The Womxn Project

Creatively Educating Through Artistic Action

Art Projects

At the The Womxn Project (TWP) we understand this: Art is powerful. Art is uniquely human, communicating human experience, thoughts and ideas.Throughout the history of art, artists have entered into the realm of activism by creating artwork that addresses political, cultural and social issues relevant to their time and place.

Lewis Hine’s photographs were the catalyst for ending child labor practices in the United States, the AIDS quilt brought attention to the AIDS epidemic helping to move the conversation about AIDS from the margins to the mainstream, street graffiti helped to spur on the Arab spring, The Guerilla Girls bring attention to sexism in the artworld. Art has been and continues to be a powerful means for communicating political and social dissent to people from diverse backgrounds and making real change happen.

TWP employs the deliberate partnering of art and activism to bring about political or social change. We call it artivism: art + activism. Our goal is to use artvism to create a society where no human being is denied their fundamental reproductive rights.

Below is our growing history of art actions and events with images and descriptions.

Defending the right to parent

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(projection at the law offices of Speaker Nicholas Mattiello)  - - - - - - - - - With the recent rallies, we have been speaking out more creatively (and COVID-19 safe) to push to end racism and advance LGBTQ equality in Rhode Island. As you might have seen, we produced videos to push white allies to take action to dismantle white supremacy. Our team has been at numerous … [Read more...] about Defending the right to parent

Racism is a problem in RI – let’s do something about it!

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Earlier today, The Womxn Project responded to comments by House Speaker Mattiello saying he doesn’t know what white privilege is, doesn’t think it is real and questioning how much racism exists in Rhode Island.  Click here to read our statement. While he said this awhile back, the fact is that the culture of our General Assembly and the very real racial inequities that … [Read more...] about Racism is a problem in RI – let’s do something about it!

Racial justice requires ACTIONS – join us!

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (Updated since email was delivered, Monday June 1 @ 20:04) Dear Womxn Project friends, We have been horrified to see story after story in recent days about Black people being killed. Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and Tony McDade. We are talking about mothers crying and mourning their children. We are talking about an empty seat at … [Read more...] about Racial justice requires ACTIONS – join us!

#SustainingCommunity Video Series

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In this time of global crisis, we need one another more than ever. In an effort to deepen our connection in these tough times, The Womxn Project has launched the Sustaining Community video series, to share information, resources and support to make sure that even if we cannot be in physical spaces together that we can still build community. We are thrilled to collaborate … [Read more...] about #SustainingCommunity Video Series

We laugh hardest at the jokes that ring truest.

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This post features thoughts from TWP's own Emily Boucher, a local artivist and teacher. She shares her thoughts below as someone who is navigating #CovidLearning from her perspective as a high school teacher, a social-media junkie, and a bleeding-heart empath watching education happen exclusively online. - - - - - - - - If there's one thing the internet does well in … [Read more...] about We laugh hardest at the jokes that ring truest.

#BePresidential They Said, Video Launched

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#BePresidential People debate about electability and what it takes to be successful in the board room or on the debate stage.  They talk about how to be taken seriously, but of course not be seen as a know-it-all. We should smile more as we walk down the street or less when we are in the office. Womxn are told how to look like a leader, but the fact is that we are already … [Read more...] about #BePresidential They Said, Video Launched

NEW CAMPAIGN: Ready for a BOLD idea? We are!

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The Womxn Project is incredibly proud of the leadership we provided in the campaign to pass the Reproductive Privacy Act, which made sure that no matter what happens at the federal level that here in Rhode Island people can get safe, legal abortion care. We worked hard to protect the right to abortion. Now we need to close the gaps in affordable access to care. We should all … [Read more...] about NEW CAMPAIGN: Ready for a BOLD idea? We are!

Being a Handmaid at the Rhode Island State House

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By Cori Garland I spent yesterday afternoon at the Rhode Island State House dressed as a handmaid from Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel, The Handmaid's Tale.  For the uninitiated, Atwood's handmaidens are forced to endure pregnancy that is the product of rape because the theocracy governing the former United States has decided that all fertile women must procreate and must … [Read more...] about Being a Handmaid at the Rhode Island State House

Solidarity with the South & actions for access in Rhode Island!

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Hey, Womxn Project friends.  You may have seen that earlier today the Georgia governor signed House Bill 481, a bill banning aboriton as early as 6 weeks – a time when most people do not even know that they are pregnant.  Several states are moving bills that are basically outright bans. That is why we are standing in solidarity. All this week we are encouraging folks to help … [Read more...] about Solidarity with the South & actions for access in Rhode Island!

Senate Leaders need to LEAD to protect our health and rights!

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Hey, Womxn Project friends. We know that a majority of legislators and a majority of voters want to see the Reproductive Health Care Act passed THIS YEAR! We are doing all we can to make that happen. We need your help. We need the Senate leadership to LEAD – to get this bill out of the Judiciary Committee, to the floor and to the governor’s desk without amendments. … [Read more...] about Senate Leaders need to LEAD to protect our health and rights!

Making Art, Making Change

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Thank you to everyone who came out to our big FUN'draiser on Sunday. We had an exciting weekend full of organizing and community building across the state from Portsmouth to Coventry to Providence and Warwick. You can check out pictures on our Facebook and Twitter. We have another fun and fabulous opportunity THIS WEEK!  On Thursday, April 4th from 3:00-7:30pm, we will be in … [Read more...] about Making Art, Making Change

#Repro4RI – show your support (and your smile)!

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Most of you have seen photo petitions before - people holding up signs in pictures to raise awareness and show support for a campaign. They are easy to do, but can make a powerful statement.  We are reaching out today to ask you to stand with us to show support for the Reproductive Health Care Act! Be part of the movement to protect the right to abortion in Rhode Island!  … [Read more...] about #Repro4RI – show your support (and your smile)!

Coloring with Conscious

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A collaborator in TWP has created these beautiful drawings as a means to express and create dialogue around these confusing conversations that are present in the current political dialogue. Here are the .pdf files to download: Coloring Page English Coloring Page Spanish Role Model Drawing Spanish Role Model Drawing English I Statement Spanish I Statement English … [Read more...] about Coloring with Conscious

The Woman Project in group exhibition at Brown University Medical School

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Dear Diary, Last night I stopped by Brown University's Warren Alpert Medical School building in Providence to attend to the Our Voice/ Our Choice art installation. A few of the photos had fallen from the display due to the extreme humidity, so I was there to repair the fixtures. The process took me almost two hours, and, while I worked, medical students walked throughout the … [Read more...] about The Woman Project in group exhibition at Brown University Medical School