Patton clearly put in the research time required of artists who take on historic material. She spent hours uncovering the names of women who died from botched abortions, then hours more tracking down photos of them or looking for clues about what they looked like, how they dressed and carried themselves. Her investigation went deep, into archives of big-city newspapers and specialized ethnic publications who reported stores about African-American women the mainstream media ignored.
Art review: Denver exhibit puts faces to women who died from botched abortions prior to Roe vs. Wade
Big Mean Sweaty Dyke 