Golden Doors to Freedom

The 4W Initiative, a joint effort of the UW School of Human Ecology, the Global Health Institute, and the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies is pleased to announce several events open to the public in the month of April, related specifically to its STREETS (Social Transformations to End Exploitation and Trafficking for Sex) Project.  

4W/STREETS at UW-Madison has the mission to contribute to ending human trafficking through education and action research that is grounded in the perspectives and preferences of survivors. STREETS aims to have an impact in communities locally and globally, as well as be an effective voice in the health, legal and policy realms.    

All community members are invited to attend and participate in the following STREETS events in April:

ArtWorks for Freedom is an organization based in Washington DC that uses art in various forms to raise awareness about human trafficking. ArtWorks for Freedom is partnering with the University of Wisconsin Madison 4W STREETS initiative (Social Transformations to End Exploitation and Trafficking for Sex) to bring several art displays to Madison throughout the month of April. The exhibitions will include:

Golden Doors to Freedom

April 4-25, Overture Center, 201 State Street, Madison WI 53703

This ArtWorks for Freedom participatory project turns abandoned doors into dramatic vehicles for communal focus on human trafficking. Guided by master gilder William Adair, trafficking survivors and allies in the community will convert discarded wooden doors into freedom portals. After applying 23k gold leaf to the doors, participants will write, stencil, draw, scratch, burnish and embellish them with their own expressions about trafficking.

An installation of fine art concept drawings that work out and document the gilded door installations by Mr. Adair will be on display at the Overture Center, April 4-25, with an artist talk scheduled on Thursday, April 21st at noon.