Lynne Sachs’ Film Explores Reproductive Justice in Syracuse Exhibition

The Urban Video Project (UVP) at Light Work is set to host a compelling exhibition titled “This Side of Salina,” created by filmmaker Lynne Sachs. The exhibition, focusing on reproductive justice, will be displayed at UVP’s architectural projection venue on the facade of the Everson Museum in downtown Syracuse. The exhibition runs from October 12 to December 21.

Coinciding with the exhibition, an event titled “Communities of Care: Documenting Reproductive Justice in a Post-Roe Country” will take place at Light Work, located on the Syracuse University campus. This event on October 17 will feature a film screening followed by a panel discussion with Sachs, the Abortion Clinic Film Collective, and local reproductive justice advocates.

The film itself highlights the narratives of four Black women from Syracuse, New York, as they navigate themes of sexuality, emotional vulnerability, and their experiences in reproductive health services. These stories are told through choreographed vignettes filmed in local businesses owned by Black women, such as a bookstore, a hat store, and Brady Market, a community grocery.

Lynne Sachs is an acclaimed experimental filmmaker and poet from Brooklyn, New York. Working from a feminist perspective, her films defy conventional genres by incorporating documentary, performance, and collage. Her works have been showcased at prominent venues like the Museum of Modern Art and festivals including the New York Film Festival and Sundance.

Light Work’s presentation forms part of a broader initiative, “Syracuse Symposium 2024-25: Community,” supported by the Syracuse University Humanities Center and the Lender Center for Social Justice. This program is held in partnership with the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies and the CODE^SHIFT lab at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School.

Additionally, Sachs will present “Living to Tell: Using Filmmaking as a Tool for Reproductive Justice” on October 16. This event will take place at the Salt City Market Community Room and is co-presented with Syracuse University’s Engaged Humanities Network.