Rape Victim Uses Street Art to Speak Out

Getting inspiration from the Ghost Bikes around town, a 26-year-old female artist has hung a handmade sign on the corner of Meserole and Humboldt in Brooklyn. This is her first piece of street art, and it reads: "A woman was raped by a stranger on this block. Please protect your friends, lover, sister, daughter, mother, grandmother, niece, cousin, neighbor, the woman you hear call for help late one night. 1 in 6 women in this country have been victims of rape or attempted rape. This needs to stop happening." The message is burned into a piece of wood, and surrounded by flowers made from cans.

The creator of the sign also included an email address to contact her at, but remains anonymous because her own rape case, where she was held captive in her apartment for five hours, is still in court. She told ArtCal that her ambitious goal is for "rapists to realize that the act that they commit is unforgivable, and is an obscene expression of power over another person. I hope that they will come to this realization when they think about the possibility of their loved ones becoming victims of rape. I also hope that other rape victims will contact me to put a sign up in their neighborhood. It is important to spread community awareness, as well as to empower the victims by allowing them to take an active role in preventing it from happening to others." Though she added that she worries "people would be so afraid of the subject that they would deface the sign." [via Williamsburg is Dead]

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on October 1, 2008 5:41 PM

Comments [rss]

nicoleR

If you'd like more info about the statistic, visit : http://www.rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assault-victims

unfortunately, it's true, and what's more is that only 6% of rapists ever go to jail

sidenote

That sign says "1 in 6 women have been victims of rape or attempted rape" - is that really true? Seems like a pretty high number. I'm not saying it's not a problem, it would just surprise me if it was that much of a problem.

Iphie

Ha! Thanks, Zodak, nice response.

Agnostic Farts

i think what this girl is really awesome.

it's about time there's some relevant street art in nyc.

zodak

babyhitler, you need to relax. maybe you need a vacation. i suggest barbados.

chris lee

Rapists are "unsocialized" males. People should appreciate the value of mainstream socialization and realize that not ALL of the world is well mannered, polite and law abiding.

emilydickinson

That's a cool thing to do and a great way to make art mean something.

PoliteNewYorker

It reminds people that no place is safe, which is good. Always be careful. Don't worry about offending someone - any sensible man understands women aren't going to let them into their building or give them the time of day.

And indeed, rapists deserve to hang from the highest tree. There is no rehabilitation possible.

paveparadise

good for her

Barbj8

Unfortunately, you can't shame a rapist into not committing this horrendous act of violence with a sign. They need to fear that the same thing will happen to them once they finally get convicted.

Kojak

is for "rapists to realize that the act that they commit is unforgivable, and is an obscene expression of power over another person."

I think they already realize that, its just that they're monsters and should be treated as such. They should all be castrated, drawn, & quartered.