The October wind almost blew the shirts right off the clothesline.

Shirts depicting visual imagery of domestic violence were displayed outside of Faner Hall Thursday as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Women’s Safety Week.

The Women’s Center in Carbondale presented the Clothesline Project, a nationwide project started in Massachusetts in 1990 as a chance for victims to heal while spreading awareness of domestic violence, said Camille Dorris, executive director of the Women’s Center.

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“The Clothesline Project provides some pretty powerful visual messages,” Dorris said. “I run into a shirt that maybe I haven’t seen before that moves me to tears.”

Each shirt is decorated by a survivor of violence or sexual assault or by the loved ones of victims who died from violence. According to Dorris, the shirts can be quite graphic, ranging from a detailed written account of violence to visual images.

Each shirt is a different color to represent the different kinds of violence victims have suffered. White is for victims who died from violence; yellow or beige is for domestic violence survivors; red, pink or orange is for sexual assault survivors; blue or green is for child abuse or incest survivors; and lavender or purple is for those attacked because of sexual orientation.

Ashley Ting, a freshman from Carbondale studying Spanish, stopped to read the shirts after class and made one of her own.

“I don’t think people realize how commonplace violence is,” Ting said. “Each shirt is a different person.”

People at the Clothesline Project display were encouraged to take part in the project. Sometimes people are so moved by the display, Dorris said, that their own experience with violence is brought back.

“We always invite people, if they’ve had an experience, to design a shirt and contribute to the project,” Dorris said.

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Kathleen Maher, a junior from Springfield studying English, said the shirts had an effect on her just from walking past.

“I think it’s a good forum for the victims to have,” Maher said. “They really catch your eye and have an impact.”

As part of Women’s Safety Week, the Take Back the Night march and rally will take place at 7 p.m. today at the Interfaith Center. An opportunity to raise awareness for the victims of violence, the march will conclude at Carbondale Town Square Pavilion. Following the march will be the Clothesline Project display, music and a speech from Jacque Hollander, an advocate for sexual violence survivors.

“I believe that victims should not be silent,” Hollander said. “These girls will stand there and they are free.”

Madeleine Leroux can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 254 or [email protected].