If you walk past UCI’s main library tomorrow, you’ll find a colorful display criss-crossing the plaza, flapping in the wind like Tibetan prayer flags. If you examine them more closely, you’ll find that they are inscribed with prayers of a sort. They are memorials of abuse. Some are sorrowful, others angry.

Every year I try to spend some time in the space made sacred by these silent witnesses, listening, grieving, meditating, recommitting. This year, I’d like to evangelize a bit, to share the experience with you.

Visit the official Clothesline Project website for more information. If you’re in Orange County, come visit the exhibit tomorrow (Wednesday, April 19, 2006) during the day. In the evening at 7pm there will be a Take Back the Night candlelight vigil and march. We will meet by the flagpoles in front of the Admin building.

The rest of the text in this post came from the handout distributed to us at the exhibit.

The Clothesline Project is a participatory exhibit and a visual display designed to break the silence surrounding violence against women and to illustrate the impact of violence. The exhibit is comprise of T-shirts designed by survivors of violence and by their families and friends.
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The Project focuses on providing healing for survivors of violence, educating the public about violence, and preventing violence.

Shirts may be color-coded for different types of violence:
WHITE - for those who have died of violence
YELLOW OR BEIGE - for those who have been battered or assaulted
RED, PINK OR ORANGE - for those who have been raped or sexually assaulted
BLUE OR GREEN - for those who are survivors of incest or child sexual abuse
PURPLE OR LAVENDER - for those attacked because of their sexual orientation