I Do Believe – A Postcard Exhibition

A woman’s right to abortion in the United States became Federal law on January 22, 1973 through the Supreme Court Case, Roe v. Wade. But the passage of Roe v. Wade did not put the issue of abortion rights to rest. On June 24, 2022, on a ruling titled Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the majority opinion on the Supreme Court decided that there is no constitutional right to abortion. In States that have laws that prohibit abortions, women no longer have access to safe abortions in medical facilities and have lost their right to make a choice for themselves. States with trigger laws that ban abortions as soon as Roe was overturned immediately enacted abortion bans, many even in the cases of incest, child rape, and ectopic pregnancies. Many States are legislating for strict anti-abortion laws while other States are legislating to protect abortion rights within their borders. Some Republicans are threatening to enact a Federal anti-abortion law. To see what the current abortion laws are by State, go to https://reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state/.

Priscilla Otani, an NCWCA (Northern California Women’s Caucus for Art) member in San Francisco, organized “I Do Believe,” a postcard exhibit to visually discuss this subject. Artists, and members of the civil society were invited to discuss their perspectives on all sides of the abortion debate. More than 320 cards have been received to date, from people all over the United States and from many countries. The postcards were pinned to a cloak worn by a life-size manikin and were exhibited at the Vargas Gallery, Mission College, Santa Clara from August 29 – September 26, 2022. In addition to this sampling of postcards received, all postcards are documented on Otani’s “Little Red Mail Box” blogsite https://littlemailbox.blogspot.com/.