This year, Safe Alliance partnered with local artist Elizabeth Palmisano to craft a remarkable piece of art called "Compassion in Bloom," which will be showcased and auctioned off at Safe Alliance's annual fundraiser, Breakfast of Hope. Breakfast of Hope, held on October 1st at The Revelry at Camp North End, not only marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month but also stands as a beacon of community, hope, and healing for those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. 

"Compassion in Bloom" is the brainchild of Elizabeth Palmisano, a Charlotte-based community artist. A survivor herself, Elizabeth found art in her darkest times. While in her 20s, a friend noticed that Elizabeth always seemed drawn to art and art shows and suggested she try painting. The first time Elizabeth picked up a paintbrush, she painted for 16 hours straight. She stated, "It was the first time in my memory that I ever felt relaxed and at peace. I knew I wanted to share this." Over the past two decades, Elizabeth has channeled her passion into installations, murals, and expressive art workshops, allowing participants to explore their emotions and experiences through creativity. 

When Safe Alliance approached Elizabeth to create a piece for Breakfast of Hope, she embraced the opportunity to craft something truly special. The artwork's creation process was deeply influenced by a reflection workshop she facilitated with Safe Alliance staff where they engaged in collaborative art exercises. These exercises allowed staff to reflect on and express their hopes and aspirations and resulted in twelve collaborative art pieces. 

Rhyan Given, a Bilingual E-Filing Court Advocate at Safe Alliance, was one of the participants in the reflection workshop. Rhyan is a recent graduate who has been passionately working in the Victim Assistance Court Program since October 2023. She grew up as a dancer and considers herself a creative person, but not super artistic. She described the workshop as a welcoming environment where her self-consciousness quickly faded. She noted it was a refreshing break from the hustle of daily activities and a unique opportunity to connect with colleagues from other Safe Alliance programs. 

"It was one of those special moments not only are we actively helping our clients by doing this, but we are giving ourselves a little bit of a break. A lot of times, our clients do not have time to have grace or take a break. This was a great way for us to remind them they deserve grace," Rhyan reflected.

 Crafting "Compassion in Bloom" 

Elizabeth describes her painting style as process-based rather than product-based. This approach emphasizes exploration and connection over a perfected final outcome. She focuses on honoring the time and effort spent together, creating a piece that serves as a permanent time capsule of the shared experience. 

This philosophy was central to creating "Compassion in Bloom," a piece that was both collaborative and intuitive. Elizabeth drew inspiration from the conversations and imagery produced during the workshop. Between each layer of paint, she inscribed staff wishes onto the canvas, embedding their hopes and aspirations into the very fabric of the artwork. As she worked, lotus-like flowers began to emerge in the composition, a profound symbol of rebirth and resilience that also echoed the Safe Alliance logo. The presence of these flowers was not intentional but felt intuitively fitting with the themes of hope and healing. When it came time to name the piece, the word "compassion" stood out as a recurring theme in the workshop responses, leading to the title "Compassion in Bloom."

"Compassion in Bloom" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, not only for survivors of domestic violence but also for those who support them. This year's Breakfast of Hope event highlights the ripple effect of domestic violence, featuring speakers from the Charlotte community who are secondary survivors and service providers.  These individuals will share their personal stories of being impacted by domestic violence, aiming to shed light on its far-reaching effects and underscore the importance of community support. 

As "Compassion in Bloom" is auctioned off at Breakfast of Hope, we invite you to join us in supporting Safe Alliance's mission. By participating in the event, you are contributing to a cause that brings hope and healing to those impacted. Together, let's create ripples of change and hope.