The Empty Womb
Fine Artist Robbi Firestone’s installation, The Empty Womb, examines the darkest shadow of the female experience: infertility. By combining medical and pharmaceutical paraphernalia from her, personal in-vitro journey with traditional women’s pursuits (crocheting, embroidery, video, lullabies), Firestone creates a moving, emotional, experiential immersion. Created and presented as an experiential immersion, the piece provokes a range of emotions and experiences of catharsis for many viewers.
The art installation provokes catharsis, and will provide resources for viewers. The work examines the cult of woman as creator and investigates the frailties, sorrow, jealousy, and rage erupting from unfulfilled hopes for biological lineage.
Firestone says, “This artwork is healing my deep, personal grief, yet I have witnessed 50+ women break down in tears, discuss their losses with me and one another, and reach catharsis while visiting The Empty Womb in my studio. I have come to know that this work has come through me, with a Life and Spirit of its own. Simply put, The Empty Womb is not "Mine." It is for every woman who has suffered child loss.”
Betsy Chasse, producer/writer/director of What the Bleep Do We Know?, filmed a documentary about Firestone’s installation.
An “emotional exorcism,” The Empty Womb speaks difficult core truths about infertility, bravery, devastation… and recovery. The installation unites us in reverence for what is inherent, inherited, and bone-deep among all women.
Firestone is also writing an accompanying book with Johns Hopkins professor, Dave Durham, MD, MPH the brain science of coping with and grieving child loss.
By invitation, museum curators and members of the press may preview The Empty Womb in process at the artist’s studio in Santa Fe, NM. The Empty Womb art installation and film will tour globally in 2018.
“Artist Robbi Firestone ... has created an installation called The Empty Womb, which deals with her infertility issues. The small rooms contain everything from hypodermic needles and other medical paraphernalia from Firestone's own in-vitro journey, to sweetly crocheted baby clothes that will never be worn. Art is emotion on canvas, Firestone’s Empty Womb exhibit is a ragged cry of pain and acceptance.”
— Writer Rachel Weingarten - Parade Magazine 1/31/2016
Artistic Collaborators: Sandi Decker, Patty Berry, Joyce Oliver, Nanette Colby
