In 1990, a group of women artists and writers jointed together with several other women’s organizations to form Arts Action Against Domestic Violence. They felt an urgency to speak out against the domestic violence in their state of Minnesota. They wanted to commemorate the lives of the 26 women whose lives had been lost in 1990 as a result of domestic violence. They decided to create 26 free-standing, life-sized red wooden figurines that would each bear the name of the woman whose life ended violently at the hands of a husband, ex-husband, partner, or acquaintance. An additional figurine was added to represent those uncounted women whose murders went unsolved or ruled as an accident. The group of women named this project the silent Witnesses.
The Silent Witness Project was created for the state of Arkansas in 1997 and consists of life-sized plywood silhouettes painted red. Each silhouette represents victims whose lives were taken by domestic violence for the previous year and tells the victims’ names and tragic personal stories on a shield attached to the silhouette. This offers a powerful and moving testimony to the devastating impact of domestic violence. The silhouettes have been customized to represent female, pregnant female, male, child and wheelchair victims. The objective of the silhouette exhibit is to heighten awareness & provide information on the issue of domestic violence & its effect in our community.
What can you do to help domestic violence victims?
- Encourage your friend/family member to seek help and call a domestic violence hotline number
- Support your local domestic violence program
- Educate yourself on domestic abuse
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