June 2025 will mark three years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision that set reproductive rights in America back decades. The exhibit “Wrongs & RIGHTS,” curated by Laura Dvorkin and Maynard Monrow, is framed as an intergenerational discussion about the fight for reproductive rights. “Wrongs & RIGHTS” can be found on display in the Kniznick Gallery in the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis. On display in the exhibit are over 20 pieces of various media. Although the exhibit contains pieces that date as far back as 1968 the collection of works are meant to invoke a sense of urgency as a reaction to the 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Featuring 22 artists each piece in the exhibit touches on the topic of reproductive rights differently.  

“Rights” and “America Unraveling” by Lisa Anne Auerbach in particular are responses to recent political events within America. “Rights” is a 15 second video of the unraveling of a red knitted cloth with RIGHTS stitched into it which went viral at the time it was released. The piece was made as a direct response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. The theme of unraveling carries over into “America Unraveling,” a white wool cloth with the silhouette of America stitched in black whose thread has slowly begun to fall apart. Auerbach has spent the majority of her career using knitting and sweaters to comment on politics. The exhibit also includes Auerbach’s “Did You Hear What Bush Said About Roe v. Wade” which is a wool sweater and skirt with the piece’s title stitched into the wool. This piece demonstrates the longevity of the battle for reproductive rights in America and the pivotal role Roe v. Wade has played. 

Many of the pieces are extremely personal and autobiographical such as “No. 5” by Jo Shane which includes a frame that contains the instructions Shane received after she had an abortion as well as her blood, her archival pregnancy tests and a small vial of Chanel No. 5 perfume. Shane’s work is not the only piece that could be described as macabre. Rachel Lachowitz’s “Untitled (one month late)” is also very visceral. “Untitled (one month late)” is a display of wire hangers that have been contorted into various shapes and dipped in melted red lipstick. Lachowitz has been experimenting with hangers as a medium for decades but dipping the hangers in lipstick marks an experimental difference in her usual process. The addition of the lipstick to the hangers gives the work a raw and gruesome air.  

The interactive piece by Andrea Bowers, “Political Ribbons,” was created specifically for the “Wrongs & RIGHTS” exhibit. Bowers herself has been involved in political movements since the ‘70s including reproductive rights, indigenous rights and climate change. The piece is dozens of hanging satin ribbons with varying phases written on them such as “Love Has No Gender” and “Free Bodies On Free Ground.” Visitors are encouraged to take a ribbon with them when they leave the exhibit. The exhibit also features work by local artist Courtney Stock and a piece by Lesley Dill taken from the collection in the Rose Art Museum. 

The pieces described in this article are only a small handful of the entire collection so be sure to visit before it closes on Jan. 30!