Speaking Through Art
According to the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault (IowaCASA), one in three women and one in six men in the United States has experienced some form of sexual violence. Fifty percent of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals have also experienced sexual violence.
The MeToo Art Show, showcased downtown at the Des Moines Social Club, was an idea conceived by Allison Missal, a digital photography instructor at the Des Moines Art Center. This idea was created about a year ago when the #MeToo movement began to take shape. Missal personally participated in the #MeToo movement online as well. She then reached out to IowaCASA for support of the idea, and they worked together to find a space for the exhibit.
...Many people attended opening night, and many others have been through the gallery in the past few weeks. Spectator, Trenton Seumbert, said that as a male, he felt the need to come and educate himself more on the subject. He wanted to evaluate himself and his actions and understand how he can play a part in the movement. He said that artwork, specifically, is the truest form of sending a message.
Sexual violence is something that many people in our society deal with every day, whether they share their experiences or not. The #MeToo movement is a way for survivors of sexual violence to reach out to others and support one another in their journeys.
