The words aren't easy to hear.
Half a dozen teenage girls sit around a table at Van Go Mobile Arts, reciting poetry they've written about sexual abuse.
How dare he steal my innocence.
I haven't been the same since.
I wasn't even half your age.
For this you belong in a cage.
The girls clap when West Junior High School freshman Jessica Miller finishes reading.
This is good practice for the courageous young women, who will face a much larger audience on Thursday, when they share their words during "Take This Moment: Reflection through ARTS (Awareness, Renewal, Thought, Support)" at the Spencer Museum of Art. The free event, which coincides with Sexual Violence Awareness Month, aims to draw attention to issues of sexual violence through artistic expression.
"It really takes a lot of courage to stand up and tell your story," says Lynne Green, director of the Van Go JAMS program, which trains at-risk youths in the arts. "These young women all felt really compelled to do it."
They're not the only ones.
"Take This Moment" also will feature presentations and performances by local artists Marty Olson, Margaret Morris and Cindy Daniels; poetry readings by Elizabeth Schultz and Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg; and a gallery walk highlighting selections from the museum's permanent collection that focus on the theme of night in a way that resonates with the sexual violence awareness theme of reclaiming the night.
The young women at Van Go believe fervently in the event's mission.
"A bunch of us have gone through sexual abuse and sexual violence," says Kirsten Brandon, a Lawrence High School sophomore and Van Go artist. "It's time for us to start speaking up about what's so wrong about it and how it hurts people."
Year-round awareness
Sarah Jane Russell, executive director of GaDuGi SafeCenter, formerly known as Rape Victim Survivor Service, says the agency struggles with getting people to understand that sexual violence is a problem in Lawrence all year long - not just during Sexual Violence Awareness Month.
In 2005, the center provided services to 130 women, children and men. That number doesn't change much from year to year, Russell says.
Kansas University's Office of Sexual Violence Education and Support Services tries to sustain awareness efforts year-round by sending literature to be posted in residence halls, providing resources and training to sorority members, and offering self-defense classes.
"It's important that we not just make this a one-time, once-a-year event," says Kathy Rose-Mockry, program director for the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center. "It needs to be something that is brought into people's consciousness so we actually change behaviors and we reduce, and eventually aim to eliminate, violence in our communities."
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- Lindsey Bierig, 15, reads her untitled poem.
- Amber Black, 16, reads her poem, "The Bottles and the Blades."
- Kirsten Brandon, 16, reads her poem, "You."
- Tiawo Hameed, 14, reads an untitled poem by a former Van Go JAMS participant.
- Keiasia Harris, 14, reads her poem, "The Story of the Unknown."
- Jessica Miller, 14, reads her poem, "How Dare He."
- Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg reads, "What I Could Tell."
Revealing 'closeted issues'
Lawrence advocate Chelsea Schlievert organized "Take This Moment" in cooperation with GaDuGi, KU's Office of Sexual Violence Education and Support Services and the Spencer Museum. Their intention: to offer a time and place to reflect on issues of sexual violence for people who have been victims and other members of the community.
"Issues of sexual violence are not talked about. They're very quiet, closeted issues. They're uncomfortable issues," Schlievert says. "We wanted to create awareness, and we wanted to show how art can be a part of creating awareness, as well as a tool of education, as well as a means of expression."
Lawrence poet Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg can attest to the power of art in healing. Not only has she used writing to cope with her own struggles with breast cancer and previous family dysfunction, but as a certified poetry therapist, she has conducted countless sessions to help others grow and heal through words - including victims of sexual violence.
"I think what's really moved me over the years was hearing so many men and women in workshops that I've given talk about issues of domestic violence and watching how they used writing as a way to kind of navigate through their own healing and through the writing to find out what it was they needed to do in their lives at this point," she says.
The artists involved in "Take This Moment" hope their expressions empower other people to confront their traumas and, perhaps, not to feel so alone. The first step toward stemming the sexual violence epidemic, organizers say, is to get it out in the open.
As a wise young woman at Van Go put it: "If it doesn't get talked about, how are you going to stop it?"
Other events
Here's a look at some other events planned during Sexual Violence Awareness Month:
¢ Exhibit: "This is Not an Invitation to Rape Me," a black-and-white print series by New York ad photographer Charles Hall, today through April 14, Kansas Union Gallery, Kansas Union, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd.
¢ Poetry Slam, focusing on themes of sexual violence, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Hawks Nest, Kansas Union.
¢ "Goodnight Moon," an art benefit featuring the work of local artists Carley Doores, Becca Ramspott, Sara Rich, Paula Richardson, Elizabeth Rowley and Shana Rossi Talley, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Static Hair Salon,
12 E. Eighth St. Ten percent
of proceeds will be donated to the GaDuGi SafeCenter.
¢ Panty Line Project, April 17-21, on display at the Kansas Union, Gertrude Sellards Pearson Hall and the Watson Library lawn.
¢ Womyn Take Back the Night march, April 28, more details to be announced.
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bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
And, inside that "closet:" is another, far less opened, much darker closet: male victims of sexual abuse, and rape; along with male victims of domestic violence.
as a male who was victimized by my former wife, I would point out that a female abuser takes advantage of all the stereotypes to keep her violence secret.
I hope there might be more opportunity for male victims to find shelter seperate from women and children to escape domestic violence. I also would like to see these important events broadened to greater inclusion of male victims.