She LL project (she will, shell) is an ongoing international art project made
from donated dresses of women and girls that have been sexually assaulted,
women who have been affected by this (happened to a family member or
friend), and supporters of the project. Each participant is also asked to
submit a personal statement as to how the sexual abuse has affected them,
their thoughts about sexual abuse, and how they feel about participating in
this project. This is exhibited with their dresses. At each exhibition there is the opportunity for new participants to donate a dress that will be shown in the next planned exhibition.

These dresses and personal statements are powerful
representations that evokes healing, prevention and breaks stereotypes
commonly associated with sexual abuse, assault and harassment. They stand symbolically for each woman and force the viewer to reflect on a real person, a real story not a statistic or “stereotypical” image of a women who is abused. They are
powerful symbolic “shells” that will encourage women and girls
from around the world to come forward and tell their stories. Each individual
woman is a link in a chain, as each woman comes forward another
woman/girl is strengthened. Additionally as the project grows, the dresses
will stand symbolically and be documented in areas where it is otherwise
dangerous for women to be. In each city/culture, this will be a different type
of environment. She LL project will travel internationally and flourish to
hundreds, even thousands of symbolic dresses exhibited around the world.

How was She LL Project started?

Over 15 years ago a person very close to me was violently raped in her home
by a serial rapist. He broke into her house at 5 am while she was taking a
shower. From this day forward her life and those around her were forever changed.
Three years later he was finally arrested. To make matters worse, at the trial
they lied and she was portrayed as a “loose” woman going through a divorce,
unstable, and that they met and had consensual sex. This was the farthest from the
truth. Although there were police reports and the evidence was clear, the
jury believed this stereotypical portrayal and in the end he was charged
as not guilty. This is her story, but not a unique story. Although, he raped many women most of them were too scared to come forward. Fortunately, there was one last trial and the jury convicted him to life in prison.

The cycle must be broken.

After many years, She LL project was finally born. Since 2007, I have
been working closely with an American therapist and victims
advocate to help find the first She LL project participants. 12 brave women and
girls that she has counseled and represented in court, agreed to come
forward and share their stories of sexual assault. I believe that women and girls can strengthen each other by coming forward and telling their stories. It can not be possible that an 11 year old girl, or any girl or woman for that matter, should go through their life thinking or feeling that she has done something wrong when such a horrific crime has been committed against them.

The First She LL Project Exhibitions

On February 3rd- February 10th, 2009 She LL project was introduced at the
Akademie der Bildenden Kuenste in Munich. From March 5th- March 29th, 2009
at Lothringerstr. 13 in Munich, She LL Project had its first official exhibition.
14 participants that were victims of sexual abuse from the ages of 10 to 65
years old, and 5 participants that knew someone that had been sexually
abused were presented in an installation.Two new participants came forward
for the next exhibition. Many participant forms were taken from the
installation but have not yet been returned. A female professor spoke about
being sexually assaulted as a student. A few women spoke about stories from
women they knew. A mother and teenage daughter discussed sexual abuse.
A young man read all of the stories and then brought a male friend the next
day to show him. Others simply said “Thank You”. She LL Project was also documented in June 2009 at Marienplatz in Munich, Germany for a German public
television film about three artists to teach students from the age of 15- 16 years old about art and its forms of communication. It will be aired on televison in January 2010.

How to Participate?

If you or someone you know would like to participate in or contribute to this project
then please contact me at info@sharipierce.com. All inquiries are completely confidential and your information will be treated with the utmost respect.

If you know someone that can benefit from this project, I encourage you to send them to the participants archive to read the statements.

If you would simply like more information about this project please contact me at info@sharipierce.com.

She LL Project thanks for their support:

Pierre Lang Designer Jewellery (Shari Pierce won in 2007 The Pierre Lang "So
Fresh"European Contemporary Jewellery Award)

Leitstelle für die Gleichstellung von
Frauen und Männern der Bayerischen Staatsregierung and Kulturreferat der
Landeshauptstadt München

Debbi Kutner & Wendy Collins, Lothringerstr. 13, Alex
Schlacher (German translations), Regina Senk, Mason
Douglas (Photography)
Contact: info@sharipierce.com www.sharipierce.com