Second year of the Witness project by the Lexington Art League

Working with advocates from partnering agencies, artists have collaborated with women who have experienced violence and created original works of visual art reflective of the women’s stories, often untold. Through the exhibition of works in Witness, visual art is a tool to facilitate healing for survivors, build relationships between artists and survivors, and engage the community in a very powerful way to help end violence against women and girls.

Witness is developed and produced by LAL in partnership with the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association, Bluegrass Domestic Violence Program, Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center, Kentucky United Methodist Homes for Children and Youth, and Third Street Stuff. Sponsored by The University of Kentucky Center for Research on Violence Against Women.

Lexington Reads Radically- THIS SUNDAY!

Hey all: We are having our first Lexington Reads Radically meeting this Sunday, September 19 at 4pm in my apartment. Please message me at mary dot lesch [at] gmail dot com if you would like directions. Feel free to bring snacks, but not alcohol because I live in a dry building.



We've been talking about it for a year. Now we're finally going to do it. We're going to have our first meeting of Lexington Reads Radically.

Here's how it's going to go:

1. Everyone brings a book/zine/journal article that they love.
...2. We're each going to share what we brought and why we like it.
3. Then we're going to swap w/ one another.
4. When we get together next month we'll discuss w/ each other what we read and what we liked/didn't like about it. Then we'll swap again.

Some general rules:

1. This group (along w/ the listserv) is called lexington reads RADICALLY. That means that we're going to be talking about things like gender identity, sexuality, oppression, class structure, stuff that challenges us, etc. Now that doesn't mean we won't sometimes be reading fluff (I happen to love a good fluffy read) but we're still going to analyze it.
2. You may bring both fiction and non-fiction to share
3. You MUST MUST MUST bring the books/zines/articles back.
4. People are free to come and go from the group.
5. Try to finish what you read, even if it's not something you'd typically go for. If you absolutely can't finish it, then swap it out for something else.

See you Sunday!

How to Tell People They Sound Racist, the right way.

"Am I Man Enough?" Great Article

So a cisgendered straight man decided to see what makes people understand masculine gender. He went to several places, a drag bar in washington, a therapist's couch and a psychiatrist's office. Check it out. Do you agree?

Call for Submissions : 'Dear Sister' and 'Occupied Bodies'

Hey all. Many posts to come. First, here are some opportunities for Lexington and KY voices to be heard.

Check this link for information about submitting your letters and stories of violence and more importantly how you have overcome them. They are also looking for stories specifically from people of color, so that is great. I love when people are intentional about diversity.

Another publication, 'Occupied Bodies' is looking for personal stories of perception from people of color. Very interesting.

I would encourage anyone that wants to submit but is afraid that they won't get in to do it anyway. I responded to an ad in Skirt! magazine a month ago and they interviewed me and put me in the July issue. Photo by Kelli Patrick. Get out Lexington.