2. Southeastern Family Violence Center  S.F.V.C. is a 34-year old private non-profit organization that depends on support from our community. We offer crisis intervention, shelter and advocacy services for adult (men & women) as well as child victims of intimate partner violence and/or family violence.

3.  Southeastern Family Violence Center has been helping individuals and families on their journey towards a more peaceful life since 1981. We believe in each person’s right to self-determination, safety, and a life free from violence. Survivors of intimate partner/family violence must be offered a safe, respectful, non-judgmental environment to identify their own needs and make their own decisions. In addition to being an advocate for survivors of domestic violence, we also assist individuals who have been a homemaker and are now displaced.

4. Visual Arts Competition  “Art to End Hurt” is a visual arts competition for two or three dimensional work. This competition was established for the benefit of the visual arts and as an annual fundraiser for Southeastern Family Violence Center.  Throughout all of history, artists have not only documented the values and customs of societies, but their art has healed lives, spirits, and bodies by giving hope even when faith and dreams seem far away. By sharing their art and spirits of hope, artists will partner with Southeastern Family Violence Center to heal damaged bodies, spirits and lives; will offer hope to our families; will plant seeds of new dreams for victims of domestic violence; and will enrich the lives of those who will take home an original work of art. We will all celebrate the joy and hope available through fresh and diverse media in the visual arts while benefiting Southeastern Family Violence Center's needs for women and their children.

5. Theme: “Heal Our Land”  There are many ways to interpret this year's theme, "Heal Our Land". It is no surprise that we live in one of the most violent communities in North Carolina. However, from hurt and pain something beautiful can arise when we trade Beauty for Ashes. This year’s theme can help us repair and heal ourselves through your art. You may illustrate relationships that have stood the test of time, damaged, restored, and forgiven. You may also create works that encompass the hurt associated with the devastating effects that violence has brought to our community, while we still believe together in Healing for our Land. Stretch your imagination as you depict Healing for Our Land through your art.

6. Exhibition Requirements  ELIGIBILITY: Art to End Hurt is open to all artists. Professionals as well as students are encouraged to enter. The only limitation is that entries must be original works of art not reproduced, copied or modified by an instructor.  CHALLENGE ENTRIES: Art to End Hurt challenges artists to show fresh new works created between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2015.  MEDIA: Open to all traditional and non-traditional genre and media, including but not limited to sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, collage, ceramics, fiber arts, etc.

7. “Heal our land”  What images come to mind when you think of healing? People? Places? Objects?  What kind of land are we surrounded by? Trees? Flowers? Plants? Landscape?  What makes up the land? Hills? Rivers?  How would we heal the land we already have? Think of prevention and ways to rehabilitate. What are we doing now to repair the damage done and prevent further destruction?

8.  How can art be used as a form of healing?  Can the land be used as a symbol for something else? Relationships? History?  Abuse in Robeson County is thought to be passed down from generation to generation. How can that be healed?  Abuse in Robeson County is thought to also be related to ethnocide, the deliberate and systematic destruction of the culture of an ethnic group. How can this be healed and prevented?

9. Project Requirements  Create a list of 10 objects, words or phrases that come to mind when you think of healing.  Now create a list of 10 objects, words or phrases that come to mind when you think of land.  How can you incorporate those 2 together?  Create 5 thumbnails of ideas from the theme ‘Heal our Land.’  You will present your 5 thumbnails the last 30 minutes of class on Thursday.

10. Final Product  You r final project can be completed in mixed media, watercolor, graphite, oil pastel or charcoal.  Must fill the entire page.