March 25, 2026
Linda Blaser
Art and advocacy meet in timely campus exhibit through March 29
Photos by Sisi Wattanagool ’26
A powerful new exhibition in the Durand Art Institute’s Albright Gallery is drawing attention—and sparking conversation—across campus and beyond.
“Living and Dying Under Dobbs,” a textile-based installation by Tracy McCabe, Senior Lecturer Emerita in English and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, opened March 3 in the Albright Gallery to a large crowd of students, faculty, staff, and community members. The exhibit remains on view through March 29.
The opening reception featured a panel discussion moderated by Assistant Professor of Politics Stephanie Caparelli, bringing together McCabe, Dr. Kristin Lyerly, and reproductive rights advocate Gracie Ladd, whose personal experience is included in the project. The conversation explored the medical, physical, and emotional consequences of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.
McCabe’s work takes the form of hand-crafted “fabric books,” combining text and textile to document the stories of individuals affected by abortion bans. Through appliqué and embroidery, she creates four-inch squares that are assembled into accordion-style volumes—each one bearing witness to lives altered or lost.
“I became determined to tell, represent, and amplify the stories not only of the women who have died but all those maimed and traumatized when denied care,” McCabe has written of the project.
The ongoing series now includes seven volumes and nearly 50 stories. It also reflects a broader tradition of textile “craftivism,” drawing inspiration from projects such as the AIDS Memorial Quilt, where art serves as both remembrance and advocacy.
Visitors to the Albright Gallery can experience the installation up close, encountering each story through intricate, tactile detail. The exhibit invites reflection on the human impact behind a national issue—and encourages continued dialogue within the campus community.
“Living and Dying Under Dobbs” is open through March 29.