Bearing Witness: Confronting Trauma Through Art at The STAMP Gallery

Written by: Kathiuska Vergara

Part of the exhibit titled "Workbooks" by Gloria Garrett, multiple years (Kathiuska Vergara).

When you walk into STAMP Gallery, the atmosphere feels heavier; not oppressive, but empowering. The walls are lined with paintings, tapestries, and detailed crafts carrying stories survivors have often been forced to keep quiet. 

This particular exhibition at the University of Maryland, titled "We Will Not Be Silent: Art Transforming Rape Culture," invites the audience to confront the overlooked reality of abuse, immigration, sexual assault, and trauma through the language of art.

Many inspiring stories in this exhibition speak about resilience and bravery, even in the silence that once kept them from the world. While all of the artwork gives its own compelling perspective, a number of the pieces emerge with profound emotional depth. 

In the center of the gallery is a portrait of a woman hiding in a bush, surrounded by bloodied handprints symbolizing the tragedy she had to face. “Nnoshé,” an acrylic painting by Native American artist Nickole Keith, narrates the history of violence against Indigenous women and the solace they find in their spiritual bond with nature.

This specific composition illustrates Keith’s family history, which can be heard in an audiovisual piece at the gallery and an interview with Paula Keith, the artist's mother. A more detailed version of the chronicle is available at the gallery.

Piece titled "Nnoshé," acrylic on birchwood, by Nickole Keith, 2019 (Kathiuska Vergara).

Following through, the exhibition also offers an interactive area that invites visitors to reflect on their feelings regarding the exhibition. Since the topics presented may be hard to digest, it was very thoughtful to have a space for insightful debriefs about the experience from the viewer’s perspective. Questions about emotions, support systems, and community guide audience members to reflect on their personal lives and what they need to see an impactful change for survivors.

Additionally, the exhibition features pieces that focus on hope and community, works that highlight how collective support can play a powerful role in survivors’ healing.

Piece titled "Monument Quilt Block" by Eva Salazar, 2017 (Kathiuska Vergara).

Overall, the show was an eye-opening journey. Witnessing the artwork creates a chance to see the world through the artists' perspective, raising awareness of situations that happen not only in marginalized communities in the U.S. but around the globe.

As Hannah Brancato mentions in her guide for witnessing art about violence, available to viewers in the gallery, “It’s ok to feel.” The crucial takeaway is to learn from these stories to educate others and to advocate for everyone to have a safe space. Survivor or not, we all deserve to live with dignity.