The National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C. is hosting an interactive, site-specific exhibition (that is extremely timely) by Mexico City-based artist Mónica Mayer, inviting visitors to share stories about sexual abuse and harassment, giving audiences a voice. El Tendedero/The Clothesline Project, D.C. will be on display through January 5, 2018.
Questions answered include “As a woman, where do you feel safe? Why?” and “Have you ever experienced violence or harassment? What happened?” Viewers share their responses on pink index cards, which are then hung up on a clothesline. From the exhibition press release: “As a result, Mayer transforms the clothesline, a traditionally feminine object, into a tool designed to engage the community and facilitate a dialogue around women’s experiences — including topics such as sexual harassment and domestic violence.”
Mayer’s interactive installation has been making the rounds in various communities and museums since 1978, collecting responses from women across the world. The D.C. version of the project is presented as part of the museum’s 2017–18 Women, Arts and Social Change programming.
Follow along on the NMWA Instagram page for images from the installation.