By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

In conjunction with Jana’s Campaign and the advocacy organization Victims2Survivors, the Hays Arts Council will hold an opening reception for the international exhibit “In the Name of Love” from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the art gallery on East 11th Street.

Hem Matsi, co-founder of Victims2Surivior, who is coming to Hays from Namibia, Africa, also will speak at the event. A Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 team also helped with the planning of the exhibit, which will be in display through March 8.

According to Brenda Meder of the Hays Arts Council, the exhibit is designed to raise awareness of the issue of gender-based violence. Meder told the Hays Post that one in three people globally will experience some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime.

“These are strong, powerful impressive pieces of art,” Meder said. “They’re not sensationalized. They’re not gory or anything like that.They are powerful images that allow us to have a little bit more of a visual voice in a way.”

The artwork that will be shown came to Hays from a United Nations event in Geneva, Switzerland. According to Christie Brungardt, co-founder of Jana’s Campaign, this will be the only time the exhibit is shown in the United States.

The opening reception is free and open to the public.