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With Donna Ferrato’s ground-breaking documentary project, Living with the Enemy serving as a context for framing her new campaign against domestic violence, I am Unbeatable, takes her documentary social activism to a new level by focusing on survivors of domestic abuse. In addition to the photography and video of Sarah, “I Am Unbeatable” includes a number of public service announcements created by Ferrato in collaboration with award-winning journalist Alex Chadwick. , best know for his work on National Public Radio, I Am Unbeatable is an exhibition, a grass-roots effort to support women who have escaped violent relationships, and a means to speak directly to young women and girls who have yet to declare themselves “unbeatable.” This will be the first exhibition that focuses exclusively on these two series, a project that will bring local, national and international attention to the Gallery and Vanderbilt, while more importantly, engaging a wide range of students, including those participating in the Class of 2018 Commons Reading, Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward. It will also provide opportunities to partner with Women and Gender Studies here at Vanderbilt, and Nashville’s Magdalene House and Thistle Farms, a residential program founded in 1997 by Becca Stevens, Episcopal Minister at Vanderbilt for women who have survived prostitution, trafficking and addiction.
“I Am Unbeatable–Documenting and Celebrating Stories of Empowerment: Photographs by Donna Ferrato,” will be on display at Vanderbilt Fine Arts Gallery through Dec. 4. The exhibition is free and open to the public. A reception will be held in honor of the photographer Sept. 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. Ferrato will speak on “Looking for Positive Change in a Climate of Fear” at 6 p.m. In addition to photographs, a video about a survivor of domestic violence named Sarah will run continuously in the gallery.
