Cat Del Buono

image © Cat Del Buono

Voices

July 7–31, 2016

"I heard disturbing stories of abuse but also of strength and courage. Not only were these women able to leave their abusive situations—which tragically doesn’t happen as often as one thinks—but they felt compelled to reach out to other women in similar circumstances and let them know they can leave and they can survive. This had a powerful effect on me. To think of others while they themselves had been beaten, verbally abused, and made to feel worthless was a remarkable demonstration of their courage and humanity.”

Cat Del Buono’s Voices is a video installation consisting of multiple small wall-mounted monitors surrounding the gallery, all focused on the mouths of domestic violence survivors as they speak. The many voices overlap to create a cacophony of sound, yet when one approaches a monitor, an individual's account of abuse becomes clear, reminding us that we may not be aware of those around us living with domestic violence until we look and listen more closely. The Voices exhibition at Blue Sky included stories from local domestic violence survivors and was accompanied by a panel discussion with the artist and domestic violence prevention advocates.

Cat Del Buono is an artist based in New York City specializing in video installations and public happenings. Originally trained as a photographer and filmmaker, she received a BA from Boston College and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts, in addition to attending the graduate film program at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She has exhibited at the Bronx Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Miami, DUMBO Arts Festival in Brooklyn, Field Projects Gallery, Chashama NYC, Fountain Art Fair Miami and New York, 6th Street Container Miami, Governors Island Art Fair, Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, and Vetlanda Museum in Sweden. Del Buono’s cable access show “Show Your Shorts” received two grants and aired for ten years in Manhattan.