SIUE’s Annual Clothesline Project Held Online
Bringing awareness to the issue of violence against women, men and children is critical, and so is allowing the message to be expressed creatively. The Clothesline Project does both as participants convey their emotions by decorating t-shirts.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Counseling Services held its annual Clothesline Project online on Wednesday, April 1.
“We didn’t want to cancel such an important event,” said Samantha Dickens, Prevention Education and Advocacy Center (PEACe) coordinator. “So, we offered an online session, where an artist made t-shirts, and we held a virtual roundtable discussion on the subject of sexual and interpersonal violence.”
The Clothesline Project started in 1990 with 31 shirts to help educate people about the toll that violence has on the community and to give a voice to the victims, according to Dickens.
“The symbol of the clothesline was used as a way to repurpose something that felt oppressive and as a way to support all survivors,” she added. “After the shirts have been decorated, they are hung on a clothesline display. The intention of the display is to honor and support survivors and act as a memorial for victims. It is also intended to aid in the healing process for those who were directly affected, and those who have lost someone to violence. Lastly, the clothesline display is to educate society and promote awareness, as well as to document violent crimes against women.”
Brandace “Brandy” Cloud, MAC executive director conducted the t-shirt decorating tutorial sessions from the studio of the Macoupin Art Collective (MAC). Cloud emphasized that students and other would-be crafters need not be artists to participate and produce a creative and empowering t-shirt.
Cloud used simple, everyday items such as: fabric, cardboard, alcohol, perforated bubble wrap, paint, paint brush, markers, pencils and scissors.
“Have fun with it. Use whatever you have. Just express yourself,” said Cloud. “If a white shirt is not available, use whatever is handy.”
Participating in the virtual discussion were Cloud, Lisa Thompson-Gibson, MA, LPC, staff counselor and coordinator for outreach and prevention initiatives for SIUE Counseling Services, and SIUE alumna Amanda “Mandy” Montayne, Call for Help Sexual Assault Victims’ Care Unit counselor. Montayne earned a bachelor’s and master’s in psychology from SIUE in 2014 and 2017, respectively.
“I was first involved in the Clothesline Project in 1991 when I was a hall director in housing at another college campus. It was cutting edge at the time. No one had been creating a public witness around sexual violence,” said Thompson-Gibson. “I have watched the Project over the past 30 years, and am glad to see it become less controversial. It has been helpful in creating community and encouraging healing.”
“I’m always excited to see the messages on the t-shirts,” added Montayne. “Their messages and experiences are empowering.”
“This is a great event to continue to have for a number of reasons,” concluded Dickens. “It is easy for students to take part in. It includes art, which many people love. It is also highly visual, and survivors can see they are supported, and our campus community can recognize that sexual violence is not tolerated on our campus.”
Photos:
Brandace “Brandy” Cloud, Macoupin Art Collective executive director, created these two t-shirts during SIUE’s annual Clothesline Project held online on Wednesday, April 1.