By: Caleb Burkholder
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The NWA Center for Sexual Assault is hosting an event titled “Unbroken: Artistic Triumphs” featuring an art exhibit with illustrations from survivors of domestic and sexual abuse on Thursday, Oct. 17, in Fayetteville.
The center for sexual assault urges artists of all backgrounds to participate in this artistic event.
This event is the culmination of multiple art workshops created with survivors in conjunction with the center for sexual assault.
The exhibition will open at 6 p.m. at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and live performances will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Taylor McKinney, the development director at the NWA Center for Sexual Assault, says that this event will put a much-needed spotlight on the resilience of the survivors.
“Survivors have created masterpieces through mixed media, pottery, painting, poetry, and music aimed to highlight the resilience of survivors. We’re wanting to bring awareness to the healing power that art provides,” said McKinney.
Odalys Serrano, a bilingual advocate for the center, makes it known that these stories spread to other communities, such as our Hispanic population in Northwest Arkansas.
“It’s to break the stigma within the Latino community about talking about sexual assault,” said Serrano.
This event also serves as an award ceremony where Nate Walls of Second Helping NWA will be awarded the Roger Collins Beacon of Hope award for outstanding service in the community.