2022 Paper clay, sheetrock compound, cardboard, wood, rubber, polyurethane, neoprene, polyester, latex paint, acrylic gouache
The Pause Apothecary is a pseudo-pharmacy with comical pretend products designed to teach people about menopause and the stigma associated with it. F.Y. Eye commissioned the project to support their launch of the first national non-profit advocacy group to specifically focus on raising awareness around the experience of menopause, Let’s Talk Menopause. Menopause is a natural stage of life for half the population and yet it is a taboo subject. Many people, including those in the medical profession, do not understand menopausal symptoms, how to manage it, or even how to talk about it.
Taking the form of a fantastical pharmacy, the artwork examines social stigmas surrounding aging and infertility, and pushes back against the wide-spread devaluation of people’s personal experiences of menopause. It activated a space for sharing personal experiences around menopause and distributing educational information and workshops. The Pause Apothecary launched at Spring Break Art Show in New York City and is part of a growing movement to change the narrative around menopause, connecting to other healthcare issues that have been gendered and under-resourced, such as abortion access and gender-affirming care.
