Midterm - Deanna Currington

My Intervention for Military Sexual Assault

Inspired by all the readings and the works we have seen in class, I wanted to turn my focus to something I am very passionate about. It is something that is violently swept under the rug. That is women dealing with military sexual assault and violence. A lot of times, people believe that post-traumatic stress disorder is limited to war trauma. What others don’t see in movies or in the media are the different types of attacks that occur. In the fiscal year 2024, the military reported a total of 8,195 sexual assaults.

 I was able to find two interventions. The first is an art exhibit on sexual assault in 2018 titled “What Were You Wearing?” The exhibition used clothing survivors wore when they were assaulted and pinned up on the wall to answer questions that are often asked of survivors. One set of clothing on display was an army uniform.

“What Were You Wearing?” Created by Jen Brockman and Dr. Mary Wyandt-Hiebert 

Link here 🠆 Clothing Exhibition

The second intervention I found was from 2023, the Cleveland VA created an art therapy program for female veterans. Art Therapy VA . I believe that Art Therapy can have a big impact on veterans. Art Therapy helps you find the words to explain what you are going through. It can foster self-discovery while helping individuals process emotional conflicts.

What inspired this whole thing for me is a soldier who was murdered on duty, Lavena Lyn Johnson. Her death exposes how the military is racist and violent toward women, and how far the military would go to keep secrets. If you would like to learn more, I have provided a link, but proceed with caution when it comes to the details of her death, Lavena Johnson.  I created a stencil of a woman with a hand around her neck. She is still maintaining her “military bearing” while this is happening. With that, I chose to title this piece "Bearing" because to bear something means to endure, carry, or tolerate. It can also mean to bear witness, which means to acknowledge the truth. Oftentimes, survivors have their truth manipulated by violators or outsiders and are called liars. So, this title is to reflect the ongoing weight that survivors have to carry.

I wanted to do Graffiti art as an intervention because it disrupts a controlled space and can exist on walls and sidewalks. Power controls space, but graffiti reclaims it. The military is about power and control, and it uses that power to protect the privileged. Graffiti is forced to be witnessed once it is encountered. It is fast, low-cost, and replicable. I chose this form of art because I want my work to exist in the streets and be displayed in different locations. After all, this isn’t an isolated issue. It affects countless women and men. By repeating the work in public spaces, it mirrors the scale of the problem, making it almost impossible to ignore.

💥Link to Video💥

"All being an activist really entails is having an idea of what needs to be changed and doing something."

When it comes to military sexual assault (MST), at one point, the only way I knew I could make a change before thinking about creating an art intervention was by talking about it. People asked me about my experience, and I told them the truth. I don't mince words because if I could protect someone from years of abuse and assault by sharing my stories, I don't think a second thought about it.

"The first rule of guerrilla warfare is to know the terrain and use it to your advantage." 

The point of guerrilla warfare is to conceal your movement/placement so that you can have leverage. I believe this quote fits the topic of MST well. Being a person of color and a woman in the military meant I was going to be targeted regularly. You can say that these factors can be considered as disadvantages. I chose to be silent in some ways and loud in others. When I was quiet, I was about to sit back and watch how certain rules and regulations didn't apply to everyone in the same way. I noticed patterns and behaviors to be able to survive mentally, emotionally (and yes) physically. When I was loud, I was heard by everyone and was prepared for the consequences afterward. I spoke up when it mattered, even if I didn't get the justice I deserved. I set boundaries, and I made sure to stand firm. You need to know how to play the game, unfortunately. The military is the last place you would think you would have to play games to make it through successfully, because your life is always in danger.