Marianne
My name is Marianne and this year I have 5 pieces of artwork that either reflect my own journey or those of the many clients I have seen in therapy over the past 20 years. I’m a mental health therapist and have had the opportunity and or privilege to help many women and men go through the process of trauma recovery. Recovery in trauma is very much like grief and is a process very unique to each individual. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, drug abuse, mental and emotional abuse is what human trafficking is about on so many different levels. Human Trafficking is all around you even when you may not be aware of this great evil.
Reclaim13 brings an awareness to our community that we may not like, but never the less human trafficking travesties occur. It is up to you, and it is up to me to notice what may be happening around you right in your own community to those who may be stuck in their situation where they see no way out. Human trafficking is real.
You can read the latest facts on human trafficking statistics on-line as it changes daily. What doesn’t change is what human trafficking does to the human soul of its many victims. Many of the pieces you see here today will reflect what it means to feel free as a survivor, they will reflect the GREAT courage it takes to look within to allow the human mind and soul to heal. We believe in a God who restores mind, body, and spirit. Without that hope in HIM we have nothing! And that is what we are about at Reclaim13 bringing:
HOPE-FAITH-HEALING-RESTORATION-PEACE-GOD!
My artwork on display however, are raw pictorials that demonstrates heartache, confusion, horror, pain, shame, and desperation. We heal on many levels from what is seen from the outside like bruises and cuts but what does not always heal as quickly are the hidden bruises and wounds that are layered time and time again in human trafficking. This artwork reflects this!
Confusion
Pastel
This piece of artwork reflects a little girl’s vulnerability to those she trusted, she is so confused, she holds her head because she doesn’t know what to do, her face is sad and her eyes are lifeless. She has secrets but cannot tell. Who will believe her?
Voices
Pastel and Charcoal
Many victims in human trafficking disconnect or dissociate as we say in therapy from reality. Their pain is so great that it becomes easier to not be in reality at the time of their abuse. When our nervous system becomes so taxed we disconnect for our own survival. This piece of artwork reflects when a person disconnects because of the horror they have gone through in their reality. They may become parts of other people and hear different voices to survive. Parts of them cannot speak, parts of them are lifeless and so wounded. Their heart experiences brokenness time and time again!
Eye of the soul
Pastel
This piece of artwork reflects the brokenness and wounds that is carried within a soul; buried feelings are intense and are beyond words. It reflects hopelessness, one side of the eye is always looking to see what will happen, and the other side of the eye represents terror remembering the mental and emotional torture that did happen, waiting to see what comes next feeling terror in ways you and I may never feel or quite understand.
Abandoned and Alone
Pastel and Charcoal
This piece of artwork reflects human abandonment in shames too indescribable to mention.
Drowning
Chalk
This piece of artwork reflects hopelessness and despair. Many in human trafficking feel that they are drowning in their own tears and there is no way out as they feel sucked in or stuck where they are.