Seeking subjects for portraits

I am seeking to do portraits of individuals who are survivors of sexual and interpersonal violence. I want to collect stories of surviving, healing, and thriving. If you would like to be a subject, contact me at olson.carolann@gmail.com.

Send me your story, photos of you if you are comfortable with that, stories of your healing and where you are now. I plan to exhibit or show what I create once completed in some form.

I look forward to the stories..

Another Art in Response to Violence presentation

This week I did two presentations, one on art in response to violence.  It did a similar presentation to the one I presented in Chicago at the Art in Response to Violence International Conference.  Again, I presented on the use of art as a tool within an anti-violence agency.  I added the use of creative writing by one of my staff with clients who had completed trauma treatment.  This presentation was at the Annual Retreat hosted by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, held at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.  I had a great time and was happy to bring Traci with me for her writing group experience. 

I repost my thoughts about what I am doing with this presentation from a previous blog post below…..

In my work at  the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault (RCASA), I have incorporated  artistic creation into our work in rape crisis response at three levels.  Art Therapy in incorporated into the counseling program to work with survivors of violence in the immediate aftermath of violence as well as for survivors seeking counseling many years after the event.  Art Therapy is well-recognized as an exemplary treatment modality for survivors of violence.

RCASA has also worked with survivors to create and utilize the creative voice recaptured within therapy sessions to become advocates, using art to raise awareness and reduce stigma of sexually violent crimes.  This awareness campaign was developed under the “premise that survivors can be scholars of their own experience and to explore how the humanities can contribute to our understanding of sexual violence and expression” (Art of Surviving).   This awareness campaign as well as RCASA’s use of creative writing and art groups for graduates of our counseling program is designed to work with survivors to access the power of visual media to diffuse violence and increase awareness of the impact of violence on our society as a constructive social action.  Art as an advocacy tool “at once addresses the horrors of sexual assault along with gently giving a sense of hope in survival.” (Art of Surviving and RCASA exhibit 2008).  This ties in so well with the statement made by Junge, et all (1993) “as art therapists are we too often helping people adjust to a destructive society? “

Internally to the agency, another type of trauma can be a factor in response to survivors and that is the providers themselves.  Vicarious trauma within the violence response industry results a high turnover rate of crisis responders, advocates and counselors.  Rape crisis centers focus solely on one event, sexually violent crimes.  Rape crisis responders, counselors, advocates, and educators all experience the trauma of crime vicariously in their interactions with crime, a society that still incorporates victim-blaming and disruptions in community response to such stigma-infused crimes.   Here, the staff participates in creative art making sessions with the goal of metaphoric intervention within the staff group experience.   These sessions allows rape crisis providers of all types in the agency to maintain their bond in serving victims of violence, process their own experiences in dealing with victims, families, perpetrators, the legal system, and the community in general in a creative manner that combines working through metaphor, sharing space in a healing manner and sharing words of support and empowerment.

My goal in not only incorporating art therapy as a strong and recognized treatment for victims of violence but also to work toward the goal as an art therapist working in a community center to bring that voice toward and inclusive of my community.  And as an effect, bring the voice of the survivor to the community.

Related Articles

Highlighting Art Therapy in a DV Shelter – Domestic Violence Resource Center

Domestic Violence Resource Center P.O. Box 494 Hillsboro, OR 97123  p 503.640.5352  f 503.648.6905

24-Hour Crisis Line 503.469.8620 | Toll Free 1.866.469.8600

Children’s Intervention Program serves children 4-17 years old who have been exposed to domestic violence, adolescents who have directly experienced dating violence, and non-offending parents/guardians. We educate the community about the effects of domestic violence on children, teach prevention strategies to end domestic violence, and share ways to support children who have experienced violence in their homes.

We aim for child witnesses of domestic violence to

• learn that the violence is not their fault,
• know that it is o.k. to talk about the violence and to tell someone if they feel unsafe,
• decrease the sense of isolation,
• decrease anxiety and fear,
• increase the sense of security, and
• decrease self-blame.

Services

• Individual counseling
• Support groups
• Parent support group
• Family counseling (with non-offending parent only)
• Art / sand / play / filial therapy
• Parent-Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT)
• Safety planning
• Advocacy
• Information and referrals
• Community education / trainings

Children exposed to domestic violence are at risk of experiencing poor school performance, fear, anxiety, panic, aggression, lack of empathy, withdrawal, guilt, shame, passivity and isolation. Child witnesses are at a higher risk of substance abuse, becoming victims or perpetrators, and suicide.

The program serves more than 150 children/youth and 70 non-offending parents served each year.

For more information, call Amy Gettings, program director, at 503.640.5352 x302.

 

 

Ways Art Therapy can support DV awareness – Check out A Window Between World’s programs

A Window Between Worlds (AWBW) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using art to help end domestic violence. Since 1991, AWBW has provided creative expression as a healing tool for over 49,500 battered women and their children in crisis shelters, transitional homes, and outreach centers throughout the United States.

Their programs aim to:

• Make art available as a powerful resource for domestic violence survivors,
• Assist domestic violence agencies in creating vital, permanent art programs, and
• Leverage the impact of our work through collaboration.

Are you an art therapist is Venice, California?  Volunteer or donate to help the cause.

Ways Art Therapy can Support Domestic Violence Awareness – host an empowerment tour

Host an Empowerment Tour, incorporate creative artistic expression through visual art, poetry, or theater.  As an art therapy event, you could work with survivors to share their stories in a creative format to bring awareness.

In Richmond, VA:

October 9 1st Annual Empowerment Tour Sponsored by Lyrically Inspired, Inc. 7:30pm at Byrd Theatre, 2908 West Cary Street, Richmond.

This show will be comprised of spoken word, fashion and theatre as an avenue to bring awareness to the epidemic of domestic violence. Nationally renowned spoken word artists will empower attendees with words while fashions from featured designers such as Michael Taylor Couture will grace the stage. An ongoing theatrical performance will tie both the words of empowerment and sophisticated style together in order to educate the audience about the epidemic of domestic violence and to empower them as well. This show will be hosted by Poet from Washington, D.C.’s radio station WPCG 95.5 accompanied by DJ Lonnie B of Power 92.1.

For more information contact Stacie Vecchietti at 804-249-9470 15.