is an interdisciplinary performing arts collaboration that delves into the many facets of motherhood. Our goal is to reach and resonate with as many people as possible by creating a short film that tells the raw, emotional story of family-building—highlighting the struggles, joys, and exhaustion that come with it.
The Baby Book Project
The song cycle that started it all
The film is based on Lauren Spavelko’s song cycle, Baby Book Project, with lyrics by poet Chloe Yelena Miller. Through six powerful songs, the narrative follows a woman who grieves the loss of her unborn child, experiences a subsequent pregnancy, carries her baby to term, and reflects on the complexities of early motherhood. The combination of Miller’s deeply emotional text and Spavelko’s poignant musical composition creates a moving and universally relatable experience.
The Film Project
Through this film, in collaboration with Machmer Media, we hope to spark reflection, open dialogue, and inspire creative expression. By amplifying the voices of families and birthing individuals, we aim to shed light on the realities that many face—challenges such as difficulty conceiving, the physical and emotional toll of labor, painful or traumatic deliveries, and the transition into the fourth trimester. Miscarriage, a heartbreaking experience that affects 1 in 4 pregnancies, is also an important focus of this project—an often overlooked topic in discussions about motherhood.
Objects
To mourn a woman,
carry her picture, wear her lapel pin.
There’s nothing to wear, carry
after a miscarriage.
In Japan, mothers mourn
lost “water children.”
Gardens of small statues
in red knitted hats, bibs.
Hands in my pockets,
I stand at the edge of the Tidal Basin,
wilted cherry blossoms above and below.
3. Quickening
Week 22
Quickening of the morning light.
Quickening of my heartbeat on the stairs.
And your quickening.
Flutters of joints –or whole body.
All while I reach for something.
While I stretch out on my left side.
The smallest of miracles,
these human movements.
5. Looking Out
eleven weeks old
Strips of early day
across the floor. Blinds half open
like your eyes
as you extend –
swaddled arms break free.
We face each other
as I carry you for our walk.
We stop under the hilltop tree,
sky peaks through the green layers.
In a few years, we’ll sit at those picnic tables,
I tell you, and eat mozzarella sandwiches.
You close your eyes,
lean towards me.
Our hearts face the other.
The Premier
Art Song Colorado sponsored the Baby Book premier in 2023, including introductions of all those involved in the project, descriptions of each piece, the premier of films “3. Quickening” and “1. Objects,” and in-depth discussions of the project itself.
Donate
Currently 3 of the 6 films are finished, but we need your help to complete the cycle. Please consider donating to our project below.
