Exhibits, Presentations, and Workshops
 
Healing/Arts Workshop
Virtual Workshop
May 12th, 2022 

Writing Workshop
Virtual Workshop
April 21st, 2022

Capturing Experiences of Embryo Donation
Virtual Exhibit
October 2020

Living in Limbo: Expressions of Infertility
Virtual Exhibit
April 23 - 29, 2020

National Women's Studies Association Annual Conference
San Francisco, CA
November 14 - 17, 2019

RESOLVE's Midwest Infertility and Adoption Family Building Summit
Golden Valley, MN
November 9, 2019

Capturing Conceptions
Philadelphia, PA
October 12 - November 3, 2019

The ART of Infertility Pop-Up Exhibit
East Lansing, MI
August 20 - 25, 2019

Blackout Poetry and Screenprinting Workshop
East Lansing, MI
August 24, 2019

Opening Reception, The ART of Infertility Pop-Up Exhibit
East Lansing, MI
August 20, 2019

Fertility in the Fox Valley
Appleton, WI
April 6 - June 15, 2019

Infertility Advocacy Day,
Washington, DC
May 15 - 16, 2019

Real Talk About Fertility on Capitol Hill: A Pregnantish Advocacy Day Event
Washington, DC
May 14, 2019

Cultivating Understanding: Terrarium Workshop
The Kaldas Center, Appleton, WI
May 9, 2019

Reproductive Writes
Oshkosh, WI
May 2, 2019

Detroit Walk of Hope
Detroit, MI
April 27, 2019

Reproductive Writes
East Lansing, MI
April 24, 2019

Art, Access, Advocacy Photovoice Workshop
The Kaldas Center, Appleton, WI
April 20, 2019

Opening Reception, Fertility in the Fox Valley
The Kaldas Center, Appleton, WI
April 20, 2019

Research in the Rotunda
Madison, WI
April 17, 2019

Pop-Up Exhibit
U-M Center for Reproductive Medicine
Ann Arbor, MI
April 15 - 19, 2019

The Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement (MIRCI) Annual Conference
Toronto, Ontario, CA
April 11- 14, 2019

Building Healthcare Collectives Symposium
East Lansing, MI
April 11-13, 2019

Challenging Conception: The ART of Infertility in Chicago
Evanston, IL
October 2 - November 30, 2018

Exhibit Reception for Challenging Conception, Chicago
Evanston, IL
October 13, 2018

Creative Wellness for Conception
Chicago, IL
October 11, 2018

Hearts for Baby Carriage Workshop
Evanston, IL
September 30, 2018

Reimagining Reproduction: The ART of Infertility in Los Angeles
Venice Arts, Los Angeles
June 9 - 30, 2018

Opening Reception - Reimagining Reproduction
Venice Arts, Los Angeles
June 9, 2018

Visualizing Voices of Reproductive Loss
University of Wisconsin Madison
April and May, 2018

2018 4W Summit on Women, Gender, and Well-Being
University of Wisconsin Madison
April 13, 2018

TransAction Week
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
March 30, 2018

Presentation, Conflict and Memorial
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
March 9, 2018

Arches in Perspective: The ART of Infertility in Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
February 16 - March 16, 2018

Reflections of Reproductive Loss & Access to Care
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
February 1 - March 16, 2018

Reproductive Writes
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
February 28, 2018

Reproductive Writes
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
February 21, 2018

Arches in Perspective: The ART of Infertility in Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
February 16, 2018

One More Shot Film Screening and Humanities Panel
Salt Lake City, Utah
February 15, 2018

Barren Conceptions: A Scholarly Panel Pondering the Intersections of Religion, Medicine, and Infertility
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
December 1, 2017

Film Screening of One More Shot with Q&A with the Creators
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 18, 2017

Almost Pregnant
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 11, 15, and 25

The Yoga of Writing:  A Heart-Opening Workshop in Imagination, Love and Joy
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 5, 2017

Opening reception for Cradling Creativity
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 4, 2017

Cradling Creativity: The ART of IF in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 3 - 28, 2017

Art Workshop
Brighton, Michigan
October 23, 2017

11th Biennial Feminisms and Rhetorics
Dayton, Ohio
October 4 - 7, 2017

Embrace the F Word: A night of Pre-pregnancy Pampering with FertileGirl
New York, New York
September 27, 2017

Waiting for Babies Live Taping and Podcast Launch Party
Philadelphia, PA
August 9, 2017

ART and Advocacy
Pop-up art exhibit
Washington, D.C.
May 17, 2017

Blackout Poetry Art Workshop
Seattle, WA
April 29, 2017

EMD Serono Staff Education
Maria and Elizabeth exhibited work from the permanent collection and presented a talk and Q&A session at EMD Serono during National Infertility Awareness Week.
Rockland, MA
April 25 and 26, 2017

ONE MORE SHOT - Film Screening and Q&A
An extension of SEA-ART-HEAL
Seattle, WA
April 2, 2017

SEA-ART-HEAL Opening Reception
Seattle, WA
April 1, 2017

SEA-ART-HEAL: The ART of Infertility in Seattle
A month-long exhibit at the Art/Not Terminal Gallery, The Seattle Center
Seattle, WA
April 1 - 30, 2017

Expo for Endometriosis
Mini pop-up exhibit of endometriosis artwork, portraits, and stories as well as make and take art stations allowing attendees to express life with endometriosis using paint, collage, found objects, and poetry.
Royal Oak, MI
March 18, 2017

Reproductive Writes Workshop
The ART of Infertility presented this writing workshop co-sponsored by the Michigan State University College of Arts and Letters, Department of English, The Department of Writing, Rhetoric & American Cultures, RCAH Center for Poetry, and The Writing Center.
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan
March 2, 2017

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Patient Day
Maria and Elizabeth exhibited work from the permanent collection and presented a talk and Q&A session at Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany's Patient Day in Coinsins, Switzerland. The purpose of Patient Day is to provide education about the experience of infertility, and other diseases and conditions treated by the medications that Merck manufactures, to staff members. Merck KGaA is known as EMD Serono in the U.S.
Coinsins, Switzerland
November 9, 2016

2016 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress and Expo
Elizabeth and Maria present the oral abstract ART of Infertility: Curating Patient Centered Perspectives Via an Artifact Oral History Methodology.
Salt Lake City, Utah
October 18, 2016

Wind Chime Workshop for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
Utah Infertility Resource Center
October 15, 2016
South Salt Lake, Utah

Cigar Box Workshop for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
The University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine
October 10, 2016
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Cultural Rhetorics Conference, Michigan State University
Panel - The ART of Infertility: Constellating a Cultural Rhetorics Approach to Infertility Rhetorics Maria Novotny, Robin Silbergleid, and Elizabeth Walker.
Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
October 1, 2016
East Lansing, Michigan

2016 Cultural Rhetorics Conference Art Exhibition and Reception
This reception featured creative art work by community artists and academics, who may or may not specifically identify as artist-scholars/scholar-artists. The event intended to generate conversation regarding the ways creative processes might be understood as research methodologies and invited attendees to consider Cultural Rhetorics as an intellectual project that offers space for the development, discussion and presentation of creative-critical scholarship.
Reach Studio Art Gallery
September 30 - October 1, 2016
Lansing, Michigan

Picture Your Fertility: An Interactive Art Event for #menshealth Hosted by The Turek Clinic and sponsored by Reproductive Science Center of the Bay Area, with marketing partner Men's Health Network. A free, interactive art event in honor of Men's Health Week. This pop-up art exhibit shared the infertility journeys of men and their families through artwork and stories and had food and art making stations. The night also included a preview of the new short film about infertility, If I Could Tell You, and Q&A session with director Rob Clyde.
The Turek Clinic San Francisco
June 16, 2016

MiART Summit Pop Up Art Exhibit at the Michigan Assisted Reproductive Technology (MiART) Summit. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), in partnership with the Michigan Infertility Advisory Committee (MIADCO), held the Summit, bringing together diverse stakeholders to learn about infertility and the use of ART in Michigan; exploring the association between ART and the incidence of multiple birth, preterm birth, and low birth weight; and developing recommendations to improve ART access, practices, and outcomes in Michigan.
Novi, MI
May 20, 2016

Advocacy Day - Legislative advocacy and oral history project interviews.
Washington, D.C.
May 10 - 11, 2016

ART of Infertility Black Out Poetry Workshop hosted by the Coalition of Women Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition during the Conference of College Composition and Communication.
Houston, TX
April 6, 2016

Strategies for Coping and Healing from Loss through Art and Writing: Presented by the University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine and ART of Infertility
Ann Arbor, MI
February 20, 2016

Tenth Biennial Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference, Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
October 28-31

The ART of IF's Elizabeth Walker, Maria Novotny, and Robin Silbergleid, presented at the Tenth Biennial Feminisms and Rhetorics Conference at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ on October 30 at 3:30 in Apache - MU 238. A pop up art exhibit from the project was on display October 28-31 in the Turquoise room in the Memorial Union - 220.

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association Chicagoland Walk of Hope
Orland Park, IL
October 4, 2015
The ART of IF participated in the Chicagoland Walk of Hope as a Community Sponsor sharing information about the project and featuring artwork and stories from the permanent collection.

Prayer Flag Workshop
Ben Lamond, CA
October 3
Elizabeth presented a prayer flag art workshop at Xtraordinary Fertility's Revive Your Baby Making Mojo Retreat.

Western Michigan University Medical Humanities Conference
Kalamazoo, MI
September 24-25, 2015
Elizabeth and Maria shared a presentation at the 5th Annual Medical Humanities Conference at Western Michigan University.

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association Tri-State Walk of Hope
Ridgefield Park, NJ
September 12, 2015
The ART of IF participated in the Tri-State Walk of Hope as a Community Sponsor sharing information about the project and featuring artwork and stories from the permanent collection.

Cigar Box Collage Workshop
Citrus Heights, CA
July 8, 2015

Cigar Box Collage Workshop
Walnut Creek, CA
July 7, 2015

The ART of IF's Maria Novotny and Elizabeth Walker will be running this art making workshop, as well as give a presentation about the project including examples of artwork, interviews, and the project's advocacy work. Participants will use found objects, collected items, magazines, photos, newspapers, etc., and incorporate acrylic painting, to complete a collaged box. Supplies will be provided but participants are encouraged to bring any specific small objects that they have at home and want to include in their box.

Women Write the Body Writing Workshop
East Lansing, MI
June 14, 2015

How can you use writing to talk about the body? To express what has been silenced? To explore what it means to be female? To grieve bodily traumas and losses? To celebrate its triumphs? Its fallibilities and quirks? The Art of Infertility project invites you to address these questions in a writing workshop led by Robin Silbergleid. In this two-hour workshop, we will read and discuss short pieces of writing by published writers as well as produce writing of our own. No formal experience in writing is necessary; we welcome women-identified writers of all stages.

Instructor Bio - Robin Silbergleid is the author of the memoir Texas Girl and two chapbooks of poems Pas de Deux and Frida Kahlo, My Sister. The Baby Book, a full-length collection of poems about infertility and pregnancy loss, is forthcoming from CavanKerry Press in 2015. Her poems, essays, and scholarship can be found in a number of venues, online and in print. She is a frequent contributor to Role/Reboot on issues related to infertility and single parenting. Born and raised in Illinois, she holds both a PhD in English and an MFA in Creative Writing from Indiana University. She is currently an associate professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Michigan State University. She lives in East Lansing, Michigan with her two children (and two cats).

Pop-Up Exhibit and Workshops
Busboys and Poets at 5th and K, Washington, D.C.
May 15, 2015
Come release some creative energy during an art workshop by Marissa Sweeny, Associate Professor of Art Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (details below), participate in a writing workshop lead by Jenny Rough, meet with the ART of IF's Elizabeth Walker and Maria Novotny, and check out work created by people all over the country during their infertility journeys. Scroll down for workshop details.

Art Workshop by Marissa Sweeny 3-4 pm
“In this workshop, we will be creating nichos—small shadowboxes that open and close—that are created from everyday materials such as cigar or matchboxes and that are decorated with brightly colored paint, beads, and trims. The nichos we will create will become safe keeping places for our memories, affirmations, and memorials. They may be dedicated to a particular person or people, ideas, or icons and function as shrines or devotional objects. Nichos can be opened and displayed publically or they can be kept closed and private. Participants are encouraged to bring any small, portable items that have special meaning for them to incorporate into their nicho such as small photographs, good luck charms, milagros, other small remembrances, and collage materials. All other materials will be provided at the workshop, and the nichos will be easily transportable for the flight or drive home.

Marissa's Bio: Our journey to build our family began with our marriage in June 2012. At that time, we learned that we would be unable to conceive naturally. We simultaneously began the processes of treatment and adoption. We each endured surgeries, hospitalizations, and devastating losses. Throughout this process, making and sharing art proved to be one of our greatest sources of support and connection to others. We are happy to share that after 15 assisted cycles and three failed domestic infant adoption matches, we are currently expecting our first child, a son, in August 2015. We are especially grateful for the tireless efforts of the AGC Scholarship Foundation, whose generosity toward us as scholarship recipients made our final and successful cycle possible.
Marissa Sweeny

Writing Workshop 4-5 pm
Journaling Your Fertility Journey: This workshop is for anyone on the fertility journey. Taught by writer and instructor Jenny Rough, this workshop will provide a safe space to explore writing as a form of creative expression. Studies show writing is a healing practice. It can boost immunity, reduce stress, and decrease disease severity. In addition to writing exercises, we’ll talk about ways to maintain a practice at home. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to share community and honor your own journey.

Bio: Jenny Rough has written on the topic of fertility for Arlington Magazine, Babble, Bethesda Magazine, Literary Mama, Salon, USA Weekend, Whole Living, and Yoga Journal, among other places. Formerly the infertility blogger for Mothering.com, her essays on infertility, miscarriage, and endometriosis have also been published in a number of anthologies and have appeared as commentaries on public radio. Jenny teaches writing workshops at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and is currently working on a book. Visit her on the web at jennyrough.com.

Mini Interview and Portrait Sessions
Washington Court Hotel, Washington, D.C.
May 13, 2015

Bring an artifact that represents your infertility journey. What is an artifact? An artifact is any object or image. What type of artifact are we interested in? Any objects or images that relate to your journey with infertility. Specifically, the project uses artifacts as a tool for inquiry. Artifacts invite questions about why that object is important to one's infertility and how that artifact helps tell stories of infertility.

You'll be photographed both with and without your artifact and have an opportunity to express your thoughts about infertility and how it has impacted your life. Interviews will be archived and displayed with portraits at ART of IF events around the country with the goal of raising awareness about infertility. As always, you have the opportunity to remain anonymous if you'd like and photographs do not have to include identifying features.

Pop-Up Exhibit and Workshops
Calabasas Civic Center, Calabasas, CA
April 25, 2015
The event in Calabasas featured artwork, portraits, and interviews from those on their infertility journeys and informational tables from Fred Harlan, MFT Intern, the Circle of Life Center, and Dr. Feinman of HRC Fertility.
We had a vision board workshop by Sara Rector, MFT from the Circle of Life Center and Parisa Gomez from The Love Branch taught us how to create your own branch incorporating objects and themes meaningful to your journey. Dr. Paul Turek from the Turek Clinic was in attendance and was an event sponsor. We also had a RESOLVE Support Group Reunion Sharing Circle and Denise Noyer-Erez, L. Ac. FABORM of Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine spoke about the benefits of acupuncture. Tomiko Fraser Hines shared her story with us. She struggled with infertility, powerfully overcame it, and is now the ecstatically-happy mother of twin sons conceived via anonymous egg donation.

The Examined Life Conference
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
April 16-18
The ART of IF: Navigating the Journey of Infertility was displayed at the Examined Life Conference at the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine April 16-18. This amazing conference explores the intersections between the arts and medicine. It seemed like the perfect fit for the ART of Infertility project and we were honored to have been chosen to display there. We enjoyed attending the sessions and what we experienced there gave us inspiration for growing the project. You can check out the program by clicking here.

Pop Up Exhibit and Adoption Info Open House with Greater Hopes and RESOLVE of West Michigan
Greater Hopes Family Services, Grand Rapids, MI
March 12 - 19, 2015
Check out this article about the event from The Rapidian!

Cigar Box Art Workshop
Ann Arbor Women Artists Ann Arbor, MI
Saturday February 21 and February 28, 2015

Drawing on her own experiences with Infertility and miscarriage, artist and teacher Sarah Clark Davis, will be running this art making workshop. She will provide cigar boxes for all participants and discuss various collage techniques. Each workshop day will have a short "how to" on collage and assemblage and then time to work on your project using found objects, collected items, magazines, photos, newspapers, etc. and incorporating acrylic painting as well. Participants are encouraged to bring any small objects they may want to include in their box. By the end of the workshop, you will have a completed collaged box and lid.

The ART of Infertility Project: Closing reception
Gago Wellness, Brighton, MI
Saturday January 10, 2015
Come see the exhibit in Michigan for the last time in 2015. There will be make and take art projects and a photographer will be on site taking photos of families and groups of friends.

Fertility Workshop
Gago Wellness, Brighton, MI
Saturday December 13, 2014

Come browse the exhibit, The ART of IF: Navigating the Journey of Infertility and enjoy refreshments and prizes. A panel of fertility experts and professionals will share information and answer your questions. Chair massages will be available for $1 per minute. Robin Silbergleid, author of "Texas Girl: A Memoir" will read from her book and do a writing workshop and we'll have an art therapy station by Mary Milhaupt. We'll be adding more activities and details as the event gets closer so check back often!

Featuring
- L. April Gago, M.D., Director of Gago Center for Fertility
- Jim Schwartz, Ph.D., Laboratory Director, Gago Center for Fertility
- Krissy Clark Rock, Acupuncturist, Gago Wellness
- Kim Brown, Serendipity Massage
- Robin Silbergleid, Author, "Texas Girl: A Memoir" and "Frida Kahlo, My Sister"
- Mary Milhaupt, Graphic Designer and graduate student in Art Therapy Counseling at Wayne State University

Pregnancy Support Event
Gago Wellness, Brighton, MI
Saturday November 22, 2014

Talks and demonstrations by pregnancy professionals.
Breath Awareness workshop by doula, Alicia Montgomery.
We will experience the 1st pain coping technique in the “Birthing From Within” series. By using breath and focus, you will be led through a series of exercises that will allow you to find equanimity in times of discomfort. You can take this experience with you for practice at home.

Faredae Lynn from Babes in Blossom Pregnancy and Childbirth Service is doing a mini version of her "Birth Skills" class in which she will discuss some of the skills mom and partner need and how it's important to begin working on them early in pregnancy.

People can browse the exhibit, The ART of IF: Navigating the Journey of Infertility and we will also have refreshments and prizes.

Exhibit, The ART of IF: Navigating the Journey of Infertility
Gago Wellness, Brighton, MI
November 8, 2014 - January 10, 2015

Cultural Rhetorics Conference
Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, Michigan State University
November 1, 2014

RESOLVE, The National Infertility Association Northern California Walk of Hope
Sacramento, CA
September 20, 2014

Art Journal Workshop
Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, MI
May 31, 2014

Our first exhibit, The ART of IF: Navigating the Journey of Infertility
Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, MI
March 22 - June 21, 2014