"A Female Body in this Specific Moment": Our Bodies Ourselves Exhibition

As the 50th anniversary of the first edition of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” approaches, a New Haven museum has launched an exhibition featuring art inspired and informed by the book.

The exhibition, also titled Our Bodies Ourselves, features a variety of media created by more than 70 artists. The works are on display at the Ely Center of Contemporary Art through April 10.

[caption id="attachment_39887" align="alignright" width="220"] A sack that hangs with the video from "Gestation" Photo: Lucy Gellman[/caption]

The exhibit includes participatory installations like Megan Shaughnessy's video work, which is presented with a custom, wearable 13.5 pound "empathy sack" (offering viewers the experience of sharing gestational weight); sound art like Nicole Gugliotti's cascading ceramic wall, which whispers the personal, powerful stories of women in her community; and relational aesthetic works, like Nadine Nelson's Kitchen Sanctum, a participatory experiential space centered on wellness, self-care, and nurturing, where visitors are invited to help cook and sample globally-inspired soothing food and potions.

[caption id="attachment_39871" align="alignleft" width="330"] OBOS founders Judy Norsigian (l) and Joan Ditzion at the opening reception[/caption]

OBOS founders Judy Norsigian and Joan Ditzion were on hand for the opening reception on March 10. They joined author and artist Rachel Kauder-Nalebuff,  Freedom Cup co-founder Vanessa Paranjothy, naturopathic physician Ginger Nash, and moderator and Yale associate professor Crystal Feimster for a lively panel discussion on what life is like as a woman today and what has and hasn’t changed in the last 50 years.

To find out more about the exhibit and the art within it, see:

“Our Bodies,” With Old And New Eyes

A fabulous article from the New Haven Arts Council featuring wonderful photos and descriptions of the different art works.

The Personnel Are Political

A New Haven Independent article that focuses on the panel discussion and the history of "Our Bodies, Ourselves."

Throughout the run of the exhibit, the Ely Center will host a series of related public programming, including film screenings, workshops, and artists talks. 

[caption id="attachment_39884" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The exhibit features zines from students at Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School and from artist Aly Maderson Quinlog Photo: Lucy Gellman[/caption]