Image of "Waystation," a 48"x36" watercolor painting on canvas. Courtesy of Andrea Renee Downs (@andreadartist)
A donation of art to these NC clinics, become an unexpected symbol of resilience.
The pink, purple, and yellow flowers in Andrea Renee Downs’ painting, ‘Waystation,’ aren’t just decorative—they carry messages of strength, healing, and hope. Each bloom, carefully chosen for its symbolism, now greets staff at a few Planned Parenthood South Atlantic clinics in North Carolina every time they walk through the door.
Earlier this year, Downs donated her 48″x36″ watercolor painting to the clinic’s staff as a tribute to their work in a state where abortion access is becoming increasingly difficult.
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The mixed-media artist, K-12 teacher, and founder of The Laundry Line, a community art project focused on women’s stories, was inspired to create the piece after screening “North Carolina’s Abortion Story,” a documentary produced by the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina and Narrative Arts that explores the state’s long fight for reproductive rights.
On her social media, Downs said after being invited to host the screening, she was drawn to create her piece in order to uplift abortion providers and engage women from her community.
“‘Waystation’ is layered with ten stories and messages of love, appreciation, and support and filled with flowers that symbolize strength, resilience, and hope,” she said in a press release.
The donation comes amid a pivotal time for abortion access in North Carolina.
In January 2025, Democrat Gov. Josh Stein took a decisive step to protect reproductive rights in the state, signing an executive order aimed at shielding women’s privacy and health care access from increasingly restrictive policies.
The executive order directs cabinet agencies to ensure medical privacy, provide accurate pregnancy-related information, and protect health care providers offering lawful reproductive care.
“Our state has seen alarming attacks on women’s reproductive rights over the past few years, and I remain committed to doing everything in my power to protect women’s freedoms and their privacy,” Stein said in a press release.
READ MORE: Gov. Josh Stein signs executive order aimed at protecting reproductive freedoms
Stein’s order is a direct response to the increasing threats to reproductive rights, particularly following the passing of Senate Bill 20.
In 2023, the Republican-led North Carolina legislature passed SB 20, a law that bans most abortions after 12 weeks, imposes mandatory in-person doctor visits, and enforces hospital-based restrictions on later procedures.
The law was initially vetoed by then-Gov. Roy Cooper, also a Democrat, who warned it would drastically make abortion “unavailable” for “many women, particularly those with lower incomes, those who live in rural areas, and those who already have limited access to health care.”
But on May 16, 2023, the Republican-led state legislature overrode his veto 72-48, forcing the restrictions into effect.
Since then, North Carolina—once a key access point for abortion care in the South—has struggled to keep up with the needs of patients locally and from out-of-state.
READ MORE: People are leaving states with abortion bans, according to study
Those looking to support reproductive rights in the state can start with resources such as the ACLU NC’s online guides on abortion access and opportunities to volunteer with advocacy groups that continue to work tirelessly to protect reproductive freedom amidst these legal battles.
RELATED: Could NC enact more abortion restrictions in 2025?
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