Exhibition - Birth Rites MU 2008
20/09/2008 00:00:00
20th September 2008 to 30th November 2008 Birth unites us all but are all births equal? How free are women to give birth in a way they want and where they want? How different is childbirth for women today in comparison with their mothers and grandmothers in the Western world? This exhibition features a series of artworks produced as a result of collaborations between artists and childbirth professionals working together to explore the politics and practice of childbirth in our society.
Where - Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL http://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/whatson/exhibitions/birth_rites/
http://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/yourvisit/travel/
It is located in the 'Temporary Exhibitions' section on the 3rd floor. There is a lift direct to that area.
Cost - Free entry
Children of all ages welcome, there is a 'Play and learn' section, a space for chidlren and their families to read, draw and relax. HOWEVER the film Born is nearly an hour long so keep that in mind if you are planning to bring child (ren).
The idea behind Birth Rites came from Helen Knowles, an artist and curator, whose contrasting experiences of hospital caesarean and home birth led her to question our society' s approach to birth. The resulting four artworks and documentary film, alongside objects from the Museum, form the main part of this exhibition.
The exhibition also includes illustrated artists books which tell the childbirth stories and experiences of three different groups of people. Young mothers from Salford Women' s Centre share their recent experiences of giving birth. Elderly residents of Cherry Trees Hospital in Stockport share their memories of childbirth 40 to 60 years ago. Nine year olds from St Anne' s Roman Catholic Primary School, Manchester, share their thoughts and ideas on birth in the past, present and future, when they have their own children. They have also made clay sculptures of creation myths, photographs of which are included in one of the books.
Visit the Birth Rites website to find out more.
Related events
As well as visiting the exhibition, you can also come along to one of our events related to Birth Rites - a film screening of Born on Tuesday 30 September, a curator tour on Saturday 4 October and a chance to handle the artists' books from the exhibition on Saturday 11 October.