Government center displaying exhibit on domestic violence

T-shirts from The Clothesline Project are currently on display at the McHenry County Government Center, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock, hung by Turning Point in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

At the end of the month, the shirts will move to McHenry County College to raise awareness of domestic violence there.

The Clothesline Project began in 1990 as a way to call attention to the victims of domestic violence. Artist Rachel Carry-Harper created the first display of 31 shirts in Massachusetts. Since then, more than 500 groups and organizations have created Clothesline Projects of their own.

Victims of domestic violence are urged to take a blank white T-shirt and personalize it with their feelings, story or artwork. This helps the victim move on from their abuse and the act of displaying the shirts alongside the others created helps them to understand that they are not alone with their pain.

The shirts are traditionally displayed on a rope clothesline, symbolizing the days when a woman would hang her family's laundry in the yard and exchange news, information and feelings with her neighbors as she did so.

Turning Point has hung its shirts in area schools, churches and offices. The shirts also have been displayed at the agency's annual radiothon "Take a Stand for Turning Point."

The shirts on display were created by survivors of domestic violence and feature words, pictures and drawings. The shirts will be on display at the Courthouse until Wednesday and then will move to McHenry County College.

For more information on the Clothesline Project, call Turning Point at (815) 338 8081.