Women of Ukraine reclaim their strength in powerful new exhibition
A powerful exhibition featuring Ukrainian women photographed in parts of Lancashire that have helped them to reclaim a sense of power has begun its library tour this week.
The Place of Power exhibition begins at St Anne's Library and will remain there until August 11, before heading to a select number of libraries over the next few months.
It will then head to Chorley Library on August 21 until September 1, before making stops at Lancaster, Accrington, Skelmersdale, Nelson and Leyland libraries.
The exhibition shares the stories of Ukrainian women, displaced by war and resettled in Lancashire, alongside images of them in their 'places of power' – places where they have been able to reclaim a feeling of strength. It has an accompanying podcast that you can listen to alongside the images.
Place of Power was dreamt up by artist Libby Burke Wilde and a group of Ukrainian refugees who recently resettled in Lancashire.
Libby said: "It was a complete privilege to get to know the women and families who were photographed for Place of Power.
"Their strength to tell their stories and continue to raise awareness about the war in Ukraine is remarkable.
"By photographing each person in a place that made them feel powerful again, and inviting them to write letters left completely up to their own interpretation, this is a project about people who’ve had control taken away from them reclaiming it once more."
Place of Power is being shown in select libraries as part of the Libraries of Sanctuary award, which recognises and celebrates the libraries that go above and beyond to show solidarity and welcome.
County Councillor Peter Buckley, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for community and cultural services, said: "We're proud to have been awarded the Libraries of Sanctuary award and what that says about the welcoming nature of our libraries.
"Place of Power builds on this by shining a light on those who have had to restart their lives in Lancashire after being displaced by the war in Ukraine.
"I would really encourage people to visit one of the libraries showing this new exhibition over the coming months and see and hear for yourself the stories of these inspiring women."
To find out more about Libby Burke Wilde visit www.libbyburkewilde.com