SEEN+HEARD

SEEN+HEARD: Conversations About Sexual Assault, Abuse and Rape

Exhibition Open: August 26 - September 25, 2020

This portrayal of survivors through photographs by Cleveland based artist Honey Lazar, accompanied by their recorded stories, is a powerful testament to the power of telling.

“Until #MeToo, people who were molested, raped, assaulted, or harassed were rarely seen and less frequently heard. News cycles change, and I wanted to keep the conversation visible and loud. I sent emails to friends asking for participants willing to be photographed in my studio telling of their experience and making a short audio giving voice to the feelings kept secret for too long. Each person wore a white tee shirt, and I used a consistent lighting set-up painting a sameness of appearance. I didn’t want any distractions from the evolving narrative. Eye contact was difficult for some. Sessions often began with nervous laughter, and tears streaked faces when the mask of secret keeping was removed. Details of being molested by a family member, awakened in the night to rape, sexually harassed in the workplace, and molested during summer camp filled the studio. The exhibit creates a conversation from the still images and participants’ narratives. Photographs of the telling, accompanied by recordings, comprise “Seen+Heard,” a series of photographs of men and women sharing details of sexual abuse and assault, ending the silence. This exhibition bears witness - for their story cannot be heard until we stop and listen"

Honey Lazar, Photographer