35th Anniversary Traveling Exhibit. Schedule of Locations and Featured Artwork

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1 35th Anniversary Traveling Exhibit Schedule of Locations and Featured Artwork

2 Upcoming Art Exhibit Locations August l Southminster Presbyterian Church 680 S. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn September 8-12 l Congregation Beth Shalom 772 W. 5th Ave., Naperville September l Congregation Etz Chaim 1710 S. Highland, Lombard, IL September l Bethel United Church of Christ 315 E. St. Charles Rd., Elmhurst September 30-October 3 l St. Raphael s, 1215 Modaff Rd., Naperville October 7-10 l St. Mary Margaret 1450 Green Trails Drive, Naperville October 16 l Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 4501 Main St., Downers Grove (across the street from Family Shelter s 5K Run happening that day) November 10 l Elmhurst College, Elmhurst December 9-12 l St. Petronille s Church 420 Glenwood Ave., Glen Ellyn This exhibit will be on display throughout 2011, so please check back for additional locations. If you are interested in hosting the exhibit, please call Mo McGuire at x7107.

3 Family Shelter s 35th Anniversary Exhibit of original artworks was compiled to recognize the struggle and celebrate the resilience of victims of domestic violence.

4 o commemorate our 35th anniversary of providing help and hope to victims of domestic violence, Family Shelter Service has put together this exhibit of original artworks. The artists featured in this exhibit answered our call for artworks that symbolize the tribulations endured by victims of domestic violence, as well as the triumphs of beginning a new life free of abuse. Family Shelter received many pieces, created through a wide variety of mediums, and an independent panel of judges has selected the top three for recognition. Each artist included a statement with their submitted work that explains the piece and reveals the inspiration behind it. Family Shelter extends its sincerest appreciation to all of the artists who contributed works of art.

Our daughter fled her home with her three small children in fear for her life; many heinous acts had occurred in her home against both her and her children.

Our daughter lost her children in a bitter divorce/ custody battle in the DuPage County court system. Her abuser waged a massive court battle and told many lies.

Due to the trauma and resultant stress, my husband had to undergo heart surgery, and now two years later, cancer surgery and chemotherapy. Our daughter grieves her loss every day, as we do.

5 Our daughter fled her home with her three small children in fear for her life; many heinous acts had occurred in her home against both her and her children. Because of threats from her abuser, she did not make any police reports until after she had left the home. Our daughter lost her children in a bitter divorce/ custody battle in the DuPage County court system. Her abuser waged a massive court battle and told many lies. My husband and I helped our daughter financially and gave her a safe place in our home, but although she had done nothing wrong, she can no longer see her children. Due to the trauma and resultant stress, my husband had to undergo heart surgery, and now two years later, cancer surgery and chemotherapy. Our daughter grieves her loss every day, as we do. The abuser continues to harass and stalk our family perpetuating the domestic violence while walking a fine line. My first drawing speaks loudly about the domestic violence too prevalent in so many homes Behind Closed Doors. The second drawing speaks of the unthinkable outcome in the courts where her children were taken from their own mother. The abuser is fading away in the upper left side of the drawing and another abuser views the damage in the foreground. The mother is silenced in her grief surveying the painful scene. The children joined together by hands float aimlessly in the abyss of troubled waters. I use the fetal image in my drawings to symbolize new beginnings and a sense of hope healing the child within. These horrific events traumatized our family with pain beyond anything we have ever known. The last part of the triptych depicts what is hoped for... reuniting the children with their mother. Her arms in a protective pose seemingly embrace the little ones so dear to a mother s heart. Barbara Holbrook

While a home may look perfect from the outside, very serious, depressing situations may take place inside. Alex Maksymec This wood sculpture represents what happens behind closed doors.

The arrows around the mind are the verbal abuse words that wrap around every day, never allowing this person to feel human.

6 While a home may look perfect from the outside, very serious, depressing situations may take place inside. Alex Maksymec This wood sculpture represents what happens behind closed doors. The Then Side represents a person who has gone through much trauma and abuse. The face is in agony and the tears that fall to the ground reflect sadness and despair. The arrows around the mind are the verbal abuse words that wrap around every day, never allowing this person to feel human. The inside door has the word HELP and only scratch marks at the door because there is no way out. The Now Side is a brand new door. This person has discovered that there is life after horrid abuse and is a SURVIVOR. This door has handles on the outside and the inside this person is alive with life and new growth as depicted by the flowers (in the inside door panel). This survivor has made a journey to inner healing and is free. Marianne DiVittorio

Nicole Sulzman I had difficulty expressing how domestic violence and the emotions that go with it have affected my life until I heard a song called It s You by Fireflight.

7 This artist says that art is her favorite and best form of expression and that she likes to make it relatable. She entitled this work The Garden that Now Grows and wrote: As someone who has been near to many people who have lived in broken homes, I have also seen them recover and continue to live. Nicole Sulzman I had difficulty expressing how domestic violence and the emotions that go with it have affected my life until I heard a song called It s You by Fireflight. The song s lyrics, I wish I could break all the mirrors in my mind, the ones that lie to me and steal away my pride, gave me inspiration as to how someone overcoming domestic violence might feel. I knew that was how I felt while trying to get over my own experience of domestic violence. That s why I painted a girl staring into a darker version of herself in a broken mirror, to symbolize how domestic violence can alter an individual s vision of themselves; but with help, they can break from that image, emerging with hope and a stronger version of themselves. Mackenzie Upchurch

Lauren Vargo This progression of photos reflects the artist s experience of domestic violence.

8 In this picture you see a perfectly pretty girl, but at second glance you notice something is wrong. Entitled People Like Us, this picture represents the fact that abuse can happen in places you don t always expect. Lauren Vargo This progression of photos reflects the artist s experience of domestic violence. Regarding picture 1, upper left, the artist writes: It started out with a scolding and some hurtful words. The apologies came and I forgave. We were talking and laughing again and I knew I had some hope to hold onto. Of picture 2, upper right: Then the beatings and insults started. Each day they became gradually worse. I felt so worthless. What little sense of hope I had evolved into a kind of shame that I can t describe. I didn t know what I did wrong, but I strongly believed it was all my fault. Picture 3 in the lower left, according to the artist, depicts her karate pose and most fearful looking expression. The shame I lived through grew into a life-gripping fear. I felt that death was tormenting me. Hopelessness started to creep in, but I held on. I knew no human being deserved to be treated this way. Somehow I was able to muster up enough courage to say Stop! Regarding picture 4 on the lower right: I then began to realize that the only way to escape this horrible place was to leave. I reached for one last bit of hope and waved goodbye to the hell I had been trapped in for far too long. I ran as far and as fast as I could so that I would never be found by my abuser. I finally felt safe and hopeful and could live out the rest of my life enjoying bright tomorrows. I will no longer allow myself to feel the shame, fear or torment that I was forced to live out at the hands of an abuser. As long as I have breath in my body, I will always have HOPE. Rachel DiVittorio

There is a house split in half, part of it at the top and part at the bottom.

9 In this particular piece, at first glance, the dominant colors, pink and yellow, are light and soft. But upon closer examinination, there is something a little darker going on. There is a house split in half, part of it at the top and part at the bottom. There is a woman s eye in the center peering out, maybe to see if the coast is clear. And shapes of birds appear, symbolizing a desire for flight. Noreen Lassandrello This work, entitled by the artist Love and Riot, was created to show that we must stand up against violence and use love to conquer it. Nicole Putong

resulting from domestic violence, but also the hope and strength that girder healing, and at times, may not be apparent to those involved.

10 Artist Statement The written word makes up this artist s statement. Sandra White This watercolor, entitled Sometimes Home is a Little Scary, came to mind when I was thinking of the isolation, fear, selfdoubts and insecurities often resulting from domestic violence, but also the hope and strength that girder healing, and at times, may not be apparent to those involved. In this painting, a haunted, confused little girl looks into the dark side, waiting and keeping safe with her counsel (doll). There s a small ray of hope in the little window on the back wall. Some plant life flourishes, some struggles and other spots are almost barren. Josephine Kennedy

While completing my Masters in Art, I kept a drawing journal to reflect these experiences. This, together with personal relationships with friends and family, enabled me to create this piece.

11 I ve been able to grow and learn about myself through my art, writes this artist. I have worked with survivors of domestic violence in individual and group counseling, as well as in art therapy groups. While completing my Masters in Art, I kept a drawing journal to reflect these experiences. This, together with personal relationships with friends and family, enabled me to create this piece. Alexis LeMieux Piercing Silence, writes the artist, is a documentary about my journey, and that of thousands of women like me. I was divorced and raising two children when I approached Family Shelter to produce a documentary on domestic violence for my master s thesis. For one year I photographed women at the shelter, spent evenings at their support group, watched women plead for emergency and plenary orders of protection in court, interviewed them both in and out of shelter, and observed them fixing meals, doing chores and relaxing with their children. I interviewed counselors, court advocates and law enforcement officers, and read articles, books and journals on domestic violence and battered woman syndrome, immersing myself in the lives of women who had left, or wanted to leave their homes with their children. Somewhere in the process, I realized that I was looking at my own and my children s lives with my former husband. Denise Poncher Greene

This picture represents an individual who has been abused for a very long time and she is in deep despair and shame.

Marianne DiVittorio This artist has worked with glass for over 30 years: blowing, carving and casting and writes of this

Robert Lee Fritz This artist writes: Having experienced the emotional upheaval of neglect, institutionalization in an

12 This picture represents an individual who has been abused for a very long time and she is in deep despair and shame. She is behind closed doors because she feels there is no way out and hides in her own hopelessness. Marianne DiVittorio This artist has worked with glass for over 30 years: blowing, carving and casting and writes of this piece: I wanted to show how an individual can rise above domestic violence to build a new life. Robert Lee Fritz This artist writes: Having experienced the emotional upheaval of neglect, institutionalization in an orphanage and adoption, I created this eagle in the cage made of wire and clay to represent that home is not always the safest place to be and it requires great personal strength to break free. Irena Browar

13 My clients have inspired me through their continual belief in hope and their beauty which they cling to amidst the ashes. Emily Sampson When I created this face out of torn bits of magazine photos, I was thinking about how domestic violence tears women apart, yet they must find the strength to hold all aspects of their lives together. The top half of her outfit shows a capable working woman with a hint of compliance, while her running legs show strength, the challenge of balancing the roles of wife, mother and employee. At the same time, the running also reminds me of a racing heart that is trying so hard to keep the peace. The silverware was a reference to the often-cited example of the carefully prepared dinner that is met with anger and displeasure by the abuser and triggers an explosion. Judy Petrushka

the harsh and dangerous life we were living.

14 This photo is of my five children looking out at the ocean just before sunset in La Jolla, California, the artist writes. It was April 2009, two months before we would leave California, the abuse and almost everything we owned to flee to Illinois to be with family and start a new life away from the harsh and dangerous life we were living. For this one weekend in April, though, we were able to escape for a couple of days during spring break, enjoy the peace and beauty of our surroundings, lose ourselves in the scenery and dream of better times ahead. Sharon Doyle This work, the artist writes, is intended to show that domestic violence is a very serious subject that needs to be addressed. Anonymous

15 This artist entitled her work Free as a Butterfly from Domestic Abuse. Dawn Rogers When You re Down on Your Knees, You Might as Well be Praying is the title of this work. Faith is underestimated as a survival tool in becoming a victor over domestic violence, writes the artist. No matter how dark it gets, with faith there is always light and hope. Sharon Doyle

16 My grandmother was part of an abusive relationship, writes the artist, but she never quit living her life and she never gave up. I d like to remember her as the strong person she was. Sierra Coleman The following artworks were submitted without statements.

21 Family Shelter Service extends its sincerest appreciation to all of the exceptional artists who submitted their works for our 35th Anniversary Exhibit.

22 Our sincerest appreciation to our Premier Sponsor MacNeil Automotive Products Home of WeatherTech for helping to make this exhibit possible. Many thanks to Bob and Denise Greene of DuPage Framing Center for contributing their time and considerable talents to frame our submitted artworks. The Behind Closed Doors Exhibit Committee Sister Arlene Ashack Bridget Darst Robert Lee Fritz Marianne DiVittorio Karen Kuchar Noreen Lassandrello Penny Linneweh Robbie MacRoy Steph McGrath Maureen McGuire

PURSUIT OF MEMORY THROUGH LANDSCAPE

PURSUIT OF MEMORY THROUGH LANDSCAPE by Sueim Koo Submitted to the School of Art + Design In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts Purchase College State University