On September 10, the Body Freedom for Every(Body) mobile exhibition came to the heart of Downtown Newark, New Jersey, specifically the Prudential Center Championship Plaza.
The activation was organized by Project for Empty Space in partnership with Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey. The artist-led exhibition aims to broaden awareness of safe, legal and accessible healthcare and featured its first “TRUCK TALKS,” which highlighted the work of local creatives and caretakers who are committed to promoting body freedom, establishing support systems, and building resilient communities.
“Truck Talk” Newark Highlight Video
The panel was hosted by fayemi shakur, writer and City of Newark Director of Arts and Cultural Affairs, in conversation with Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, an artist, activist, and founder of Stop Telling Women to Smile; and Quadira Coles, a public policy advocate and president of the New Jersey Abortion Access Fund.
Rebecca Jampol, co-director of Project for Empty Space, with Jasmine Wahi, introduced the event and announced the successful launch of the cross-country exhibition, which will reach over a dozen cities in the U.S., from New York City to Los Angeles to Miami Beach.
“These abortion bans are really threatening the foundation of reproductive healthcare…
Some way, somehow, all of our issues are intersectional. We learn to appreciate everyone’s differences and just have more empathy and compassion with one another.”
Quadira Coles, Public Policy Activist and President, New Jersey Abortion Access Fund
Artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh discussed her 2016 mural Sakia, Sakia, Sakia, Sakia, and the “radicalizing” tragedy of Sakia Gunn’s murder. The public mural features a repeating series of portrait images of Sakia, and is part of the Gateways to Newark PORTRAITS mural. Check out the video and story we published on that transformative project here.
“If we’re talking about resilient communities, you want to be within community, right? You know, Toni Morrison said ‘the function of racism is to distract you from doing your work’.”
Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Artist and Founder, Stop Telling Women to Smile
Additional highlights include DJ MD / FORSA! bringing the positive vibes and Body Freedoms artist Christen Clifford hosting a sign-making workshop. For the latter, participants painted on recycled cardboard to make signs celebrating the joys of body freedom. And Rutgers University-Newark undergraduate students, from the ACM (Arts, Culture & Media) Program, also attended the event, which was incorporated into their art/design class curriculum.
“Definitely donate to your local abortion funds. Because we’re really doing the hard work, the emotional work. We are face to face with these patients. We are face to face with the clinics that are being overburdened by the influx of patients coming from the South and from the Midwest.”
– Quadira Coles, Public Policy Activist and President, New Jersey Abortion Access Fund
About Body Freedom for Every(Body)
BODY FREEDOM FOR EVERY(BODY) champions bodily autonomy, with a specific emphasis on intersecting themes of Reproductive Justice, Queer Liberation, and Trans Joy through contemporary art. Over 100 artists’ visions are represented in this project: the aim is to reinforce community(ies), create safe spaces, and cultivate joy. The overarching message of this program is broadening awareness of the right to Safe, Legal, and Accessible healthcare that allows us to live in our power and choice.
BODY FREEDOM FOR EVERY(BODY) is a project in many parts: a cross-country exhibition tour takes place inside a 27-foot box truck, sharing the work of over 100 artists to cultivate community coast-to-coast; ‘Truck Talks,’ a series of monologues and dialogues reflecting on Body Freedoms, eventually becoming an oral history archive; and in 2025, a participatory website that invites creative communities from across the country to share their work and connect with one another.
Learn more and follow at bodyfreedomforeverybody.org
#BodyFreedomforEvery(Body)
Partners
Project for Empty Space
Planned Parenthood of New Jersey
Video Credits
Produced by Igor Alves
Camera by Gabriel Kurzlop, Andre Marques
Audio recording by Marc Hartmann
Edited by Gabriel Kurzlop, Andre Marques
Music: Artlist
Production company: DreamPlay Media
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