Petals
The Petal Project
My Petal Project was one of the first ways I began to share my art with other survivors. My yellow rose petals with declarations were created for the beautiful survivors I meet along my journey. They are physical reminders that we are not alone.
My creative process is intuitive. I create the images that come to me. I began creating (seemingly random, but that’s another story) yellow roses and then the individual petals. In my healing work I learned to rebuild my confidence and self-worth through declarations. These were different from affirmations because we acknowledged it was a process. In the beginning, I would say “I am in the process of believing I am….brave, courageous, etc.” We picked declarations based on what we needed in that moment. These have become part of my daily journaling. I then added declarations to individual petals and shared them with the women in my group therapy.
One day I decided to look up the meaning of a yellow rose. I found this.
"Like the warm sun, gifting a yellow rose to a friend conveys warmth and affection and can be a great way to show your delight. Yellow roses also symbolize remembrance and a warm memory or a token of appreciation to another.”
Healing through Art in Community
Art and community became two very important parts of my healing process. I decided to create an installation of my petals for other survivors. I work with organizations, service providers who have space where sexual trauma survivors gather. The petals hang in a cluster and survivors can interact with them. They can touch the petals, read the declarations and allow them to clink together in a wind chime fashion. If the survivor finds a particular petal that speaks to them, then they cut down that petal and take it with them. The petals are replenished by the survivor or staff from the surplus petals provided.
The petals of support can be kept in a pocket or nearby. When needed the Survivors can physically feel the cool, smooth, solid intention reminding them, they are Strong, Brave, Worthy, Loved!! My yellow rose petals represent the friendship and care I have discovered on my journey.
The installation can be solely created by Joanne or as a collaboration with clients from the organization. The Petal Project at the CSU SAFE Center office was created with students and staff.
Do you know of an organization that supports sexual trauma survivors that would benefit from my Petal Project? Please let me know!
Email jkkirves@msn.com
Petal Project Locations
Colorado State University - SAFE Center in the Student Center
ChildSafe Colorado - Loveland Campus
ChildSafe Colorado - Loveland Campus
Colorado State University - SAFE Center office
Petals
You can gift a Yellow Petal to a survivor by selecting a declaration that best fits them. If you don’t see the declaration you need, you can simply request it and I will make it. For every petal purchased one petal will be donated to a survivor.
