Walking Alongside Trauma

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Sarah Montroy, “Vulnerability,” 2024

ceramic- stoneware paper clay, thread, 18cm x 27cm x 28cm (courtesy of the Gallery)

Opening Reception: January 16, 4p-6p

For the past 7 years, the iMPACTS initiative led by Professor Shaheen Shariff, McGill University, has addressed sexual violence on university campuses across Canada and internationally. Invited to step outside the university setting, CCBC’s exhibition explores the ripple effect sexualized violence has across the many aspects of our society.

Informed by those who walk alongside trauma every day, this exhibition examines structures, attitudes and beliefs that could amplify, but most often diminish, our ability to equitably address some of the root causes of sexualized violence.

Sexualized violence does not only affect those directly impacted by it, it negatively impacts all of us. And conversely, we all contribute to its’ genesis – whether through neglect, ignorance, willful disregard, or the privilege of our place in society. Our hope is that this exhibition will instigate much needed conversations which will inform and inspire collective action around this stain on humanity – that sadly, is still taken as a given by so many.

Raine Mckay

curator

The Walking Alongside Trauma (WAT) initiative, led by the Craft Council of BC (CCBC), is a  material-based arts exploration of the vicarious traumatization of sexualized violence. The purpose of our study is to examine the various impacts of the vicarious traumatization of sexualized violence (VTSV) on society, particularly for those who interact directly with survivors’ trauma (e.g., crisis support workers, family members, health care workers, educators, peers, etc.), who we refer to as “Witnesses”. Thirteen material-based artists have worked with these individuals to translate their experience into objects that will be the basis for a touring exhibition. Alongside the exhibition we are planning to engage the wider community through programming that will further explore the impact of VTSV.

Featuring Artists:

rachael ashe, bridget catchpole, nevada christianson, deborah dumka, hope forstenzer,

amy gogarty, eleanor hannan, benjamin kikkert, bettina matzkuhn, sarah montroy,

louise perrone, shaheen shariff & debra sloan