Forced (in progress), String on linen,
19½ x 56 inches, 2014
“Child prostitute” is a misnomer. Children are forced into the commercial sex trade; they don’t volunteer to be abused. Brutal pimps exploit vulnerable boys and girls in the underworld of the trafficking industry—because the buyers of sex demand younger and younger prey.
FACT: The average age a girl becomes a victim of prostitution is 12 to 14 (FBI).
ArtPrize 2104 visitors waiting in the rain yesterday to view The Scarlet Cord. So far, volunteers have given out over 22,500 red string bracelets to help form Circles of Protection around children.
After viewing The Scarlet Cord at ArtPrize, a young teen fell into my arms. I held her and drew her head close as she cried.
A couple of minutes later, she pulled away and, then, she quickly embraced me again. Her words tumbled out so quickly that a couple of different times I had to retrace her story to gain understanding of the deep heartache that gushed out.
At 13, she had been raped by an older adult and another teen. A couple of years later she encountered another abusive relationship. Pain and devastation marked her young life.
Our conversation shifted as we began to discuss healthy strategies and specific steps she could take towards healing and restoration. For starters, I commended her for her courage to talk about her sexual exploitation. We discussed options on how to build healthy boundaries with men.
I gave her a phone number of a professional counselor who could help her. I also encouraged her to tell a trusted family member about the traumatic events she had suffered. We also talked through whether or not to contact the police about the sexual crimes committed against her. “Don’t tell anyone” threats had been controlling her.
Finally, I mentioned how a football coach doesn’t put an injured player back into the game until the physical injury has been healed. In the same way, I said that dating may not be a healthy choice for her until she experiences more healing. She agreed.
After carefully reviewing how the sexual crimes committed against her weren’t her fault, we touched on her struggle with shame. A 45-minute conversation at ArtPrize didn’t solve all the struggles this beautiful young woman was facing, but as we parted, she seemed determined to take some positive steps. When we embraced one last time, it was with a light-hearted hug.
This short video produced by 100.5 The River features The Scarlet Cord:
Raped, Yarn on loom,
17 x 49 inches, 2014
Children suffer traumatic pain every time they are trafficked—or raped. For many of these victims, the sexual abuse started at a very young age when the boys or girls were molested by someone they knew. Just as a ruptured appendix releases toxic poisons, sexual abuse releases acidic emotions. But if children are rescued out of sexual slavery, many will begin to heal and learn how to respond appropriately to healthy compassion.
FACT: There are 100,000 teens trafficked in the USA between the ages of nine and nineteen (FBI).
Stripped (Study), Yarn on canvas,
30 x 30 inches, 2014
Showing at Barnes & Noble of Rivertown
Human trafficking touches all of us—even within our homes. Pornography first ensnared a ten-year-old boy when he clicked on a computer pop-up that read: “Funny NFL pictures.” The producers of pornography deliberately target children—stripping our youth of their innocence.
FACT: One out of every five pornographic images is of a child (Shared Hope International).
17,000 red string bracelets given away at ArtPrize 2014 The Scarlet Cord: Healing for sex trafficked children.
Help raise awareness and build circles of protection around at-risk children buy adobe illustrator. Visit The Scarlet Cord outside the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (near the parking lot).