Artist Statement: Why Art

By Theo von Weiss

When I was a freshman I pictured myself doing a senior project that was art related. Instead, I chose to do a project on something dark and really heavy. I needed something to help me debrief and give me time to reflect on the disturbing stories I was reading and the related issues I was researching. 

When a person goes through a significant traumatic experience, it can affect them negatively for the rest of their lives. Therapists, child welfare workers, case managers, and other helping professionals involved in the care of traumatized children and their families can experience secondary trauma while working to help their clients. The way to deal with secondary trauma is to practice self care and do things which enrich your life and bring you joy.  It was important for me to use art as a way to take care of myself while learning about and researching the difficult subject of human trafficking. 

I created this photography exhibit to make the information I’ve presented more personal. This artistic project, including photoshoot and dark room developing, took approximately 16 hours. These three models represent the young women of America whose lives have been stolen from them. Here is a representation of what sex trafficking looks like. It’s difficult to see because it is often underground or online, but it is here, even in rural Wisconsin. Sex trafficking is real and it is happening right now. Try to understand their stories. Try to picture their lives and believe their words.