Traveling display raises awareness of abuse
Patricia Rippee just wants people to start paying attention to the incidence of domestic abuse.
Rippee has gathered the art for the “Domestic Abuse Awareness: The Effect on Children” exhibit, which opened April 28 at the Butler Art Center, located at 344 S. Main St., and runs through Saturday.
A group of artists and individuals have contributed to the traveling exhibit. Poems, letters, photographs and paintings make up the contributions on display.
Rippee said the artists donate their work with the understanding it will remain with the exhibit as long as it continues to travel.
“We just try and bring about awareness of the effect abuse has on children. Nine times out of 10, a child who's abused or exposed to abuse will become an abuser or a victim,” said Rippee. “The Butler County Arts Center people are very gracious, they're very accomodating.”
“We continue to try to hit has many places as we can. We had to slow down because of the coronavirus, but this is our first place back out after two years,” she said. The exhibit was in Harrisburg four times and in Allegheny County, including at the county's courthouse.
Art center board member Faith Stoughton said the exhibit is made up of works donated by artists who have volunteered to portray domestic violence and the letters are the words of victims themselves.
“(Rippee) also includes information on human trafficking,” Stoughton said.
“It's not so much an art show, but a pull-at-your-heart-strings awareness traveling, informational show,” said Stoughton.
Stoughton said the exhibit might benefit from the increased traffic at the art center now that pandemic restrictions have eased.
“We've see more interest in the art center. Traffic has increased,” she said.
Rippee said she herself is a victim of abuse.
The effects of domestic abuse can show up on children's later behavior, including aberrant behavior such as self-cutting, drug use and suicide.
It all depends on the coronavirus where the exhibit where the goes next, Rippee said.
