Linda Litteral
“Art is a healing process”
Artist Statement
Through the process of making things, I strive to open a door for those who have no voice and provide them a place to speak. Childhood trauma and abuse thrive upon silence and secrets. My visual language articulates the “unspeakable.” It also establishes a sense of hope and healing for the viewer. Patriarchal constructs foster the silence that supports abuse. Metaphors demonstrate the requirements for this suppression: “silence is golden,” “children should be seen and not heard,” “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil,” and “if you don’t have anything good to say don’t say it at all.” Explored within gallery space these stories transform in status, confronted within different context. My art is a form of social protest that addresses these problems publicly. The goal is that abuse prevention will stem from greater awareness.
Using personal stories builds my content while addressing concerns held about our society through human experience. I lived in the space of silence for many years. Talking about incest and child abuse is taboo in our culture yet not as taboo as the occurrence. Avoiding public acknowledgement of this dangerous reality sanctions continuing physical, sexual, and emotional violence. By revealing my own experiences, my “secret” challenges the viewer’s beliefs and understanding. Having kept silent for many years I will no longer continue to do so.
Ultimately as artist, activist, and educator I seek through the powerful alchemy of the artistic process to transform our fractured world into a safer space for all.
