24-hour Hotline 330-453-SAFE (7233)

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Clothesline Project / Silent Witness Exhibit

Confidential 24 Hour Hotline/information call: 330-453-SAFE (7233)

     

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Bearing witness to violence against women

 

What is the Clothesline Project? 

The Clothesline is a visual display that bears witness to the violence against women.  During the public display, a clothesline is hung with shirts.  Each shirt is decorated to represent a particular woman's experience, by the survivor herself or by someone who cares about her.

 

The original project started in Hyannis, Massachusetts in the fall of 1990 with 31 shirts hung.  Since that time, projects have begun in communities all across the country and in other countries as well.  The purpose of the project is four-fold:

 

Ø      To bear witness to survivors and victims of domestic violence.

Ø      To help with the healing process for people who have lost a loved one or are survivors.

Ø      To educate, document, and raise society's awareness of the issue.

Ø      To provide a nationwide network of support, encouragement and information for other communities starting their own Clothesline Projects. 

 

What goes on the Clothesline?

We ask women to send shirts of durable material preferably with the following color code:

    • WHITE for women who have died of violence:
    • YELLOW or BEIGE for women who have been battered or assaulted;
    • RED, PINK or ORANGE for women who have been raped or sexually assaulted;
    • BLUE or GREEN for women survivors of incest or child sexual abuse;
    • PURPLE or LAVENDER for women attacked because of their sexual orientation;

 

For women killed.

You may want to submit a shirt that belonged to her.  Please show on the shirt the woman's name, date of birth & death, and hometown. When the shirt is complete you may wish to take the time to write a description of the person you have memorialized.

 

Please include information you wish to share about her death.  Tell us what this person meant to you and how you think she should be remembered.  Enclose a photograph of the person if you have one you are willing to part with.  We cannot be responsible for returning photographs. 

 

For survivors.

Because making a shirt is part of the healing process for survivors of violence, shirts should be submitted by the survivor.  If not possible, a shirt for a survivor should be submitted with her written permission.  We ask that you respect their anonymity by not using their first/last name or hometown.  We appreciate whatever information you or she would like to share.

 

Names.

Naming the perpetrator is an important part of the healing process.  But, for legal reasons, we cannot display shirts with full names of the perpetrators.  We ask that shirt makers use first names or initials if they wish to name their violator.

 

Creating a shirt.

We would like each shirt to reflect the woman's personal experience.  You should include name, date, and memorabilia such as tools of a trade or symbol of interest.  Some suggestions for enduring durability:

  • use natural fabric
  • sew rather than using glue
  • photocopy photographs onto iron-ons
  • use acrylic or textile paint, color-fast dye or indelible ink

To participate.

Mail your shirt to:

Domestic Violence Project, Inc.

PO Box 9432

Canton, OH 44711

 

**All material submitted to the Clothesline Project becomes the sole property of the Clothesline Project and cannot be reclaimed by the sender.  The Clothesline Project retains copyright on all submissions. 

 

 

What is the Silent Witness Exhibit? 

The Silent Witness exhibit is a traveling memorial honoring victims who were murdered between 1993 and the present in acts of domestic violence throughout Stark County.

 

The exhibit includes life-sized, red silhouettes, each representing a person whose life ended violently at the hands of a batterer.  One of the adult figures represents those unaccounted victims whose details were unreported or unacknowledged.

The goals of the Silent Witness Exhibit are:

 

Ø       To honor the victims who were murdered in acts of domestic violence.

Ø       To raise awareness of the extent of domestic violence in Stark County.

Ø       To help connect people with local resources for ending the violence in their lives.

Ø       To encourage community and legislative action to end the violence in our society.

 

To exhibit the Stark County Silent Witness Display, contact Domestic Violence Project, Inc. at (330) 491.1351 x242.

 

**In an effort to increase public awareness and accurately tell the stories about domestic violence victims throughout Stark County our silhouettes need to be updated.  We are seeking donations to help curve the cost of adding new women and children to our exhibit.  If you are interested in assisting with this please contact Domestic Violence Project, Inc. at (330) 491.1351 x248.

 

For Shelter Assistance Call
DVP Inc 24-Hour Hotline 330-453-SAFE (7233)
or Email us: shelter@domesticviolenceproj.org