By Molly Miller · Contributing Writer
The week after Easter break, Grove City will be hosting an exciting and important event in the Breen Student Union. “Exhale.” is a one-night gallery on April 8 raising awareness for victims and survivors of assault and abuse. The event will feature art in various forms, which in the past have included photography, poetry, painting, mixed media, etc. These pieces tend to provoke thought and emotion in impactful ways. There will be live music and a student testimonial on the main floor of the Student Union. Additionally, there will be an information booth and a short talk from Mercer County AWARE. And, as a partnership with Art and Soul, there will be an interactive art piece for all attendees to participate in. Refreshments will be provided.
The subject of the event, while heavy, is incredibly important to talk about. “Abuse and Assault is increasingly becoming a taboo subject. ‘Exhale.’ is here to talk about it,” junior organizer Caitlyn Williams said. “As far as I’m aware, ‘exhale.’ is one of the only, if not the only, event on campus which openly acknowledges abuse and assault.” The importance of the topic and the event cannot be overstated.
“Each person encountered is a new and different life story. So many of us suffer in silence,” Williams said. The goal of “exhale.” is to speak out against assault and abuse, and to speak up for victims/survivors of it. Those labels have been chosen very purposefully. The word “victim” acknowledges what has been done to them. The language of “survivor” is equally important to the way we discuss assault and abuse, acknowledging and empowering them to be resilient and full of endurance.
“I don’t like the phrase ‘time heals all wounds,’” Williams said. “If anything, the grief we experience shapes and molds us into who we have yet to become. All of us can use what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good.”
The gallery is a beautiful acknowledgment of the pain felt in a fallen world with the desire for growth and healing on this side of heaven.
As the date approaches, readers are encouraged to submit art pieces or perform music at the event. Pieces may be submitted anonymously, and you never know how sharing a piece of yourself may impact others. When we choose to be vulnerable, the butterfly effect is unimaginable. Submitters do not have to have personally experienced assault or abuse to share a piece.
All are welcome to attend the event, which will run from 7 to 10 p.m. There is great power in speaking up about difficult topics, and this is a beautiful opportunity to come and learn about a subject often left unspoken.
