A three-year retrospective of art by women from The Organization for Prostitution Survivors Mark your calendar to join us in welcoming the artists on Wed. Nov 2, 4:30-6:30 reception in the Gallery. 
Created by participants of the Organization for Prostitution Survivors (OPS), this exhibit represents a range of visual and poetic testimony reflecting the strength and uniquely individual and collective force of women at OPS. Art workshops began in February 2013, have continued every Saturday on a drop in basis, and remain one of our most vital core survivor services. Because of the complex and chronic nature of the trauma most of the women have experienced over the course of their lives, the relational aspect of the way the workshop is set up along with the very personal relational nature of the work itself (between the artist and herself), makes for a potentially healing and transformative experience for the artist.
Over time the participants invest more and more deeply in the process. As new women come in, those who have been around for a while welcome them and model the values of our community. This is their space. One afternoon during our closing circle, one of the artists was talking about her art-making experience and she put it in these words:
“I am not just looking to cope anymore, I’m looking to transform.” About OPS
OPS is a grassroots, nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by survivors of prostitution and allies to end the violence of prostitution and change the cultural norms supporting it. OPS operates within three focus areas: Survivor Services, Community Education, and Men’s Accountability, with all aspects centered on the voices and leadership of survivors. To learn more about OPS, please visit seattleops.org. |