Avondale, Ariz. - Estrella Mountain Community College willhost the ReDressing Injustice exhibit to bring public awareness to the hundreds of unsolved murders perpetrated against women living in Juarez, Mexico. More than 300 women have been kidnapped, raped and murdered in Juarez and many more continue to disappear today. The exhibit, a dramatic public art display, and related events, honor the memories of the young women and make a powerful statement against injustice towards women.Redressing Injustice is the brainchild of Irene Simmons, a faculty associate at Arizona State University West and visual artist. She collects donated dresses and gives people the opportunity to turn them into artwork on behalf of the murdered Mexican women. The individually decorated dresses are hung from large pink crosses to create the exhibit. "They become like memorial banners," says Simmons. "I think the dresses are a nice symbol for gender and because they hang empty, it's quite a metaphor."The crosses will be installed Sunday, October 3, on the Ceremonial Plaza lawn, on the southwest corner of the campus, with an opening reception of Monday, October 4. Irene Simmons will be available for discussion and interviews on October 4 from 8 a.m. - Noon, and 6:30 p.m., and again on October 5 from 8 a.m. - Noon. The exhibit runs October 4 - 7.Estrella Mountain sociology professor and women's issues activist, Dr. Olga Tsoudis, was instrumental in bringing the exhibit to campus. "People should be more aware of global issues," said Tsoudis. "This exhibit is a visual way of making people aware." Tsoudis often uses real-life current issues as a platform for homework assignments and to encourage critical thinking and discussion in her classes. In March of this year, she held a Redress workshop, which was well attended by students. The workshops put the power of art making into the hands of participants and teach lessons about political action, gender, culture and advocacy.Redressing Injustice events are part of the month-long Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at EMCC. For more information about Redressing Injustice, contact Dr. Olga Tsoudis at 623.935.8592. To schedule interviews with the artist,contact Keisha Truxillo at 623.935.8054.Campus Events:Senorita Extraviada (Documentary) - Sept. 29, Noon, North Community Room, Estrella HallSenorita Extraviada (Missing Young Woman) tells the story of hundreds or murdered young women of Juarez, Mexico. Young women continue to disappear to this day without any hope of bringing the perpetrators to justice. The documentary investigates the circumstances of the murders and the horror, fear and courage of the families whose children have been taken.ReDress Workshops, Oct. 1 & 2, 1 - 5 p.m., North Community Room, Estrella HallThese public hands-on art workshops guide participants to create their own dresses to honor the victims of Juarez. Dresses made will be used in the ReDressing Injustice exhibit to continue awareness and advocacy.Opening Reception, Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m., Plaza Gallery Exhibit: Oct 4- Oct 7, Ceremonial Plaza LawnA dramatic public art installation of over 300 decorated dresses will be displayed on the lawn near the Ceremonial Plaza, in the center of campus. The dresses on pink wooden crosses will provide a visual representation of the lives that have been lost. The exhibit forms a compelling visual testimony that honors the women's lives and conveys the complex political, social, and emotional issues surrounding their violent deaths within this border city. Dresses and other art will be auctioned at the event with proceeds benefiting, CASA AMIGA, a rape crisis center in Juarez, Mexico.Senorita Extraviada (2nd Showing), Oct. 7, 11:30 a.m., CTL
