WE ARE LOOKING FOR DENIM DONATIONS

Drop off your old denim by April 10th in any of the drop off locations around South Kingstown!

Hera Gallery: 10 High St. Wakefield

Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County : 61 Main St . Wakefield

South Kingstown High School: 215 Columbia St. Wakefield

University of Rhode Island: 80 Upper College Rd. Kingston

Hera Gallery and Educational Foundation has partnered with the Domestic Violence Resource Center to develop a collaborative project centered around Denim Day, April 24th, 2024. The collaboration includes a month long community weaving project with recycled denim, a violence prevention talk with Keith Labelle, Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Education, Outreach & Training at the University of Rhode Island, and a denim transformation workshop led by local artist Jaimee Roberts. Through these events we hope to spread awareness and education about sexual and domestic violence against women, while providing a community space and practice for healing.

What is Denim Day? Denim Day is a campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it.

VIOLENCE PREVENTION WITH KEITH LABELLE AND THE DVRC

April 24th @7pm: Keith Labelle Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Education, Outreach & Training at the University of Rhode Island will give a talk about Violence Prevention in our community. Joining Keith, Michelle LePage, Executive Director at the DVRC of South County will also give a few words.

DENIM DAY WORKSHOP

Saturday April 27th @ 2-5pm: Dust off your denim jacket and tired jeans and give them some new, dazzling life with a rivet press. We’ll also have denim patches to color and embellish. Led by local artist Jaimee Roberts, come have a mocktail and craft together and learn how we can support the DVRC. Participants should bring their own denim! There will be a denim donation drop off, swap, and sale. This event is free and open to the public!

COMMUNITY WEAVING PROJECT

April 17th- May 4th: In honor of Denim Day, we’ll work together on a community handwoven denim rug to give to DVRC. A 4-shaft loom with simple weaving instructions will be setup and available to learn to weave on at Hera Gallery from April 13th- May 4th!