color pencil, ink; 20×16″
“There are people getting sexually harassed and who do not know it, like a partner manipulating you into thinking they’re the only one you need and making you do physical actions, or even a family member grooming you into thinking the actions that they’re doing is normal family touch. The skeleton reaching out to the light is a way to show humans reaching out for help and the blooming flower on the skeleton is a representation of the innocence that’s been lost. The people in the dark, reaching towards the flower, are wanting to take that innocence away from the skeleton. I wanted my piece to spread awareness about knowing how to pick and choose people you hang around and or family members’ houses you want to spend a night at.”
ARTIST BIO: Marye WASHINGTON is a grade 11 student at Butler Tech School of Art studying art under art teacher Mary Catherine Ruby.