Arts & Culture

Banners and Rocks Exhibit Brings Violence Awareness

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2009) - As part of Domestic Violence Awareness month in October, several local abuse programs/shelters and students of the University of Kentucky’s community art education course teamed up to bring awareness to the cause through more than a dozen banners expressing the emotions of victims that hung along Vine Street through Oct. 26. Now that the display of the banners has ended downtown, the group invites the public to view the banners that showcased this important message regarding domestic violence abuse at an exhibit at Third Street Stuff and Coffee. An opening celebration is scheduled for the exhibition from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Third Street Stuff, located at 257 North Limestone. The celebration and exhibit are free and open to the public.

Along with the banners, the UK students have also incorporated into the event a project called "Rock On" Awareness. As part of the project, hundreds of donated rocks were spray-painted with a variety of bright colors by students and have for the last couple of weeks been colored and drawn on by random people passing the restaurants Mellow Mushroom and Third Street Stuff. Students encouraged people to draw and write messages on the rocks expressing support for victims of domestic violence. A large number of people took part in the project, and after completing their rock placed it in locations where it would be found by others throughout the community.

"You never know how important and invaluable art is until you release it into the world and it comes back to you filled with more hope and passion than ever before. That is what the 'Rock on Awareness' campaign has taught me," said Katie M. Avra, a student in the community art class.

As part of the Nov. 18 exhibit, the community art class hopes the public will stop by Third Street Stuff and take in the sight of the colorful banners and even decorate their own rock and place it somewhere else in town to be found by passersby in an attempt to continue to bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence. 

"As important as it is for individual creative expression, art can play just as vital a role in the community." said Benjamin C. Withers, chair of the UK Department of Art. "Professor Henton and her class provide a wonderful example of how to engage academic studies with contemporary life."

"I'm so happy with all of the energy and efforts with this activity," said Marty Henton, instructor for the UK community art education class. "It's been difficult due to the lack of time, but the one theme that has been prevalent is that all the students feel that this was a valuable experience and that they liked getting into the community to make something actually happen."

For further information on the Third Street Stuff and Coffee banner exhibit or the rock project supporting domestic violence awareness, contact via e-mail Mike Owens at maowen3@uky.edu or Marty Henton at marty.henton@uky.edu.