Feed Zine in m(other)ing exhibition

The Feed Zine will be included as part of the m(other)ing exhibition opening at Perspective Gallery at Virginia Tech in the US, on 18th March until 16th May 2025.

Designed by Textbook Studio, the Feed Zine explores issues of breastfeeding, (dis)comfort, public space and cooperation. It features artworks by Jade de Montserrat, links to audio works by Krissi Musiol, Magda Stawarska and Nicola Singh and texts by Amy Halliday, Lara Eggleton and Gill Thomson.

m(other)ing curators Meaghan Dee and Bree McMahon describe how, oftentimes, work related to motherhood, womb-bearing bodies, and reproductive journeys, does not find a place in design research. This is for a variety of reasons: stigma related to the conversation, mainstream disinterest (or discomfort), and a lack of a clear venue or place for dissemination and discussion. But design has a role in shaping experiences, improving outcomes, and connecting communities.

Reproductive care is universal. Whether you have a child or not, these experiences are part of human existence. While these events are universal, they are also universally politicised.

In the United States, Roe v. Wade was overturned in the Supreme Court, triggering legislation to further restrict access to reproductive healthcare and some even going so far as to criminalize abortion. This is compounded by economic challenges and a lack of legislative support for universal parental leave, childcare, and gun control.

We feel the weight of living through all of this—and many create work informed by their experiences. In some cases, the outcomes are personal, which can feel out-of-place in academic environments dominated by the tenure clock. Through this collection, we seek to provide opportunities to legitimize this work in academic, research-informed spaces.

We see the potential to create space to be seen, make impact, and connect creators.