Art is powerful; art heals, catalyzes and transforms. I have witnessed art that brings communities together, speaks truth to power, and expresses the unspeakable realities of human existence. In 2007, I produced an exhibition of my own multimedia artwork as part of my master’s thesis project.  I had the opportunity to share my intimate life stories, from my experience with abortion ten years ago to my ever-changing relationship with religion and spirituality, in a way that words alone simply could not convey. The ripple effect of my creative disclosure was profound; my vulnerability and willingness to visually express my truth gave women who experienced my exhibit permission to share their own stories - with me, with each other, with their families, in community.

My own exhibit showed me how powerful art could be, for both its creators and its witnesses.  I began to wonder what it might look like to harness this power on a larger scale.  The Global Fund for Women’s grantee partner, Art Works for Change (AWFC), a nonprofit project of the Tides Center, is harnessing this power and using the universal language of art as a catalyst for positive social change.

AWFC’s “Off the Beaten Path: Violence, Women and Art,” is a new, international exhibition that brings together artworks by 17 artists from 14 countries to explore gender-based violence from a global perspective.  The exhibit “utilizes artworks to promote awareness and behavioral choices; inspire the belief that communities can change a culture of violence; empower girls and women with respect to domestic violence, exploitation and discrimination; and address systems for social change.”

I recently had the privilege of meeting the Executive Director of Art Works for Change, Randy Jayne Rosenberg.  I was inspired by her obvious passion and dedication to her work, which shines through in the way she thoughtfully curates and narrates AWFC’s exhibitions for social change.

“Off the Beaten Path” opens on June 20 at the Stenersen Museum in Oslo, Norway.  However, with the goal of reaching millions of individuals with the important message to eliminate violence against women and girls globally, Art Works for Change has also opened a virtual exhibit.  Click here to bear witness, be transformed, and learn what you can do about gender-based violence.

Click to vew virtual exhibition online, the exhibition page on AWFC website, and the press release.

Talia Walsmith is the Administrative Associate to the Chief Operations Officer at the Global Fund for Women and as well as a multimedia artist/activist.