Latest modern slavery fight updates - FreedomUnited.org

‘Red Sand’ Artwork Raises Awareness of Modern Slavery

  • Published on
    April 10, 2018
  • News Source Image
  • Category:
    Anti-Slavery Activists, Child Slavery, Debt Bondage, Domestic Slavery, Forced Labor, Forced Marriage, Human Trafficking
Hero Banner

There are around 40 million people around the world who are victims of modern slavery. But despite the severity of the problem, there remains little public awareness of the issue.

Molly Gochman, a New York-based experiential artist and activist is trying to change that. She started the “Red Sand” project in 2014 to create public art that brings attention to modern day slavery.

Gochman has distributed over 200,000 ‘kits’ of red-colored sand for people to use to fill in sidewalk cracks, thus catching the attention of those passing by. The kits also include facts and figures about human trafficking.

Global Journalist spoke with Gochman to understand what motivated her to start “Red Sand”:

The Red Sand Project is a participatory artwork that uses sidewalk interventions, earthwork installations and convenings to create opportunities for people to question, to connect and to take action against vulnerabilities that can lead to human trafficking and exploitation.

Installations and events have taken place in all 50 United States and in more than 70 countries around the world. Several hundred thousand Red Sand Project toolkits have been requested and used by people and groups of diverse backgrounds – from students to educators, businesses to outreach organizations, concerned citizens to celebrities, and we’ve engaged over 1.5 million people.

For years, I have used my work as an invitation for people to reflect on and participate in the experience of humanity. I hope that through my art, I can encourage people to stop, soften and really feel the meaning that exists in the objects and communities that surround us.

That is one of the main reasons why I started Red Sand Project. The project was born after I learned more about modern day slavery, and was appalled that I hadn’t really known it existed before. After reaching out to several human rights organizations to ask what I could do to help, they all told me to raise awareness.

The reason why Gochman focuses on sidewalk cracks is because they remind us that we can’t walk over those who are marginalized in society, or “those who fall through the metaphoric cracks.”

Participants of the “Red Sand” project have also been documenting their work on social media using the hashtag #RedSandProject.

Gochman says she was initially nervous at how survivors of trafficking would feel about the red sand, but she says they’ve embraced the project and even taken part. “This project has shown me that while this is an incredibly sensitive issue, art gives space to share images and stories in a way that doesn’t exploit the people being affected,” she said.

Subscribe

Freedom United is interested in hearing from our community and welcomes relevant, informed comments, advice, and insights that advance the conversation around our campaigns and advocacy. We value inclusivity and respect within our community. To be approved, your comments should be civil.

stop icon A few things we do not tolerate: comments that promote discrimination, prejudice, racism, or xenophobia, as well as personal attacks or profanity. We screen submissions in order to create a space where the entire Freedom United community feels safe to express and exchange thoughtful opinions.

Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

This week

Haiti’s children are being forcibly recruited into violent gangs

Haiti's escalating gang violence is having a devastating impact on its most vulnerable citizens—children. Armed groups are increasingly recruiting boys and girls, offering them basic survival needs in exchange for their lives and freedom. According to a recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), children are being lured into these violent organizations under the guise of protection and sustenance, but what follows is a life of exploitation that can only

| Wednesday October 9, 2024

Read more