FSU Art Installation Gives Voice to Abuse Survivors

Students walking through Florida State University's Student Union are stopping in their tracks at a sculpture that changes before their eyes, depending on where they stand.

The Voices Project is a 7-foot-tall art installation created by FSU's Master Craftsman Studio and Lauren's Kids Foundation. It uses 20 intersecting plexiglass panels to show fractured images that align into clear pictures when viewed from the center.

The design carries powerful meaning. "As you move to the left or to the right, there are shards," said Lauren Book, founder of Lauren's Kids. "If you come back to the center, however, you are always looking at that unifying image. That is truly what survivorship is."

Studio Manager Phil Gleason and his student team spent four intensive weeks building the installation after months of planning. They used CAD software to ensure the images aligned perfectly from specific viewing points.

The technical challenge pushed the team's limits. "Seeing the reaction of people in the Union and realizing the impact of these fractured images was when it really set in that this is a powerful, honorable piece to be a part of," Gleason said.

Each side of the sculpture features QR codes that let visitors hear anonymous audio stories. These recordings were captured during Lauren's Kids' annual Walk in My Shoes journey, which covered 1,500 miles from Key West to Tallahassee in April.

The foundation travels this route every year, partnering with rape crisis and child advocacy centers across Florida. A mobile recording unit traveled with walkers this year to document survivor voices in their own words.

Why This Inspires

The installation proves that art can create safe spaces for difficult conversations. By combining visual beauty with survivor stories, it invites people to listen who might otherwise walk past.

The project also gave FSU students real-world experience creating meaningful public art. They learned technical skills while contributing to an installation that could help other survivors feel less alone.

The sculpture will remain at the Student Union through May 31, where students, faculty, staff and the public can visit. Survivors everywhere are invited to add their voices by submitting audio recordings up to five minutes long to voices@laurenskids.org.