“I AM, I Will, I’m Afraid – Ashland" Unveiling & Forum

I Am, I Will, I’m Afraid (Ashland), Digital Print on Vinyl, 8’x12’, 2016

Traci Molloy, Brooklyn, NY based artist and education activist, in collaboration with Ashland, OH female survivors of sexual assault and/or sexual harassment: Anamarie Coors, Emma Daugherty, Andrea Dennison, Devereaux Diaz, Mary Jean Ferretti, Kaylin Henry, Alicia Jones, Ellyn Kilpatrick, Keeleigh Myers, Abigail Nye, Caitlin Ann Rayburn, Samantha Rhonemus, Janice R. Richards, Rachael Santee, Randi Schimmoeller, Danielle Smith, Hannah Thome, Helen Weber, Emily M. Wirtz, and Kiana Ziegler.

I Am, I Will, I’m Afraid (Ashland) is a digital print made in collaboration with 20 female survivors of sexual assault and/or sexual harassment that attend Ashland University in Ohio. The print utilizes photographic and digital processes. The figure does not exist – it is a constructed composite portrait of the young participants. Individual photographs were taken of all the participants and then layered together to form one collective likeness. The female co-collaborators determined the pose. The surface text depicts personal, anonymous handwriting generated by the women in response to the three prompts: I Am, I Will, and I’m Afraid.

The following statement is from the female participants’ perspective:

To be heard – not just one of us, but all of us. There is power in our voices, in our stories. We are strong, brave women. We’ve gone through difficult experiences, thinking we are alone in our suffering, but this art piece shows that we are not alone. We hope this project inspires other survivors to stay strong and to be empowered.

Molloy’s visit is made possible by the generosity of AU’s Art Department, Coburn Gallery, Ashland Center for Nonviolence, Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology and Student Activities.