Chandler To Host ‘On Our Way:

Surviving Abuse in Orange Cty.’

The SafeArt Ensemble will present "On Our Way: Surviving Abuse in Orange County" on the main stage at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph, as well as a gallery exhibit of art pieces and poems created by Orange County residents.

The performance and discussion will take place Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m., followed by a reception in the Chandler Gallery. Additional gallery hours for the exhibit will be held Friday, Jan. 19 from 2:30-7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 20 and 21 from10 a.m.-2 p.m. These works depict the spectrum of abuse: from prevention, through intervention, to healing. These processes are expressed in drawings, paintings, sculpture and photography.

The SafeArt Ensemble is based in Chelsea, and is comprised of Orange County teens and adults who share a common belief in the power of the arts to create social change. They seek to empower others through the expressive process, and embrace conflict with creativity. The Ensemble performs pieces that are original to the group and to participants in SafeArt residencies, such as one conducted in two Health classes at RUHS this past December.

The students created poems, stories, songs, and other works on relationship issues of their choice. They addressed topics such as substance abuse, domestic and sexual violence, and war. Some of these recent pieces will be performed in the show, along with others from the SafeArt repertoire.

"We are planning to have all the work performed at the Chandler be created by Orange County residents, to point out how prevalent this problem is," says Tracy Penfield, SafeArt Founding Director, "and we hope people of all walks of life will attend. Parents are advised to leave children under 13 at home, due to difficult nature of the content. And while this material is not all pretty, there is much hope, courage, love and inspiration in these stories."

We read about domestic and sexual violence in the papers, hear about it on radio and see it on television and the Internet. We like to believe it happens only to ‘other people.’ Not true. Traumatic abuse occurs across all socio-economic layers, to people of all ages, races and ethnicities, to women, children and men.

This event brings a crucial, but often hidden local social issue to a prestigious local venue, carrying the topics of domestic and sexual violence out of churches, town halls and service agencies, and into the spotlight on the main stage and gallery. Domestic and sexual violence affects all community members, and everyone can help abolish the culture of abuse.

Admission will be by a suggested donation. This project is sponsored by The Orange County Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force, and SafeArt. For more information please call SafeArt at 685-3138.

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