I am very proud to share that the Stop Telling Women to Smile campaign that I backed continues to roll along. Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, the artist spearheading the public art campaign to raise awareness of street harassment, will be in Oakland, CA February 19th-28th. During the week, she will host group discussions, artist talks and pasting flyers containing common street harassment phrases. This will all culminate in an exhibition of at Betti Ono Gallery opening on March 7th.

If you live in the Bay area or are interested in traveling to Oakland, you can participate in this phase of the project in several ways:

1) Group Discussion
Betti Ono Gallery
February 20, 2014
6-9pm
This event is open to all. Tatyana is looking to hear from a wide range of local women about their experiences with street harassment in the Bay. She’ll be shooting photographs of women who are interested in being portrayed in the new posters to be created throughout the week. This would be a good event to attend to get more information about the project.

2) Opening Reception
Betti Ono Gallery
March 7th, 2014
6-9pm
The work produced in Oakland will lead into an exhibition at Betti Ono, kicking off International Women’s History Month 2014 at the gallery. The exhibition opens to the public Friday, March 7, 2014 from 6-9pm during Oakland Art Murmur and runs through April 19, 2014.

3) Tatyana needs assistance with finding building owners who may be interested in donating outdoor wall space to hang the posters on, as well as spreading word about the project and events, including through the media.

If you live outside the Bay Area and still want to support this initiative, you can purchase items in the Stop Telling Women to Smile shop. I am really hoping this project will come to my city and I’ve offered to help in whatever way. If anyone attends in Oakland, please let us know how everything goes!