Clothesline Project
The Grace Smith House Clothesline Project is a powerful visual display of t-shirts created by survivors of domestic violence or their loved ones. Each shirt is designed to represent a particular victim's experience. This emotional expression is part of a national movement to bear witness to these experiences, help those impacted with the healing process, and to educate, document and raise our community's awareness of the extent of domestic and sexual violence problem.
Grace Smith House is the custodian of the largest collection of t-shirts in Dutchess County. There are over 400 shirts, spanning back over the past 40 years. In the past, shirts have been displayed at the New York State Police Troop K headquarters; Dutchess County Sheriff's Office; Poughkeepsie Galleria; Betsy Jacaruso Gallery in Rhinebeck; and Gallery 40 in Poughkeepsie.
In 2024, Grace Smith House is expanding our Clothesline Project impact and reach through partnership with the Dutchess Community College and its Media Arts students. The Media Arts students have been busy creating a video describing the Clothesline Project and its impact on domestic violence survivors and their healing process. The video discusses the role creative expression can play in working through domestic violence trauma. The video will be shown at the gallery, along with one of the largest group of Clothesline Project t-shirts exhibited.
A SPECIAL JOINT CLOTHESLINE PROJECT: Grace Smith House will partner with Dutchess Community College & The Mildred I. Washington Gallery to present The Clothesline Project. The gallery is located in the Allyn J. Washington Center for Science and Art on Dutchess Community College's Campus at 53 Pendell Rd, Poughkeepsie in NY. The exhibit will open on Monday, September 30th, and close on Friday, October 25th. The reception is on Wednesday, October 2nd. There are plans for additional events in partnership with Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and The DCC Diversity Council.
Anyone can sponsor a t-shirt during the exhibition. Sponsorship begins at $100 and helps provide vital services to victims of domestic violence. Please click here to learn more about sponsoring the Clothesline Project.
All proceeds from the Clothesline Project directly goes to those we serve, and helps Grace Smith House continue to be an open door for the victims of domestic violence.
