Intervention - Christopher Cruz

The poster that was created and put up onto the bulletin boards.

 

 My first reader of my poster

Ever since Roe v. Wade was overturned on June 24, 2022, women have lost control over their own body and right to an abortion. For my intervention, I focused on the topic of abortion rights. Abortion is a big and complex topic talked about a lot. With it being overturned, states have imposed total bans on abortion and few have done a near-total ban with specific exceptions. These bans affect every aspect of the abortion process. From abortion pills being restricted in a some states, to doctors getting charged and sent to jail for helping woman in need, to woman having to travel far to even get the medical attention they need.

With my poster, I wanted it to bring awareness of the importance of abortion rights by delving into the core of it all: Abortion. My research was focused on understanding and finding facts about abortions. Through this rabbit hole of statistics, stories, and political agendas did I discover the consequences of banning abortion. 45% are unsafe abortion, a crazy statement by itself but there are worse truths. For example, Out of 42 million woman who choose abortion, 20 million are from unsafe abortions (Unsafe Abortion: Unnecessary Maternal Mortality). This is a grave and growing issue. Due to the change in the law, it is forcing woman to take and sometimes pursue extreme methods and measures. Let’s not forget this issue of abortion ban also affects developing young girls. On a more positive note, I found organizations like Amnesty International and Planned Parenthood who are fighting back and voicing their concerns regarding the issue both show facts and tell the stories of women affected by this fundamentally-braking decision. What make this all the authentic, for example, Amnesty International is a organization fund and made by people not government. They even give examples of you can do to help, like send letters, protest, and invest in donating or supporting a organization like theres.

The Guerrilla Girls were my inspiration as just like them I use statistics to reveal the facts and truths that aren’t publicly aware or aren’t paid much attention to. Their artwork and poster put a spotlight on the issues regarding artist women visibility and called out the museums that did not have an exhibit or show dedicated to woman. With this approach they attracted an audience that not only resonated with their message, but create a space for other woman unite and develop a larger voice. I feel this quote would fit best with Guerrilla Girls and their message, “… artistic activism is not the preserve of the privileged.” (Pg. 11)

My intervention works work well due to the facts and statistics being show as not a wall of text but at statements instead. It combats at the some of the lies or biases told on news outlets by reveal facts that may have been muddied or not explicitly mentioned. My approach reminds me of  Francisco Goya, the Guerrilla Girls, and many other artist who used art activism to challenge the privalleged. This quote best sums it up, "But art is also used to challenge authority and privilege, often precisely by challenging how those in power see the world. That privileged perspective is confronted when artists represent reality in different lights, showing the world from different perspectives." (pg. 138)