WASHINGTON — There is a powerful but simple message at this exhibit in Georgetown, "with intimate violence, awareness is not enough."
This exhibition of clothing shows Israeli and American murder victims of domestic violence. It is being unveiled for the first time in D.C. at the Strongin Collection located at 1631 Wisconsin Avenue NW.
The exhibit opened on Thursday, December 2 and will run through December 9.
The Women Institute, in partnership with Strongin Collection, has named the exhibit "She's Gone," to protest against gender-based murder, specifically intimate partner domestic violence.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this heinous assault against women has been recorded in greater numbers worldwide than ever before. Even here in Virginia, there is a major spike in domestic violence homicides during the pandemic.
"She's Gone" the domestic violence exhibit
The installation combines clothing of murdered Israeli victims of intimate partner violence with two garments that Remember the Women Institute obtained in the US. The clothing was previously owned by two victims named Jana Lynn Mackey and Simeonette (Sissy) Mapes.
The exhibition speaks to all innocent victims of intimate partner violence. Keren Goldstein, creator of the international art installation "She's Gone," is an Israeli documentary film director and activist on behalf of women and youth.
The installation involved her reaching out and getting into contact with the still-grieving families of Israeli victims of domestic violence, and asking them to trust her with the clothing of the women the families had lost.
Remember the Women Institute, a New York-based research institute dedicated to telling women's stories, added to the mini-exhibition two more garments generously provided by the mothers of victims in the U.S.
All Databases Are Incomplete, a video of a play written by Cynthia L. Cooper and performed by Lisa Pelikan, is part of the exhibition.
The clothing and the stories they reveal demonstrate the power of community and shared memory to preserve the legacies of the far too many loved ones tragically lost to domestic violence around the world.
Each of these speakers had very powerful statements to make in regards to domestic violence.
Proof of vaccination and masks are required to enter the gallery.