- Home » Community Education » The Clothesline Project
The Clothesline Project
 |
 |
 
| |
| Please click on the thumbnails above to view a larger image | |
Bearing Witness to Violence Against Women
Break the Silence
The Clothesline Project 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.
We started with thirtry-one shirts hung in Hyannis, Massachusetts in the fall of 1990. 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:
To bear witness to the survivors as well as the victms of the war against women.
To help with the healing process for people who have lost a loved one or are survivors of this violence.
To educate, document, and raise society's awareness of the extent of the problem of violence against women.
To provide a nationwde network of support, encouragment and information for other communities starting their own Clothesline Projects.
What goes on the Clothesline?
We ask women to send shirts or tee shirts of durable material preferable 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 and 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 a survivor should be submitted with her written permission. We ask that you respect their anonymity by not using their name. Last name or hometown are not required. We would 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 initals 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.
Domestic Violence Project, Inc.
PO Box 9432
Canton, OH 44711
Please include symbol name or recognizable feature on shirt, color of shirt, state, town or city where shirt should be displayed and the relationship of maker(s) to person. Let us know if you wish to remain anonymous. (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 all copyrights on all materal submitted. The description and photographs may be used in forthcoming publications from the Clotheline Project.)
Monetary or material donations to the Clothesline Project, however small, are greatly appreciated!
The Silent Witness exhibit is a traveling memorial, sponsored by the Junior League of Canton, Inc. and Domestic Violence Project, Inc., honoring victims who were murdered between 1993 and the present in acts of domestic violence in 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:
-
To honor the victims who were murdered in acts of domestic violence
-
To raise awareness of the extent of domestic violence in Stark County
-
To help connect people with local resources for ending the violence in their lives
-
To encourage community and legislative action to end the violence in our society.
For Shelter Assistance Call
DVP Inc 24-Hour Hotline (330)-453-SAFE
or Email us: shelter@domesticviolenceproj.org