Abuse of Women and Children in the World
Samantha Sorrentino
Saugatuck Congregational Church
Bennington College
The theme of this installation is the abuse of women and children worldwide. The individual figures represent the victims of these crimes and the ensemble has been created to increase recognition of these victims. Each piece was sawed from plywood, sanded, stained with pink and blue wood stains, and then “dressed” in outfits made of various materials. The clothing components are mainly of found metal objects: tin can lids, can tabs, staples, screws, metal garden fencing, window screen, sink drains, metal labels, metal rods, coins, and metal dish scrubbers.
Samantha was one of many Westport youths and adult volunteers who participated in a Save the Sound Saugatuck River Cleanup last fall. Over a ton of garbage was collected that morning. From these and other "found" objects, she creates her sculptures.
Samantha, while on a High School Youth Group mission trip to San Francisco, was able to meet and talk with victims of sex abuse and child exploitation. Moved by these personal encounters with victims who were in the healing process, she researched the subject and created this multi-piece sculpture. Each face, done with black and white chalk, is the image of an actual victim. The abuse of women and children, and the degradation and abuse of the environment are related in the sense that both manifest a callous disregard for the sacredness of life.