Until #MeToo, people who were molested, raped assaulted, or harassed were rarely seen and less frequently heard. News cycles change, and I wanted to keep the conversation visible and loud. I emailed everyone I knew asking them to email everyone they knew seeking anyone willing to be photographed willing to be documented telling their experience with sexual assault, abuse, or rape.
Twenty-four volunteers wore a white t-shirt, and I used a consistent lighting set-up painting a sameness of appearance. I didn’t want any distractions from the evolving narrative. Eye contact was difficult for some. Sessions often began with nervous laughter, and tears streaked faces with the mask of secret keeping dissolved. Details of being molested by a family member, awakened in the night to rape, sexually harassed in the workplace, and molested during summer camp filled the studios.
After the photo sessions ended, recordings were made. The images are accompanied by voices and comprise the exhibition, “Seen + Heard,” a series of photographs of men and women ending their silence. I am grateful to The Ohio State University for showing video, audio, and still images from the exhibition during Sexual Assault Awareness Month so that all who visit this site can bear witness, for their stories cannot be heard until we all stop and listen. Thank you for taking time to view the courageous participants.
“Being a part of it is one thing but being in an entire room of people who have been through the same thing in their own ways was both heartbreaking and miraculous. Because these people chose to use their traumas to make a difference and that’s exactly what they did for me, as well as many others. We won.” ~Jessica
“When we were asked to tell our stories through a live photo shoot back in February 2018 as part of and an extension of the #MeToo movement, I really never thought that solidified experience would have the profound and everlasting impact as it still has on me today. From the day of the shoot itself, to receiving the print catalogue in the mail and now...walking into the gallery to actually see and hear the stories of all of us whom had the courage to speak up...laid out right in front of us. Harrowingly beautiful. I still struggle to find the words that do justice to what Honey has worked so hard for and how she managed I still struggle to find the words that do justice to what Honey has worked so hard for and how she managed to bring this to project to light, to keep the conversation going and give all of us a voice. If you’re holding on and scared to share your story, you aren’t alone. You have a voice too. I am proud. Humbled. Comforted. Grateful. And most importantly…liberated.” ~Erinn
“It was critical for me to shed the same of rape and speak out. I found myself frozen, choking on my scream as he raped me. We do not deserve to be shamed. We deserve to be SEEN and HEARD.” ~Alisa
“I’ve told my story in words both written and spoken, and this is one way of being seen. Yet, being photographed, seeing my image as the woman who was molested as a child, who has survived PTSD, depression, suicidal thoughts...well, that’s helped me to connect the physical body/person to the story which has lived in my invisible mind for decades. It’s made visible that which was invisible.” ~Ginny
Honey Lazar, Photographer
Lauren Voss, Sound Artist
Elizabeth Glorioso, Photographer, images from BGSU exhibition
Tanya Shteinfeld, Designer
Lauren Voss, Sound Artist
Elizabeth Glorioso, Photographer, images from BGSU exhibition
Tanya Shteinfeld, Designer
Past Exhibitions
2018 Society for Photographic Education, “Seen+Heard,” solo exhibition, Cleveland, OH
2018 Julia Margaret Cameron, “Seen+Heard,” 1st Place, Editorial and Current Affairs, Barcelona, Spain
Exhibition catalogues of the complete Seen + Heard photo series are available upon request.
Please email seenandheardexhibit@gmail.com for further information.
Thank you!