Citizen Contributions | Culture & Community | Planned Parenthood of Southern New England | Arts & Culture
Top: Artist Rebecca Fowke and friends with her piece Dēdisce Ut Discas, Unlearn So That You May Learn. Bottom: Genesis Cubilette's The Shape of Return. Aiyah Josiah-Faeduwor Photos.
The following citizen contribution comes from Jordyn Miller, communications and media manager at Planned Parenthood at Southern New England (PPSNE).
A picture is worth a thousand words, and Planned Parenthood of Southern New England’s (PPSNE) most recent gallery event had a lot to say.
On Tuesday, the Connecticut health care provider hosted its first-ever Art of Care Gallery Event, transforming the lobby of TheaterWorks in Hartford into an art installation. The event showcased original works by local artists from Connecticut and Rhode Island–including four artists here in New Haven. "It followed "Care Out Loud," an open mic held in New Haven earlier this year; read about that in the Arts Paper here."
The Art of Care: Our Powerful Stories explored how storytelling shapes care, community, and our identities. From moments of vulnerability to declarations of joy and resistance, stories have the power to transform silence into visibility. The featured artists showcased their interpretations of this theme through paintings, performances, videos, and more.
“We know that art can be intensely powerful, and we are so excited to connect with our community through this inaugural campaign,” said Amanda Skinner, president and CEO of PPSNE. “These eight artists have created incredibly moving and impactful pieces that really showcase the vulnerability of caring for community. We are in awe of their talent and are
thankful to have them be a part of our storytelling mission at PPSNE.”
Artist Laura Boccadoro (in the plaid) with her piece Endometriosis Warrior. Aiyah Josiah-Faeduwor Photos.
Featured New Haven artists included: Laura Boccadoro, Candyce “Marsh” John, Jezrie Marcano-Courtney, and Alexis Robbins.
The art pieces all explored different vulnerable aspects of health care through a personal lens. Endometriosis Warrior, by Boccadoro, is a love letter to all folks who struggle with endometriosis, showing visibility and the hard truths behind being an endometriosis warrior.
“I deal with my chronic and mental illnesses through my art, specifically my endometriosis,” said Boccadoro. “It's one of the ways I have been able to get through my battle with endometriosis, and I am using the Art of Care as an opportunity to show just that–my struggles and how I have continued to combat them and persevere through them."
As a somewhat amateur artist who is new to showcasing her art, Boccadoro said it means the world to be a part of this show for an organization she cares about so deeply.
Aiyah Josiah-Faeduwor Photos.
Similarly, John's Unapologetically Human centers the powerful humanity of Black men, exploring vulnerability not as weakness, but as an essential part of becoming. It invites viewers to consider healing, self-discovery, and the courage required to remain open to transformation.
“This piece began with my interest in Black men’s interior lives and the ways vulnerability is often denied, misunderstood, or mistaken for weakness,” said John. “Some of our most meaningful stories are carried quietly. For Black men especially, openness, sensitivity, and emotional honesty can require courage. I wanted to honor that humanity while expanding conversations about care to include reflection, healing, self-discovery, and the ongoing process of becoming.”
Built through layers of acrylic, spray paint, mixed media, and expressive marks, parts of the work’s surface remain raw and unfinished. The seated posture and phrase “I Am Still Becoming” reflect a private moment of processing, growth, and permission to exist without having everything resolved.
Attendees watching Jezrie Marcano-Courtney's “She Said to Clean The Stew?” Aiyah Josiah-Faeduwor Photos.
Building upon a deeply personal health care experience, Jezrie Marcano-Courtney's “She Said to Clean The Stew?” is a narrative about a teenage girl who experiences her very first urinary tract infection. She takes a doctor’s advice without question and later, learns how important questions could be.
Marcano-Courtney believes that submitting her story to the Art of Care is an act of service to the community at large, highlighting the shared experiences of so many people around her.
From storytelling through words to storytelling through dance, Alexis Robbins’ “(alone was) how you left me” is a tap and contemporary dance piece performed to poetry and original music. The performance explores experiences of being or feeling alone during medical procedures where assumptions or hopes of care were not provided, something femme-identifying folks experience all too often.
“I've personally endured some not so fun healthcare experiences where I was not being taken seriously, and I think that that's something a lot of people with reproductive organs can relate to,” said Alexis Robbins, choreographer and performer of “(alone was) how you left me.” “While the piece says very specific things about my personal lived experience, I think it is also broad enough that anyone can relate to it.”
Robbins considers herself a percussionist, and showcases this through her use of tap dancing. The 12-minute live performance is based on a companion poem that can be heard in the soundtrack. Her story is told in a way that incorporates all of the things she loves to do–movement, music, and vocals.
The event comes at a time when health care and reproductive rights are under attack nationwide. Events like the Art of Care are essential to creating a space for reflection and connection. When walking through the gallery event, feelings of vulnerability were shared, humanizing each of us as individuals who have all experienced the health care system.
While the in-person gallery in Hartford was the launch of these incredibly meaningful art pieces, they now live permanently online in our digital gallery of the same name.