Art show aims to empower sexual violence survivors

  YWCA Dayton is marking Sexual Assault Awareness Month by holding an art show that will feature the work of survivors of sexual violence.Art will be displayed April 24 – 29 at Wholly Grounds Coffee, at 825 Wayne Ave., Dayton, which has offered to host the show. The public is also invited to the gallery opening from 6:30 - 8 p.m. April 24, at Wholly Grounds.One of the goals of the art show is to provide an empowering outlet for survivors of sexual violence to express themselves.“So often, a survivor's voice is taken away during the initial assault, and oftentimes, over again by a victim-blaming society. We wanted to give survivors the stage to say what they may not have had the chance to say, and often the best way to do that is through a creative outlet,” said Mady DeVivo, YWCA Dayton Rape Crisis Center manager. “By hosting an art show and allowing all different types of artistic mediums, we're centering their voice in whatever way they choose to express it.”All survivors are invited to submit their work and all mediums of art are welcome, from painting, to sculpture, to photography and more. This also includes spoken word and performance pieces, which can be performed at the gallery opening.The deadline to submit art is April 15 and those interested can fill out an interest form online or email rapecrisis@ywcadayton.org  with questions. Anonymous artwork submissions are welcome.April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and is a time each year that YWCA Dayton works to draw attention to the prevalence of sexual assault and educate individuals and communities about how to prevent it.Surveys indicate an estimated 1 in 5 women and 1 in 6 men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetimes, though the true extent is not fully known because of underreporting.