The College of Saint Mary in Omaha will host a survivor art installation to call attention to rape myths and the reality of sexual assault in our society. The exhibit “What Were You Wearing?” will be held at the college’s Hillmer Art Gallery from April 19th to the 30th.
Project Coordinator for the Office of Violence against Women at the college, Torri Jannicke, said one of the goals of the exhibit is to take blame off victims and put it back where it belongs, on the perpetrators. It aims to dispel the myth that what an assault survivor was wearing matters by displaying clothes depicting what survivors were wearing.
“It will reflect what the survivor was wearing whether it’s a pair of jeans or if it was sweatpants, and their story will be placed next to it to give it representation. And so many times individuals will be like ‘oh my gosh’ I have that in my closet.”
The self-led tour will be free and open to the public. Jannicke just asks people to take their-time through the exhibit as the subject matter may be triggering for some.