"OURS" by Alicia Eggert is unveiled in time for the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade
one of her earlier installations is the coordinator
for the CVAD Studio Art Sculpture program.
Jan. 21, 2022 — In advance of tomorrow's 49th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, Planned Parenthood Federation of America unveiled “OURs,” a flashing neon sign in partnership with interdisciplinary artist and CVAD Associate Professor Alicia Eggert. Igniting activism through art, the flashing neon sign illuminates PPFA's stance that everyone should have the freedom and power to make their own decisions about their bodies, their lives and their futures.
“This moment is dark and that is why we are here. Movements exist because of darkness. And it is our job to imagine the light even when we can’t see it,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, PPFA president and CEO. The traveling light installation underscores the fight for abortion rights with flashing neon letters that read: “Our Bodies,” “Our Futures,” “Our Abortions.” The installation will embark on a cross-country tour through states where lawmakers are working to eliminate abortion rights. The sign starts at the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington D.C. and travels until it reaches the SoFi Stadium in time for the 2022 Super Bowl in Los Angeles on Feb. 13.
Alicia Eggert:
“Nothing grabs our attention like a flashing neon sign. The constant rhythmic flashing serves both to beckon people and also to warn them. Light is a universal symbol of hope, and when it comes to abortion access, this particular moment in time seems pretty dark and uncertain. But we have to remember that light takes time to travel across space so that by the time it reaches our eyes, everything we are seeing is technically already in the past. And if all the light we see is from the past, then the hope for a brighter future depends first on our ability to imagine it, just as Alexis McGill Johnson said. After we imagine it, we have to do everything we can to make that vision a reality.
"This flashing neon sign cycles endlessly through the statements “OUR BODIES,” “OUR FUTURES,” and “OUR ABORTIONS.” The constant interchangeability of those three statements serves to highlight their inseparability — how a person’s control over their own body determines how much control they have over their future, and how access to abortions is an essential part of that control. We hope to illuminate the importance of abortion access at a critical time in history.”
Planned Parenthood is a leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.
