Public Invited to Violence Awareness Exhibit at Ridgewater
April 15, 2022
In an effort to build awareness about domestic and sexual violence, Ridgewater College will host the Clothesline Project for two weeks in April, thanks to a partnership with Violence Free Minnesota.
Every year, Violence Free Minnesota collects information on Minnesotans who have been killed by intimate partner violence. Family members, friends, and volunteers have created shirts for each Minnesotan who lost her or his life due to intimate partner violence. In 2020, at least 30 Minnesotans died as a result of intimate partner violence, including at least 20 women, one man, three children, and six bystanders or people who intervened.
The 2020 Clothesline Project display will be open to the public at the Willmar campus April 18-22 in the Fine Arts Building art gallery and at the Hutchinson campus April 25-29 in the art gallery just inside the main entrance. Both art galleries are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday display setups will be complete by 10:00 a.m. and Friday display takedowns will begin at 2:00 p.m.)
“By bringing the Clothesline Project to our campus, we are remembering and bearing witness to the tragic loss of Minnesotan lives,” explained Kari Kuhlman, Ridgewater Academic Advisor and Student Success Specialist. “We are also recognizing that domestic violence is not an individual issue, it is a community issue. Students and members of the community will learn about the red flags for lethality and available local resources that can help them if they or someone they know are experiencing domestic violence.”
Ridgewater Dean of Student Heidi Olson added that such a project fits right into the college’s mission. “Ridgewater College is deeply committed to providing welcoming, safe and inclusive campuses that strive to educate our community about the realities of the world we live in. We have zero tolerance for violence, and to that end, we are very excited to host this important and impactful display on our campuses.”
To learn more about the Clothesline Project or Violence Free Minnesota, go to www.vfmn.org/clothesline-project.