Fifteen artists join voices to bring tumultuous, colorful, and creative awareness to the sensitive subject of sexual abuse of children and to share preventative measures. If there's a child in your life whom you want to protect, attend this upcoming free event!

For Immediate Release      

April 13, 2011

While No One Was Watching

Survivors of child sexual abuse in art exhibit on this silent epidemic

            A national tragedy and a health epidemic of shocking proportions are going unnoticed by the media and unaddressed by Americans and our institutions.

            One in six boys and one in four girls will be sexually abused before age eighteen.

“500,000 babies born in the U.S. this year will be sexually abused before 18 if we do not prevent it.”

                                                                    -Darkness to Light organization

            Sexually-abused girls grow up three times more likely to become drug addicts. Children who’ve been abused generally have higher rates of teen pregnancy, sexually-transmitted disease, depression, hostility, and difficulty forging close relationships.

            Unbeknownst to most Americans, April is both National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. To bring attention to those observances, the International Agency for Minority Artists Affairs presents, “While No One Was Watching,” a group art exhibit to give voice to the silent epidemic of child sexual abuse.

A jambalaya of arts

             This show centers around two, all-day public events taking place on Easter Saturday and Sunday, April 23rd and 24th. They’ll be at the Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building in Harlem on 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard.

            Free to the public, the exhibits include works by fifteen artists—child sexual abuse survivors or supporters. There are painters, collagists, photographers, poets, and a professional songstress. Authors will read from their published works. A filmmaker will perform dance during screening of her biographical documentary.

Do you know the seven steps to protect children?

            If there's a child in your life whom you want to protect, attend this event.

            On Easter Saturday, attendees at “While No One Was Watching” will learn how abusers groom young children. An expert will teach how to help stop child sexual abuse.

            Anita Joyner-Taylor is founder of Where the Healing Begins. She’s an authorized facilitator for Stewards for Children, which teaches 7 Steps to Protecting Our Children.

            The Saturday event (2pm to 9pm) features a panel discussion with experts, audience questions, and opportunity to view works by and mingle with a dozen artists. On Easter (2pm to 9pm), documentaries on prevention as well as the art will be shown.

For more info, click for flyer: http://iamaagroupartshowcbchapelle.blogspot.com/

            All artists who exhibit works in “While No One Was Watching” are either child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors or their supporters.

            They include QuYahni Denise Lewis, CeCelia Falls, Athena Reich, Julia Vargas, Kathleen Turner, Michele Walker, Juanita Evans, Sandy Alestra, Ladisasha Jones, Maria Pirone, www.whitedovesnest.com, Francie Lyshak-Stelzer, Joyce Bolden, Francia McCormack Wilson, and Carla Chapelle.

            The show is being sponsored by the International Agency for Minority Artist Affairs (IAMAA).

            Under Gregory Jovan Mills, the organization has been showcasing artists from all disciplines for 22 years. The IAMAA is located in the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125^th Street, Suite 903, New York, New York 10027

For more information: 

Carla Chapelle, Guest Curator, 646-662-1405

Email: cbchapelle@yahoo.com