This April, in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Burton Barr Central Library will host a poignant art installation titled, “What Were You Wearing?” The exhibit, which runs from April 1 to May 1, 2025, is a collaborative effort with the City of Phoenix Let’s Talk Teal initiative and the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence (ACESDV).
“What Were You Wearing?” is a moving exhibition featuring recreations of the clothing worn by local sexual assault survivors at the time of their assaults. Each piece tells a powerful story, challenging the victim-blaming narratives survivors often endure when they come forward. This installation aims to foster empathy, raise awareness, and break down the harmful myths that perpetuate sexual violence.
“Sexual violence is never deserved. Through this exhibition we hope to create a space for reflection and dialogue,” said Raquel Wind, Strategic Initiatives Manager in the City of Phoenix’s Human Services Department. “By confronting the question ‘What were you wearing?’, we aim to dispel the notion that survivors are ever to blame for the violence they endure.”
Sexual violence can affect anyone. More than one in three women and nearly one in four men have experienced sexual violence, according to a National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) 2018 report.
“ACESDV works to support survivors by continuing to make sure they have choices in safety and healing in their community. We invite you to support a survivor by believing and listening to them—not challenging what they were wearing when harmed,” said Samantha Hinchey, Director of Victim Services. “In addition to supporting survivors, ACESDV is committed to educating communities in Arizona about sexual and domestic violence, its impacts, and reducing stigma to promote healing.”
To learn more about the City of Phoenix Let’s Talk Teal campaign and the efforts to prevent sexual violence, visit phoenix.gov/letstalkteal.
Installation Details
Title: What Were You Wearing?
Dates: April 1 – May 1, 2025
Location: Burton Barr Central Library @Central Gallery, 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Admission: Free and open to the public
