Survivors Mia and Gloria hold “Finding Our Voices” banners featuring their portraits. Submitted photo
CAMDEN — “Finding Our Voices” is set to come back in March with a multi-media exhibit at the Camden Public Library, 55 Main St.
Patrisha McLean began her movement to combat domestic violence with an initial photography exhibit at the library in 2019 that featured photo portraits of 14 Maine survivors, according to a news release from the library.
McLean’s work continues with a new photography exhibit portraying the faces and voices of Maine survivors, titled “14 to 41: Three Years Later” and featuring photo portraits of 41 Maine survivors, “standing proud and speaking loud,” including Gov. Janet T. Mills. The exhibit will be on display March 1 through 31.
The initial exhibit is a grassroots survivor-powered nonprofit that breaks the silence of domestic abuse and also provides sister-support.
March’s exhibit will feature McLean’s photo portraits of survivors aged 18 to 81, along with documentation of the abuse the women endured. The display will include a map of Maine showing the more than 65 Maine towns where the project has posted displays. Domestic abuse has been destigmatized through the use of huge downtown business window banners. The banners feature photo portraits of survivors, along with quotations referencing the abuse they transcended, and resource information for the help that is available.
The exhibit’s partnering sponsor is First National Bank. Other sponsors are Lucinda Watson, Viking Lumber, Cold Mountain Builders, Hannaford, Stephen and Helene Huyler, Micki and Jeff Colquhoun, and Jane and Scott Wolfe.
The library will host a Finding Our Voices “Survivors Speak” panel discussion at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, on Zoom. Participants will hear from McLean and other survivors featured in the exhibit about their journeys and the work of the Finding Our Voices organization. To register to receive the link to attend, visit librarycamden.org.
A public reception is planned from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 25, in the library’s Picker Room. Following the reception is a concert benefiting Finding Our Voices to be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Camden Opera House at 29 Elm St. The show will feature indie pop duo Roan Yellowthorn with Shawn Strack and Jackie McLean, Patrisha’s daughter and one of the 41-plus survivors in the photography exhibit.
In 2021, Finding Our Voices won two national awards for “making a substantial positive impact on the lives of domestic violence victims and survivors,” and McLean was named one of 21 leaders for the 21st century by Women’s e-News. Finding Our Voices Survivor-powered outreach along with a school curriculum just went out to 100 Maine high school and tech schools.
In the past year Finding Our Voices has donated $30,000 in emergency items and bill-paying to help women get out and stay out of dangerous relationships. The organization hosts weekly online sister-support groups as well as a monthly domestic violence book club. McLean also has a WERU-FM radio show and podcast featuring conversations with survivors of domestic abuse.
To learn more about the exhibit and the related events, visit librarycamden.org. For more information about Finding Our Voices, visit findingourvoices.net or email Patrisha McLean at hello@findingourvoices.net.
Patrisha McLean founded Finding Our Voices, an organization that encourages women to talk about domestic abuse, after her ex-husband, musician Don McLean, was arrested on domestic abuse charges in 2016. Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald photo
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