Bringing Incest to Light
Empowering the Voice of Survivors Through Expressive Arts! EMPOWERed VOICE ExhibitEMPOWERed VOICE Workshop
Bringing Incest to Light
Bringing incest to light is multi-faceted program that empowers childhood sexual assault survivors (in particular incest survivors), educates the public about the pervasiveness of childhood sexual assault and finds ways of prevention to effectively eliminate childhood sexual assault in our lifetime.
Sexual assault silences. The oppressive silencing we experience as children can reach well into adulthood, and in the process, we lose touch with our source of power, our Truth – our voice.
Over 30% of women and 7% of men in America have been sexually assaulted as a child. The disempowerment that happens as a result is devastating. Silenced by their perpetrator, survivors of sexual assault lack self esteem, often not being able to share their needs and desires with the ones they love most. They feel unseen and unheard in their lives, as though they have no voice.
The silence is so destructive that it creates mental, emotional and physical illness long into adulthood.
The Mission
1. Bring to light the pervasiveness of sexual assault through speaking and expressive arts that depict the individual stories of as many survivors as possible.
2. Empower survivors to become strong, independent, confident women with powerful voices that allow them to be seen and heard.
3. Release the gripping silence, bring the darkness of shame into light in order to heal.
4. Build a body of advocates who are outspoken and excited to carry on the message of strong, independent, confident women with powerful voices that allow them to be seen and heard at last.
5. Teach respect for self and others through educating children, teens and adults.
6. Eradicate Sexual Assault in our lifetime.
The Vision
The Empowered Voice Traveling Exhibit launches April 2019 in Carbondale, Colorado and Oakland, California, showing the result of women sharing their healing journey through expressive arts including artist books, framed artwork, dance, music, poetry and the spoken voice.
Using Claire O’Leary’s revolutionary EMPOWER™ technique, we’ll create an expressive art journey to take across America. We’ll reclaim our voices and wake up America to the prevalence of child sexual assault and incest.
The Empowered Voice Exhibit empowers survivors to regain their voice while educating the public and creating public will.
- Empowers incest survivors by giving them a voice after years of silence
- Demonstrates the power of expressive art in healing
- Demonstrates the journey from the shame and pain of incest to healing and gaining wisdom within
- Offers solutions that support incest survivors
- Provides information on becoming a survivors’ advocate
- Present Ideas for prevention
Expressive Arts Workshops
“Art has the potential to transform lives and often in profound ways; research is demonstrating that art improves not only our quality of life, but also is effective in reducing pain, fatigue and stress and increasing cognitive abilities and emotional well-being.“
– Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPCC, LPAT, ATR-BC, REAT
Expressive arts can be used to transform the lives of survivors who are still struggling with the long-term effects of childhood sexual assault, even after years of therapy. Through the intentional act of creating, survivors silenced by sexual assault become strong, independent and confident with powerful voices that allow them to be seen and heard even after decades of silence.
Complementary to mind-body, sensory-integration and neuropsychology approaches to trauma-informed care, psychotherapy and wellness, expressive arts can directly address the damaging self esteem issues caused by childhood sexual assault and in particular incest.
Learn about the next Expressive Arts Workshop
Call to Courageous Women
Are you ready to claim your voice and share your healing journey?
Are you tired of keeping silent and ready to ROAR?
We’re looking for sexual assault survivors who are healing from their childhood trauma and are ready to share their pain and healing journey through expressive arts.
Art will be displayed at The Empowered Voice, traveling exhibit which launches with a sneak peak at the Carbondale, April 6th, First Friday Celebration!
Additional exhibits & performances are scheduled April 7 & 8 at the Third Street Center in the Round Room. Details to follow.
We all have stories that need to be told.
Using simple visual journaling techniques, we’ll create a simple artist book depicting your healing journey.
The EMPOWERed Voice Exhibit
The inaugural EMPOWERed VOICE Traveling Exhibit launches April 6, 2019 during Sexual Assault and Awareness month with a public exhibit of movement, music, art, and verbal expression by survivors of childhood sexual assault.
The exhibit will expand public awareness around sexual assault in an effort to eliminate sexual assault in our lifetime and to help heal the wounds of survivors while empowering their voice.
The traveling exhibit is an opportunity for survivors to share their voice, be seen, and be heard – a healing experience for both artist and viewer.
It's a chance for the public to be informed about the devastating effects of sexual assault. Perhaps even to change our culture to one of knowledge, compassion and gain the conviction to become advocates of survivors.
Sneak Peak April 6, First Friday, Recreation Center, Carbondale, CO
Empowered Voice Exhibit April 7 & 8
Round Room, Third Street Center, Carbondale, CO
Stay tuned for details
REDEFINED 2019: A Day of Healing, April 27, the Humanist Hall, Oakland, CA
About Claire
Claire is a childhood sexual assault survivor who empowers other survivors through her peer led EMPOWER™ Technique and from Wounds to Wisdom mentoring program..
CEO and Founder of The Empowered VOICE Traveling Exhibit, Claire empowers the voice of survivors through expressive arts and speaking.
For 5 years, Claire has led workshops and worked with individuals to guide them through blocks, helping them identify, release and reframe their trauma to empower their voice.
Claire provides a safe haven for women incest survivors to gain the confidence and inner power to reclaim their authentic voice and live their soul's desire.
She also an avid speaker sharing about “Healing America from Incest", "Moving from Wounds to Wisdom“ and "The Alchemy of a Lemon".