Domestic Violence Art Exhibit Aims to ‘Air It Out’

Photo by Mike Lacon

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in communities across the country.

Dr. Kathleen O’Brien, Executive Director of Walden and Chair of the St. Mary’s County Family Violence Coordinating Council, invites community members to visit Walden’s art exhibit “Air It Out: the Clothesline Project” at the Lexington Park Library Art Galley. The exhibit can be viewed anytime that the library is open, and is up for the entire month of October.

“There is so much that we must do locally to educate one another about intimate partner violence and the importance of programs that help victims safely address abuse in their own lives and in the lives of their families. The presence of programs like Walden, Southern Maryland Family Advocacy Center, Three Oaks and other programs represented on the St. Mary’s County Family Violence Coordinating Council can create positive changes in victims’ lives as well as mean the difference between life and death. St Mary’s County is fortunate to have a council comprised of dedicated law enforcement, judiciary officials and services providers partnering to eliminate domestic violence in our community. Last year 43 Marylanders lost their lives as a result of domestic violence. It’s clear that there’s more work to be done,” explains Dr. O’Brien. “At the federal legislative level, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) makes funding for these vital victim service, law enforcement and court programs possible across the nation and the state. I commend Congressman Steny Hoyer for co-sponsoring the original Violence Against Women Act in 1994 and all other legislators who are working so tirelessly in the House of Representatives to take up the Senate’s bipartisan bill to assure VAWA’s reauthorization. The safety of victims should be beyond politics. Those of us who work with victims every day just want to continue to be there for them.”

“Air It Out” features arts in images and words created by survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence and those who love them. The Clothesline Project is a national domestic violence awareness effort, and Walden has been a participant for the last three years.

Dr. O’Brien also invites the community to support the St. Mary’s County Commission for Women’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation, scheduled at the St. Mary’s County Board of County Commissioners meeting today.

Source: Walden Behavioral Health