Art-Activism for Survive
To raise awareness and funds for victim-support charity Survive.
Concept
“Make Your Mark / One Year in North Yorkshire” – a visual representation of the prevalence of sexual violence in our community, highlighting the need for change and victim‑support.
The project is a reworking of Suzanne Lacy’s groundbreaking 1977 feminist artwork “Three Weeks in May”, which raised awareness and brought about real change in the handling of rape and sexual assault in the US. The artwork continues to initiate crucial conversations around the subject, which almost 50 years later continues to be a pressing issue.
Using actual North Yorkshire Police data from October 2023 to September 2024, the installation will map 1,436 reported incidents of sexual violence (668 rapes and 768 sexual assaults) – almost 4 attacks reported daily across North Yorkshire.
People are invited to participate whether or not they have personally experienced sexual assault. Making a mark on the map is a symbolic gesture, though each mark does relate to a specific incident reported to the police over the past year.
It is a gesture of acknowledgement. Some people will be happy to join in as an ally, others will find it cathartic to have their experience (or that of their loved one) honoured and validated.
As each stamp is placed on the map participants can choose to write a few words or paragraphs – to offer support, or to vent their own feelings. The text can remain anonymous, or ‘owned’.
People who cannot attend the event may wish to contribute remotely by sending me an email (please use the heading ‘Make My Mark’. Your words will be hand-typed and added to the archive.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, 11 May 2025 (Mother’s Day in many countries).
Hours: 1pm – 5pm.
Location: Thin Ice Press, The Old School House, Peasholm Green, York YO1 7PW, UK
Creative Process
On Sunday 11 May 2025 at Thin Ice Press, York, participants will mark each reported incident on a large-scale map of the region using a custom-made rubber stamp and ink.
- There are 2 stamps, to pinpoint every reported RAPE and SEXUAL ASSAULT.
- To ensure accurate representation, every stamp on the map will be listed as a number in a type-written report. Participants can type this themselves and write any other message (with or without adding their name) if they wish.
The sheets of typed paper will later be collated with supporting data and turned into a hand-made book of record, using red thread to bind the pages. - Participants can also write comments/ draw pictures on postcards which will be posted into a bucket next to the map
Project Archive
Elements of the event will be filmed (with participants consent) by professional cinematographer John Beecroft of CinemArts, York. The resulting montage will be shown at events to highlight the scale of the problem and raise awareness of Survive’s victim support service.The map, the book of record and the film footage will be preserved together as the artwork.