Lisa Heller

Iam outraged about recent government attempts in the United States to control women’s bodies. My quilt, Safe & Legal, reminds viewers that in areas where abortion is illegal or restricted, women still get abortions.

My abstract art quilt includes elements that represent women as vessels (the circles), women and medical practitioners imprisoned for choosing to end pregnancy (fencing), and reminders of the many women who die or are injured by illegal and/or unsafe abortions (the coat hangers).

According to the World Health Organization, every eight minutes a woman in a developing nation dies of complications from an unsafe abortion and that unsafe abortions are the third leading cause of maternal deaths worldwide. The U.S tends to see itself as better than developing nations and as a role model for the rest of the world, yet recent restrictions on abortion access and family planning options have made it clear that the U.S. is moving backward. It makes me wonder – are we really better than others?

The overwhelming support my quilt has received is bittersweet. I am filled with gratitude for the response and also deeply saddened to still be fighting for a woman’s right to choose what happens with her body. I thank my friends who encouraged me to share Safe & Legal and the groups that have displayed it. My wish is that this issue will soon be history.

Safe & Legal 2019 32 X 51 Art Quilt 675. Lisahellerart@gmail.com