Oral History Collection

tanya latortue tanya latortue

Exhibition Soundscape

This piece of audio art is entirely constructed of ten OBW interviews and the modulation of each voice via natural processes. Four speakers have been thoughtfully placed to immerse the listener, manifesting as a sound field throughout the entirety of the gallery. The piece is 100% composed of the narrators’ voices, processed by free, open source software and recycled material.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Episode 010

Vashti’s museum is a conduit through which she can ponder her womb’s connections to her matriarchal lineage and creative pursuits.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Episode 009

Saundra’s spiritual enlightenment reframes her appreciation of wombhood and inspires new rituals with loved ones.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Episode 008

Rennia reclaims vaginismus as the basis of her sexual agency, and reconnects to her womb and body through physical therapy.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Episode 007

Marla reimagines her womb space as a pathway towards sustained joy after recounting a near-fatal medical complication in early adulthood.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Episode 006

A crucial decision alters the course of Mahalia’s life, redirecting her career towards Philadelphia’s rich birth worker community.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Episode 005

Jah settles into a greater sense of self-love and equanimity following his transition, which now foster deeper connections with his womb.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Episode 004

Set in motion by a teenage pregnancy in the rural South, Hattie’s womb story invites us into a world of liberation and self-determination.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Episode 003

Denise opens up about her fertility journey, enduring medical negligence, and surrendering to her faith during moments of uncertainty.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Episode 002

Navigating the winding paths of grief, motherhood, and self-reliance all at once, Brianna learns to rely on her womb as a source of refuge.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Episode 001

Ariel meditates on the transformation of her womb space from a shared entity during marriage into a symbol of self-care following her divorce.

Read More
tanya latortue tanya latortue

Trailer

Welcome to Of Black Wombhood, an oral history project about the experiences of Black womb-bearers beyond pregnancy and birthing. OBW features a small group of Black, Philly-based narrators who reflect on their own personal womb stories, and I invite you to join us in contemplating wombhood with greater curiosity, imagination, and care.

Read More