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| Maya Azucena, Rae Maxwell, Monica Watkins, Megaciph, Vanessa Hidary, Quentin Walcott |
I had the honor of passively participating in a night of healing, through the arts, In a swanky old warehouse, at an intimate venue called TheFreeCandy, located at 905 Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn. A most appropriate environment for what was in store. Singer, Song Writer and Activist, Maya Azucena hosted a powerful art exhibit with amazing photographer and friend, Rae Maxwell, depicting a story of domestic violence called The Lines In My Skin. More potent than that, Maya told her own personal story. A story not so uncommon with women considering they are about 90% of all reported cases of domestic abuse. Yes reported…and yes abuse. Not all abuse is physically violent, there is emotional violence as well.
The Lines In My Skin, Maya’s story as told through Rae’s lens, shines a light on such a dark topic. As part of the exhibit, a listening room with audio of Maya telling her story of a particular night before Maya was scheduled to sing in a church for a friend at 7:00AM. Her night of a, “knees to the chest”, “hands around the neck” relationship, seemed like a saga that could only be shared enough years later that the sting of the words were no greater than the physical scars left behind.
The strength of the message delivered by the rest of the panel was driven home more so by the strength of the messengers, rather than the emotion that wells through their accounts. Because in reality, they shared stories that were not so unique to others I’ve heard. After listening I thought to myself, “I know women who have been abused…this sounds exactly like them.” The only difference, the people selected to sit on the panel weren’t like the women and men I knew. They seemed to be as confident and sure of themselves as best of them.
Then it clicked, I witnessed domestic violence right in my own family as early as 10 or 11 years old. And I never talk about it. Why? For the exact same reasons the panelists provided. “I pretended it was fine…I’m too strong to admit that I was abused or witnessed abuse…” and whatever other devices used to convince ourselves it’s “ok”.
As discussions continued some very interesting points were made. First, abuse can be be violent or non violent, and usually both occur if it goes on long enough. Secondly, abuse is like a bomb haphazardly lobbed at an enemy. Yes, you will hit the target but there is always collateral damage. You can never judge the blast radius and children are usually the casualties.
In retrospect, the theme for the evening was SUPPORT. Through the arts many of the panelists channel their experiences through music, photography, painting or poetry, and like many artists the best way to appreciate them and do your part in their healing process is support their work. Which was reason I was there initially, just to support and half way through I too began to heal a little. Which is also why I write this.
Panel explores stories of Powerful Women in situations of Domestic Violence: Their Rise and Lessons Learned.
Panelists: Maya Azucena (singer/activist)
The Lines In My Skin, Maya’s story as told through Rae’s lens, shines a light on such a dark topic. As part of the exhibit, a listening room with audio of Maya telling her story of a particular night before Maya was scheduled to sing in a church for a friend at 7:00AM. Her night of a, “knees to the chest”, “hands around the neck” relationship, seemed like a saga that could only be shared enough years later that the sting of the words were no greater than the physical scars left behind.
The strength of the message delivered by the rest of the panel was driven home more so by the strength of the messengers, rather than the emotion that wells through their accounts. Because in reality, they shared stories that were not so unique to others I’ve heard. After listening I thought to myself, “I know women who have been abused…this sounds exactly like them.” The only difference, the people selected to sit on the panel weren’t like the women and men I knew. They seemed to be as confident and sure of themselves as best of them.
Then it clicked, I witnessed domestic violence right in my own family as early as 10 or 11 years old. And I never talk about it. Why? For the exact same reasons the panelists provided. “I pretended it was fine…I’m too strong to admit that I was abused or witnessed abuse…” and whatever other devices used to convince ourselves it’s “ok”.
As discussions continued some very interesting points were made. First, abuse can be be violent or non violent, and usually both occur if it goes on long enough. Secondly, abuse is like a bomb haphazardly lobbed at an enemy. Yes, you will hit the target but there is always collateral damage. You can never judge the blast radius and children are usually the casualties.
In retrospect, the theme for the evening was SUPPORT. Through the arts many of the panelists channel their experiences through music, photography, painting or poetry, and like many artists the best way to appreciate them and do your part in their healing process is support their work. Which was reason I was there initially, just to support and half way through I too began to heal a little. Which is also why I write this.
Panel explores stories of Powerful Women in situations of Domestic Violence: Their Rise and Lessons Learned.Panelists: Maya Azucena (singer/activist)
Rae Maxwell (photographer)
Monica Watkins (model/fimmaker/
Megaciph (rapper/activist/educator)
Vanessa Hidary (def-poet/writer)
Quentin Walcott (Director of CONNECT) https://www.facebook.com/
http://www.freecandy.tv/
