Making Mothers Visible Ottawa-Gatineau

Making Mothers Visible is a large-scale, global photography project that foregrounds the faces of mothers, draws attention to the value of mothers worldwide, and spotlights the issue of maternal health.

Mothers around the world deserve the attention, acknowledgement, and resources of their communities. Too often, mothers’ contributions--and even their lives--are taken for granted. In fact, every ...90 seconds somewhere in the world a mother dies from complications of pregnancy or childbirth. The majority of these deaths are preventable. It is time we make mothers visible.

Making Mothers Visible is an opportunity to call attention to the vital role that mothers play in communities around the world, and the importance of their health, empowerment and leadership. Making Mothers Visible is a collaboration between IMOW and global volunteers who are photographing mothers and midwives in their communities and installing large-scale portraits from this project in prominent public spaces. Beginning in May, portraits will be displayed in cities around the world to highlight the value of mothers and the importance of midwifery care. Images and videos of the group actions will be presented here as part of the MAMA: Motherhood Around the Globe exhibition.

Making Mothers Visible is spearheaded by IMOW in association with the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. Making Mothers Visible is also part of the INSIDE OUT Project, a global art project that transforms messages of personal identity into pieces of artistic work. It is a movement taking place all over the world using photographic portraits to discover, reveal and share untold stories.