Aliza Shvarts' Insists Miscarriage Art Project Is Real

***UPDATE***
The Yale Daily News reports that Aliza Shvarts is disputing Yale's announcement that her entire project is a "creative fiction."

.The entire project is an art piece, a creative fiction designed to draw attention to the ambiguity surrounding form and function of a woman.s body,. Yale spokeswoman Helaine Klasky said in a written statement e-mailed to the News this afternoon.

But Shvarts stood by her project, calling the University.s statement .ultimately inaccurate..

Klasky said Shvarts informed three senior Yale officials today . including two deans . that she neither impregnated herself nor induced any miscarriages. Rather, the entire episode, including a press release describing the exhibition, was .performance art,. Klasky said.

She is an artist and has the right to express herself through performance art,. Klasky said. .Had these acts been real, they would have violated basic ethical standards and raised serious mental and physical health concerns..

But Shvarts reiterated Thursday that she repeatedly use a needleless syringe to insert semen into herself. At the end of her menstrual cycle, she took abortifacient herbs to induce bleeding, she said. She said she does not know whether or not she was ever pregnant.

***UPDATE***
The New York Sun reports that Aliza Shvarts' artificial insemination and miscarriage art project is just "creative fiction." Yale University released a statement this afternoon:

"Ms. Shvarts is engaged in performance art," a Yale spokeswoman, Helaine Klasky, said. "She stated to three senior Yale University officials today, including two deans, that she did not impregnate herself and that she did not induce any miscarriages. The entire project is an art piece, a creative fiction designed to draw attention to the ambiguity surrounding form and function of a woman's body."

Ms. Klasky went on to suggest that Yale would not have permitted a project of the sort described in the student newspaper. "Had these acts been real, they would have violated basic ethical standards and raised serious mental and physical health concerns."

Scroll down for the story published by The Yale Daily News on Aliza Shvarts' art project.

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And scroll Down For Video of Aliza Shvarts.

Aliza Shvarts, a senior art major at Yale, artificially inseminated herself "as often as possible" while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages for her senior art project. The Yale Daily News has more details on Aliza Shvarts' miscarriage art project.

Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself "as often as possible" while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages. Her exhibition will feature video recordings of these forced miscarriages as well as preserved collections of the blood from the process....

The display of Aliza Shvarts' project will feature a large cube suspended from the ceiling of a room in the gallery of Green Hall. Shvarts will wrap hundreds of feet of plastic sheeting around this cube; lined between layers of the sheeting will be the blood from Shvarts' self-induced miscarriages mixed with Vaseline in order to prevent the blood from drying and to extend the blood throughout the plastic sheeting.

Aliza Shvarts will then project recorded videos onto the four sides of the cube. These videos, captured on a VHS camcorder, will show her experiencing miscarriages in her bathrooom tub, she said. Similar videos will be projected onto the walls of the room.

Watch video of Aliza Shvarts at a Soapbox Event at Federal Hall In New York on April 5th. "Anybody passing by the Federal Hall on Saturday afternoon could come inside and deliver a speech."

Aliza Shvarts, who graduated as valedictorian of the Los Angeles Buckley School, wrote about first getting her period in the seventh grade.

We were all sitting on the floor of the classroom to watch the movie and I remember attempting to discreetly lie on my belly in hopes that it might go away. Facedown in the scratchy carpet, I tried to figure out was happening to me. My two guesses were 1) appendicitis, and 2) my period. As the Mings were reforming the Chinese Civil Service Examinations, I weighed my options: if it was appendicitis, then either I would have to go to the hospital, or just die, and not have to come back to school in either instance. Of course, if I had gotten my period, then that was another matter--that meant a lot more.

A photo of Aliza Shvarts was found in a 2004 newsletter (PDF) sent out by her high school to announce that she would be getting an award for "good leadership and good citizenship" at her graduation ceremony.

Comments

[Trueheart]

Been thinking about this, and why it seems to be, but is not a choice issue.
A woman or girl who chooses to abort a pregnancy did not have sex in order to have an abortion.
But this is what Ms. Shvartz has done. The sole purpose of inseminating herself was in order to have an abortion. I think this can be safely be called perversion.

[bluelight2323]

Reading the endless comments here accusing Shvarts of sickness, perversion and getting pregnant to demonstrate abortion... few people have acknowledged the critical factor that she didn't know whether or not she was pregnant, and the resulting semantic game that is being played... She injected herself with semen. That doesn't mean she impregnated herself. And anybody can take abortifacient herbs regardless of pregnancy status, or gender for that matter! She didn't pursue an abortion outright; how could she when she may or may not even be pregnant? Rather, she ensured that her menstrual cycle would continue despite injecting herself with semen, and she chose to remain ignorant about her pregnancy status. Aside from the fact that she is within her rights to do what she will with her body, we can never know whether or not an abortion actually occurred- and it shouldn't matter. What is it about this that bothers us... the intentionality of her actions? For those who call her sick, twisted... this is not the first time someone has gone to extemes to make an artistic point. And you are certainly free to make such judgements, though it would only be fair for you to consider her goals and the strength of her arguments for doing what she did while also considering the negatives. And you should all think twice before you call for censorship of such ideas, no matter how far out they may be. Such calls are far more disturbing than anything produced here by Shvarts.

[bluelight2323]

Just had to add two more things to my comment above. For those who criticize Shvarts' project as having a limited and naive worldview based on the fact that she is a young college student, I can see merit to those accusations... But that is for her alone to deal with as she grows, and it shouldn't take away from whatever she intends to express today. Will she still see the same value and meaning in this project in 15 years that she sees now? Maybe she will, maybe she won't... Would she even attempt such a project in 15 years after possibly having, or not having children? We can't predict the future, and it's really not for us to decide. Finally, who is to say this isn't art? Don't get me wrong- I can think of hundreds of reasons why I think Beethoven is simply better. But does that mean this isn't art?

[Trueheart]

"... She injected herself with semen. That doesn't mean she impregnated herself. "

What else does it mean?

[WildBillHickok]

Absolutely Bluelight2323, until all these Right-Wing, Fascist, Male-Chauvinist-Pig Oppressors learn what every good Politically Correct liberal knows, that "THE ENDS ALWAYS JUSTIFY THE MEANS," our job to re-educate these ignorant people will not be done! VOTE OBAMA!!!

[Bobleblah1]

Absolute filth.

[atombee]

Beethoven was art. Picasso was art. Stravinsky was art. Van Gogh was art. Steinbeck was art. Rodin was art.

Putting things in your body (semen, and drugs) is not art.

Making up a story about it and playing the media might possibly be some kind of art ... i'd have to think about that for a while. At best, it would be bad art.

The woman is pathetic. If she really did this, it would prove to me that feminism has at last elevated its core ideal - the hatred of being a woman.- to an unthinkable, vulgar, wretched level of action.

Please don't bother calling me a repube - i'm straight, for one thing - and i've been a liberal democrat my whole long life ...

[strawberryjulius]

The fact that there is a discussion about Ms. Shvart's performance art piece means that it was successful.

[SharonB]

Maybe she will cut off an ear and send it to ya.

[bobkat]

Once again a group of people fall for the antics of a rich, spoiled Yalie.

[Infostream]

i guess that means when people stare at an accident on the freeway that makes it a "successful art piece"? Please don't confuse desperation for attention as artistic vision.

[WildBillHickok]

I can’t believe what I am reading in these posts, criticizing this women for doing what is every woman’s right in America. Roe v. Wade clearly established that abortion is an inalienable right and whatever a woman chooses to do with her body is no body else’s business but her own. From what I can tell in the article it only sound like she did it a few times, probably less than 10 total. I know a woman in Arcata California who, according to her ex-husband, has had more than 30 abortions. Abortion is Politically Correct under any circumstances and I am shocked that progressive, liberal thinkers that read the Huffington Post are not supporting this woman’s right to do as she pleases with her own body.

[mbu]

I can't believe what I am reading in this post, you criticizing these people for doing what is every person's right in America. The first Amendment clearly established the right to free speech.

Apparently, you think criticism should be restricted to things that are illegal.

"I know a woman in Arcata California who, according to her ex-husband, has had more than 30 abortions. Abortion is Politically Correct under any circumstances..."

Wow. Even for Huffpo, wow.

[WildBillHickok]

Dear mbu, you obviously need to be educated to the fact that abortion and a woman’s right to do as she pleases with her own body is the most important issue facing women today. The 9th. Circuit Court of Appeals in California has clearly established that a woman’s right to an abortion overrides any appeal to the 1st. amendment. The 9th. Circuit clearly ruled that criticizing abortion is tantamount to interfering with a woman’s right to an abortion. So what is more important here, defending these cave-dwelling, right-wing, male oppressors right to oppress this poor women with some flimsy argument about free speech, or standing up for what is right and Politically Correct. I am sure that there are many women out there who read the Huffington Post who have had many more abortions than his brave woman or my friend’s ex-wife in Arcata. Are you going to criticize them too?

[skahimself]

Yes, but it is also possible to abuse a right.

Its been said before ....

Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should.

[Blackbird]

Maybe we can't fathom doing such a thing. But take a step back. There are people who can't fathom abortion in the first place. This is an extreme statement she is making, and I do not condemn it nor do I advocate for it, but I stand, firmly, by her right to do so.

Think of the First Amendment. We stand by it and defend it. Even though it allows the KKK to hold public rallies. We have to defend Roe v. Wade and keep abortion legal and safe, and protect women's rights to choose what to do with their own bodies. Even with extremists like this young woman. She's no hero. She's maybe not even much of an artist. But she is fighting for an important cause, even if her methods are unsound.

[Melchedekan]

It's not simply a matter of what she is doing with her own body. It's a matter of what she is heartlessly doing to the bodies of the fetuses she is claiming to have aborted.

[ShiyinGuan]

No, my gripe is that you can self-mutilate in the name of art, but not in the name of science. Imagine a female undergraduate in biology who's doing a senior project in embryology. She pitches the idea to her professor--she's going to inseminate and self-abort herself at different stages at embryonic development, and test the responsiveness and awareness of the mass of cells that comes out. What does her professor do? Well, if he/she is a certain ex-Yale art professor, he grins and gives her a green light. Or, the student gets recommended for heavy duty counseling and is possibly put on probation. It's ridiculous that when it comes to art, everyone starts flinging around phrases like "freedom of expression" and "it's her body." Yet in science, which has arguably improved our lives just as much if not more, all this would be "unethical."

[WildBillHickok]

Political Correctness has nothing to do with “ethics.” Being PC means never having to say you’re sorry.

[ENK727]

She can do whatever she wants with her body, but she doesn't need to call it art and throw it in people's faces. I don't care to see it or hear about it. It's disgusting... sorry, but I don't care to see videos of her aborting in her bathtub... or a cube with her blood splattered on it...that's not art to me.. It's just SICK!!

And regarding that woman in CA you say that's had 30 abortions..wouldn't birth control just be easier?

[westview]

Performance artists can be a phyically dangerous group using fireworks, gunpowders, chemicals to create effects, even self mutilation but this, good grief. Not even edgy or gross, just sad. Clearly this young woman needs some counseling and her professors need to lead the way. She could have made this point and this "art" by simulating this stuff without risking her life, which she did, or risking what many believe to be another life. (I say that as a pro -choice dem). Some herbs that cause abortions are extremely dangerous and can kill women too and cause permanent damage to the body. That is a great part of the reason for our abortion laws. There are many herbal abortion victims lying in their graves today. Our bodies deserve better than to cheapen and risk themwith dangerous and questionable class projects.
I have always said all art is not for all people, and felt edgy art should push boundiaries but this time it would be good if Yale got some medical help for this woman before she starts emulating more talented but equally insane persons in the art world and seriously hurts herself or others. Also why did no one in this controversy mention the dangers of bringing untested bodily fluids into potential contact with the public? Yale Med School is a leader in Aids treatments and research, I hope they spoke up against it.

[Roomer]

That you discount her as "broken" doesn't really help the discussion.

I think we need a few of these daring types to challenge our conventions every once in a while.

[GrandpaMcCain]

Iraq. The shattered economy. A ridiculous­ly-unsecur­ed nation. Who gives a Shiite about this? Sheeple!

[Trueheart]

Just got an e-mail about a "performance artist" who found a dying dog on the street and brought the poor creature into an art gallery so that people could come and watch the death process.

Maybe someone should open a gallery exhibition and fill it with cages full of of all these "artists" who pursue this voyeuristic perspective on life. They could call it: Disregard for the Sacred Life Force.

[GrandpaMcCain]

Spoken like a true Repugnantcan.

[Dramaticlookcat]

Oh my gosh! Did you call me a Repugnantcan? I've never been called that in my life. Actually, I'm sort of a Move On.org gal, but thanks for the new lease on life. (I guess I am a little right wing on the art thing, huh?)

[Dramaticlookcat]

I completely agree with you, and your dying dog analogy is quite apt. I don't think anybody would back this crap. It's not a freedom of speech or art issue. It's not a pro-choice or anti-abortion issue. Can we all unite and just say this is useless and in terrible taste and that the only rationale I can think of is this young lady may (okay definitely) needs to be evaluated by a doctor.

[SharonB]

I agree with you.

[Roomer]

why don't you take a couple of art history classes so you'll understand what it means to be an artist a little better, instead of thinking there must be something wrong with her...

Nazi's wanted to ban "Degenerate Art"... think about it.

[signifyingnothing]

Wow, that's really gross. What an awful exploitation of a dying dog. You don't eat meat, do you Trueheart? If you do, your compassion for what you call the "sacred life force" goes out the window.

[GrandpaMcCain]

Well, see, he's a Repugnantcan. The practice of exploiting dead dogs is nothing when you're dealing with sociopaths who habitually exploit dead soldiers for political gain. Support Our Oops!

[PeaceThroughObedience]

plants are alive too

It would be best to not eat at all. I think most reasonable people understand these self-evident truths

[Trueheart]

I have reverence for the sacred life force that moves in everything. Some of my ancestors called it the Great Spirit. I don't eat much meat, but when I do, I say a prayer of thanks out of respect to the animal whose life was taken.

[bicfor20]

Pure Genius!

[FZliveson]

Thank God there are no art projects in the military or we'd see H-bomb exhibitions.
That tart ain't so smart. She takes Right to choose to an obscene level.
Forced sterilization for her would do the gene pool a favor.

[ILliberalPedagogue]

LMAO!! Jeeeeezusssss !! You guys are on her like Pelosi on a latte. Your turning on your fan base.
Don't get me wrong, hoax or not, this sick girl needs professional help. I just hope she doesnt get a degree out of that indoctrination camp of a college.
Who am I kidding, she will probably be Valedictorian.

[virginiavotes]

Abortion is good because it controls the criminal population and lowers the number of undesirables being born.

The idea of Aborting fetuses in the name of art though does seem a bit lacking in humanity, however if Abortion is fully legal we really have no right to judge this woman's decision, it is her body and her right to do as she pleases with the fetuses.

[ILliberalPedagogue]

Too bad your mom didn't think of that.

[virginiavotes]

Not sure on what basis you decided that, but yo momma putdowns, please use more intelligence.

I can see why you might be offended, but what I posted was based on facts and logic, not opinion. If you decide to legalize abortion (which most civilized nations have done) and someone wants to abort for "art" or whatever pleases them I don't think it's fair to say that is wrong. It may seem inhumane but it is perfectly legal and not "wrong." Also the truth is that abortion does control crime, read any study such as the ones mentioned in this wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalized_abortion_and_crime_effect

[GrandpaMcCain]

Looks like thethinredline has another screen-name.

[pkafin]

You clearly have no idea what a fetus is. Please look up the following words in a dictionary and then correct your comments:

Zygote, Blastocyst, embryo, fetus, baby

Ignorance, as displayed in your comments, helps no one.

[GrandpaMcCain]

Thank you, Mrs. Pat Robertson.

[Dramaticlookcat]

Oh give me a break. This is nothing more than a stupid circus stunt.

[GrandpaMcCain]

Thank you! It should be freakin' obvious, but apparently a lot of people are buying this charade.

[Asatruar]

We have the right to judge her decisions all we want, it is part of freedom of speech and therefor it is fully legal to do so. After all, If she didn't want to be judged she would not have placed this on display, she knows full well that people will talk, some will judge her actions as wrong, some will defend them for the sake of preserving all of our rights.

[escobar]

She needs a shrink.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

I blame the university for this. Obviously they have hired people who don't know thier job, should be fired. My dad was head of 2 art departments at 2 major universities in st. louis. NEVER would he have allowed any of his teachers to accept a project like this from any student. NEVER. The student should get an "F", the teacher fired for allowing a student to use her body in such a selfish, hap hazard way, ending human life, and be allowed to call it art. Sorry, doesn't fly with this gal. Its not even modern art. OK? In no realm is this anything other than self mutilation, murder, a tacky cry to make a name for herself. THE NEA won't ever grant her a means to endorse this, wrong group of people to approach, after the crucifix in urine, poop on a canvass routine. I know as I worked with the NEA. This isn't an attempt to halt free speech, I am all for it, but this is just over the top. Its so beyond the top, she is lucky she didn' t get kicked out of school for it. Its bad PR for her and the school. They can and will lose funds over it, sponsors. Dumb little girl, dumb and selfish on all fronts.

[signifyingnothing]

You might be having a nervous breakdown. It seems the girl has really accomplished what she wanted. Give her an A!

[signifyingnothing]

You do realize that your response is part of the project, right? I just want to point that out, because you're actually making her work a success by writing about her publicly with such reactionary predictability.

[ILliberalPedagogue]

How insightful. It is all becoming clear to me. Now i know she is actually a genius, maybe she could be our first female president.

[daddydamon]

Sorry. You can't censor. There's no end to it. I disagree with a lot of stuff, but I would never ban any of it.

[ILliberalPedagogue]

Thats because you have no common sense. But then again, if sense were common, everyone would have it.

[Tejano1]

hey genius, censorship issues to a backseat when you're putting together an "art" project that involves this kind of nazi ethics. i'm pro-choice, okay. but this "project" is completely insane. this chick needs to be put in a rubber room.

[larryburns94]

She should re-title her piece, "Ugly Girl Who No one Liked in High School Finally Gets 15 Minutes of Attention She So Desperately Craves"

[CC1]

I don't know why this is causing such a stir - one million Iraqis and over 4,000 of our troops have died in 5 years and barely a peep.

[ILliberalPedagogue]

PALEEEEEEZZZZ.

[Dramaticlookcat]

The complacency about the war is much grosser and more horrific than this girl's art project. I couldn't agree with you more CC1.

[kardwell]

No kidding. I find it rather odd, no, I take that back...I find it rather pathetic that thousands of people have expressed such vehement outrage against Shivart's performance art piece yet we send thousands of troops off to Iraq to slaughter hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Aren't Iraqi children's lives valuable too? I mean, isn't this anger sadly displaced?
And then lets consider the thousands of children here in the US who actually EXIST -- living, breathing children -- not fantasies of "possible, potential life", not zygotes or lumps of unformed cells, but actually LIVING children who are suffering from lack of adequate nutrition and care. Where is the outrage???
If I read one more stupid post from a women attacking Shivart because Shivart doesn't "know how it feels" to want to bear children yet miscarry I will vomit. Sorry folks, your fertility problems have NOTHING to do with this. Your fertility problems are not Shivart's problem nor societies problem either. Not everyone can have a child, not everyone wants a child either.