Domestic violence /child abuse/ sexual abuse awareness project

 Hello my name is Erica Ann and I will thank you in advance for viewing my project. The reason I created all these images in the beginning was to help me heal and deal with some emotions I was feeling because of domestic violence. Back in the early summer of 2013 I was contacted by a client of mine that works for Pearl Crisis Center of Milaca, MN. She had seen a photo I created of my daughter and it hit close to home at the Pearl Crisis center. Long story short the image was then shown to the director of Pearl and after that the Pearl team wanted to meet the artist behind the image "me". So I agreed to come out and meet the team. At the meeting they asked me if I would be willing to be the artist on display for their annual fashion show they do every spring to help raise money for the crisis center. I agreed and my journey began......

Between then and now all these images were created in my studio and in an abandoned building that domestic violence, sexual abuse and child abuse actually took place. The home is shown in these images. All of the people in the images were survivors of some sort of abuse throughout their life or were a witness to abuse that occurred in their home.  (Some are just actors but most have dealt with abuse). All the poetry was written by the very talented Steve Sjoberg. Please also give his page a like on Facebook. If it wasn't for him I couldn't of made these images as powerful as they are with his words. Thank you https://www.facebook.com/SteveSjobergsPoetryPage

In creating these images I will be very honest and say that is was HARD VERY HARD! Every time an image was created I felt a part of their heart and my heart torn from my insides. There was a time I almost wanted to stop doing it. But I didn't and I am glad I didn't because although it was hard I know in my heart that somehow, some way they will help the person without a voice. Some people may see them and never say a word. Why? Because they are afraid, because they live in fear. What I did here was help them and myself and all the other people that have dealt with abuse have a VOICE! 

I am very proud of this project and EXTREMELY proud of the individuals that opened up to me and allowed me to help them heal through my visions. I have found this project to be extremely therapeutic to not only myself but to the survivors that have helped me make this possible.  I would like to send a HUGE thank you to all that helped and I want each and every one of you to know that you are NOT alone and because of this you are STRONGER then you think and I am SOOOOOO proud of you all !

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Erica Ann XOXOXOX

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Thank you again for taking the time to view these images. I would also like to mention that I am in the process of creating a book with all these images plus the stories of all the survivors. Once I have it completed I am hoping to have it for sale on Amazon, EBay, and several other sites for purchase! 

Thank you ,

Erica Ann

Thank you Jessica, Shannon, Casey, Nicki, Keira, Kayla, Savanna, Gracee, Trevor, Joy, Ray, Megan, Patrick, Brittney, Trycia,  and the love of my life Steve

Without out all of you I couldn't of made this happen! THANK YOU