Greater Lansing Community News

‘Women’s Writes’ showcases activism through poetry, discussion

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Two local performance-based artist collectives are trying to raise awareness about women’s rights as key court cases challenging the right to an abortion go before the U.S. Supreme Court

The Creative Collective, based in Mason, partnered with the Artist’s Umbrella to host an open mic event Nov. 10 to discuss the feminist movement and Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban.

The law, Act 328, criminalizes abortion as manslaughter in Michigan, making it a felony for anyone to provide or facilitate an abortion unless done to save the life of the person who is pregnant.

Michigan is among about 25 states with laws banning abortion that are superseded by the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings in Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. Michigan’s law could take effect immediately if the high court were to overturn those decisions. 

This would result in almost 2.2 million women in Michigan, and more than 36 million nationwide, losing access to the procedure, said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, citing a report from pro-abortion rights organizations.

“I need us in this community, and in this state, to have a fire in our belly about it,” said state Rep. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing. “This is one of those issues that we can’t sit on.”

Rita Vogel, a Mason City Council member and event producer for the Creative Collective, said the group’s events are all about “edutainment,” creating a space for engagement and dialogue.

“It’s all about giving the artists a platform and introducing them to the legislators, in real time, that can actually take their art and parlay that into movement,” Vogel said. “We announced our partnership with the Artists Umbrella two weeks ago to show what the arts community should actually look like.”

The event included slam and spoken word poetry from Dana “Great Dane” Hudson, Emily Dievendorf, Meaghan Bergman and Kristine Brickey, a discussion with state Sen. Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, and Anthony, and a letter-reading by Mason High School student Evelyn Glasl.

The event took place at the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art Gallery, 1210 Turner St..

  • Sen. Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, (left) and Rep. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, lead a discussion about the Michigan abortion law of 1931, speaking about what it will mean for Michigan voters.
    Sen. Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, (left) and Rep. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, lead a discussion about the Michigan abortion law of 1931, speaking about what it will mean for Michigan voters.
  • Meaghan Bergman tells a story of a Michigan woman named Sarah living in 1931. In the story, Sarah later meets and befriends Cora Reynolds, an American politician who was the first woman and Native American elected to the Michigan House.
    Meaghan Bergman tells a story of a Michigan woman named Sarah living in 1931. In the story, Sarah later meets and befriends Cora Reynolds, an American politician who was the first woman and Native American elected to the Michigan House.
  • Rita Vogel, event producer and curator for The Creative Collective organized the “Women’s Writes” event hosted at the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art Gallery in Old Town Lansing on Nov. 10.
    Rita Vogel, event producer and curator for The Creative Collective organized the “Women’s Writes” event hosted at the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art Gallery in Old Town Lansing on Nov. 10.
  • Mason High School senior Evelyn Glasl reads a letter she wrote to two senators in 2019 regarding abortion restrictions.
    Mason High School senior Evelyn Glasl reads a letter she wrote to two senators in 2019 regarding abortion restrictions.
  • Kristine Brickey presents her slam poetry at the “Women’s Writes” event organized by The Creative Collective and the Artist’s Umbrella.
    Kristine Brickey presents her slam poetry at the “Women’s Writes” event organized by The Creative Collective and the Artist’s Umbrella.
  • The Creative Collective and the Artist’s Umbrella organized an open-mic event in Lansing.
    The Creative Collective and the Artist’s Umbrella organized an open-mic event in Lansing.
  • Dana “Great Dane” Hudson, a slam poet from Kalamazoo, presents their slam poetry at the “Women’s Writes” event organized by The Creative Collective and the Artist’s Umbrella in Lansing.
    Dana “Great Dane” Hudson, a slam poet from Kalamazoo, presents their slam poetry at the “Women’s Writes” event organized by The Creative Collective and the Artist’s Umbrella in Lansing.
  • Emily Dievendorf presents their slam poetry at the “Women’s Writes” event organized by The Creative Collective and the Artist’s Umbrella, hosted at the MICA Gallery in Old Town Lansing.
    Emily Dievendorf presents their slam poetry at the “Women’s Writes” event organized by The Creative Collective and the Artist’s Umbrella, hosted at the MICA Gallery in Old Town Lansing.
  • Brandon Navin, executive director for the Artist’s Umbrella, talks with attendees of the “Women’s Writes” open-mic event hosted at the MICA Gallery in Old Town Lansing.
    Brandon Navin, executive director for the Artist’s Umbrella, talks with attendees of the “Women’s Writes” open-mic event hosted at the MICA Gallery in Old Town Lansing.
  • Dana “Great Dane” Hudson, a slam poet in Kalamazoo, prepares for their performance at the “Women’s Writes” event organized by The Creative Collective and the Artist’s Umbrella, hosted by the MICA Gallery in Old Town Lansing.
    Dana “Great Dane” Hudson, a slam poet in Kalamazoo, prepares for their performance at the “Women’s Writes” event organized by The Creative Collective and the Artist’s Umbrella, hosted by the MICA Gallery in Old Town Lansing.

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