FSU Art Sculpture Shares Survivor Stories Through May 31

When students walk through the Florida State University Student Union this month, they encounter something extraordinary: a seven-foot sculpture that transforms survivor voices into visual art.

The Voices Project stands as an interactive installation made of 20 plexiglass panels that align perfectly when viewed from certain angles. But the real magic happens when visitors scan QR codes attached to the sculpture and hear anonymous stories from survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

FSU's Master Craftsman Studio created the piece in collaboration with Lauren's Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing childhood sexual abuse through education. Studio Manager Phil Gleason led a team of students through months of planning and construction.

"Just to see it up in public was pretty magnificent, as we had not seen it all together yet," Gleason said. The team assembled the full sculpture for the first time during installation.

The fragmented plexiglass design carries deep symbolism. From one angle, the panels appear scattered and disconnected. From another viewpoint, they align into a unified whole.

Lauren Book, founder of Lauren's Kids, explains that this mirrors the survivor experience. Painful and fragmented memories can feel overwhelming, but with support and healing, people can move toward wholeness again.

The Ripple Effect

The installation does more than display artistic skill. It creates space for difficult conversations on a college campus where many students are still learning about consent, boundaries, and supporting survivors.

By making the stories anonymous and accessible through technology, the project removes barriers that might prevent people from engaging. Students can listen privately, reflect on what they hear, and carry those lessons into their communities.

Gleason notes that the project validates the power of art to address serious social issues. "When we put it in public and see how other people interact and respond to it, it's a very powerful message," he said.

The collaboration between engineering students, artists, and advocates shows what's possible when different disciplines unite around a shared mission. The sculpture proves that prevention education doesn't have to feel clinical or distant.

The Voices Project remains on display through May 31, giving the FSU community weeks to experience it, share it, and let survivor voices create ripples of awareness that extend far beyond campus.