Clean Slate Diaries

Art conveys. From the first caveman’s etchings on the walls, to Da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” to Brendan Rose’s serpent rising out of Onondaga Creek, a message travels from the artist to the viewer. Art has the power to communicate when words fall short, or simply can’t be found. When the issue seems too immense for a community to grasp, art fills the gap and begins the conversation. 

This is what Clean Slate Diaries is all about. At issue is sexual abuse and domestic violence—problems known but not often discussed in public forums. And the lack of conversation puts a blanket of silence over the survivors and their stories. One survivor, Renee DeVesty, hopes to change this with the Clean Slate Diaries event.

“It’s a night of music, art, dance and spoken word survivor stories that will be shared,” said DeVesty. “It honors the path that survivors walk. The musicians and dancers perform for them, and the speakers share their stories.” 

The event is scheduled to take place Saturday, April 28, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 E. Genesee St. There is a registration period from 6 to 6:30 p.m., and a reception immediately following the program. Among the musicians and dancers performing are Syracuse Area Music Award (Sammy) recipient Loren Barrigar, Sammy Hall of Fame inductee Marcia Andrews-Hagan and My Fusion Flow dance group. The event is free.

Clean Slate Diaries is one of the resources in the Central New York area for survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence. “There’s Vera House, you can call them 24 hours a day, and the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center,” noted DeVesty. “And if anyone wants to email me, I could personally connect them to the right places. I would be happy to help them personally if they are unsure of what to do.”

This is the third year for the Clean Slate Diaries. “Music is what really got me through my journey, and I just found so much healing and inspiration from the music that I listened to and the important lyrics,” DeVesty explained. “And I love to see dancers perform and use their body as form of expression.” She then set out to bring this empowering force to other survivors. “I thought, ‘What would I want?’ Not one more run, not one more walk. Something that is beautiful and lyrical and makes me feel like some healing is taking place.”

Since last year’s event, the Clean Slate Diaries has not only helped survivors heal, but also reached out nationally to victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. “We have people coming to this from all over the country,” said DeVesty. “We have people coming from Florida and from Vermont and from New York City.” 

Along with the national attention, many local musicians have noticed the Clean Slate Diaries as well. “These performers do this with their whole heart and soul. They believe in the importance of dignifying the journey of the survivors. They hunt me down each year and say, ‘I want to be in it,’” said DeVesty. “They each perform one song, and they take it and they want it to be the best possible piece. For them to come and clear their schedule for one song, that’s huge.” 

Andrews-Hagan, one of the musicians involved, will be singing “Amazing Grace.” “It just means that I’m doing something—something to recognize those folks who have actually made it,” she noted. “Society talks about the struggle itself, and they talk about going through it, but no one talks about the other side of ‘through.’ And there should be a celebration once you’re through.”

The community is invited to join the conversation and celebration, and help put an end to the silence. “I think that people don’t want to talk about it because it’s hard. It’s a tough subject. It exists and it’s still happening at this time,” said DeVesty. “I think that that’s the most important reason we have to talk about it because {silence} enables this type of crime to happen again. Even though it’s hard to talk about it and to accept it, we have to find a way to turn the light on in the darkness of this crime. By doing this, speaking out, it helps people to become more aware, and possibly helps prevent it from happening in the future.”

For more information, visit cleanslate diaries.com or email Renee DeVesty at reneedevesty@gmail.com. You can call Vera House at 468-3260, or the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center, 601 E. Genesee St., at 701-2985.

—Lorna Oppedisano