JBJ Soul Kitchen to host 180 Turning Lives Around 5th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Art Exhibit

Threads of Strength: Tapestry of Survival is a fiber-arts display depicting recovery from domestic violence and sexual assault. JBJ Soul Kitchen will host an opening on Wednesday, October 18th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at its Red Bank restaurant located at 207 Monmouth Street, Red Bank. This will be the 5th collaborative art exhibit between 180 Turning Lives Around and Soul Kitchen.

180 Turning Lives Around is the lead agency in Monmouth County providing services for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. JBJ Soul Kitchen is a community restaurant featuring fresh, healthy ingredients. Soul Kitchen serves meals to in-need customers through volunteer work or to paying customers through paying by donation. Dining at JBJ Soul Kitchen provides an opportunity for all to EAT WELL and DO GOOD.

Each year the staff of the agency’s Amanda’s Easel Creative Arts Therapy Program leads an art project made by survivors and advocates that represents personal journeys toward healing. This year marks the 30th anniversary of National Domestic Awareness Month. The art projects bring awareness about Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence in our community. Thread, fabric, string and other materials were used to represent piecing life back together. Survivors and advocates working together create stronger bonds, weaving stories of pain into strength and survival.

“Since 180 has embraced the opportunity to share survivor’s stories through art, we have seen hundreds of men, women, and children find inspiration and healing in the process of the art making. Producing and exhibiting the imagery that addresses surviving violence is often powerful and filled with raw emotion. It is my belief that these are the strong messages we need the public to see and hear about in order to eliminate domestic and sexual violence in our society,” says Cynthia Westendorf, coordinator of Amanda’s Easel Creative Arts Program.