my own mother. I was nothing, comparative to a rug in your
home. I was being held prisoner, not by force...but being held
there by fear. I was your neighbor...and you did not even know
what was happening.
My name is Kelly Newcomb, and I am a domestic violence
survivor. I offer to all the one thing I held, the one thing that
kept me alive for five years...my art.
I began painting one year into my marriage to my abuser.
When I think back, that was the one gift of self I kept silent from
him. I lost my freedom and self-esteem, but somehow tucked it
away in my art. I escaped into my paintings, which eventually
evolved to survival.
My son, 1 yr old, four years into the marriage, became very ill.
Because of my abusers control, I was unable to communicate
the urgency of his illness. I had no money to help my son. I
began to sell my work at a local farmers market in order to fund
my sons care and needs of medical attention. On a good
weekend I was allowed this opportunity from my abuser, "to
earn money for the house."
I began to receive overwhelming response from my local
community with the paintings I produced I evolved again. His
abuse worsened. At this time I began to recognize the abuse
toward my children...my art sales were quietly tucked away into
a savings account.
In Dec.2003, an incident occurred with my abuser which flagged
my ultimate desire to leave with the children in fear of our
safety. I arrived at Safe Harbor in Jan.2004.
With the aid of Safe Harbor, and the programs and support
offered, I began my journey to heal and learn to embrace
myself, and love myself.
My art, as ironic as it is, was my heaven, was my saving grace.
I have become a successful artist. I am offered the
opportunity to be a stay at home mom, a buisiness owner, and
a proud woman. It was a gift God gave me. I am so proud to
have this gift to offer other women...that my gift can be used to
generate funds for Safe Harbor, and offer hope to others.
and if my gift saves another as it has saved me...
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