spirit can use spread around a little playful reproductive justice. Haiku to you!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Above: MookyChick graphic for its Feminist Flash Fiction contest

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Texas Artists & Others: Submit, Display, Help Abortion Fund!

The Texas Abortion Access Fund has a great idea. The fund, known as TEA, is exhibiting and selling the works of women artists to benefit its services -- helping low-income women in the North Texas area with funding for abortion services.

Working From Yourself, For Everybody Else: An Exhibition of Women Artists will be open from December 10, 2011 to January 8, 2012. Works will be shown in Dallas at Smoke & Mirrors Art Gallery and Info Shop, 1920 N Haskell Ave.

TEA says: "We are seeking works of art from women artists in the area in an effort to empower your vision to create meaningful pieces of self-expression that reflect your current reality."

To be considered, interested artists must submit works by November 26, 2011 and complete an application form. Women who are interested in participating in the show (TEA is careful to say in "donating your talent") are asked to email smokeandmirrorsdallas@gmail.com with a picture of the piece or pieces to be submitted. The subject line must include “TEA Fund”. The organizers note that not all submissions will be chosen for display, and submitters agree that all proceeds from the sale of artwork will go to benefit the Texas Equal Access Fund.

Like other Abortion Access Funds, the Texas Equal Access Fund describes its mission as helping women with a demonstrated need to pay for their abortions. "Many women in North Texas who would choose abortion are unable to because of financial hardship, social pressure, or a lack of local providers," TEA notes on its website.

The Texas Abortion Access Fun believes that the right to reproductive choice is denied when women are unable to access abortion services. Restrictions on abortion access and funding are discriminatory because they especially burden poor women, young women, women of color, and rural women. We oppose all efforts to restrict abortion rights and are committed to fighting for access to abortion for all women. We believe that abortion is a fundamental feature of women’s health care, and that it is the responsibility of government to fund abortions for low-income women. However, in the absence of government funding, we believe it is our duty to act now to support women who want abortions and cannot afford them.

The fund also collects and posts on its site handwritten notes from clients. One, for example, says "The fund helped me get an abortion which led me to get out of an abusive relationship. I couldn't have done it without the fund's help."

TEA is now giving artists a wonderful opportunity to have a gallery show AND support a powerful and important cause at the same time! Spread the word!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Client Stories from Texas Abortion Access Fund Website, teafund.org.

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