the FACES project

Each year, for the past 5 years, I have had the honor of working with local survivors of Sexual Assault in Northern Colorado. These brave men and women have stepped forward to put a face, and a voice to an issue that has caused a great deal of pain, to too many people in our community.

The FACES project is meant to Honor those affected by sexual violence and empowering them as survivors Please join us for a night of inspiration that gives both a face and a "voice" to sexual assault !! This powerful exhibit combines black and white photos, artwork, and writings to empower, heal, and provide hope.

Opening Reception: April 2nd, 2010 6:00-9:00
Poudre River Arts Center (406 N. College Avenue)

The exhibit will be on display from April 2 to April 9
For more information, contact Vida at 970-472-4204 or visit http://www.savacenter.org

If you can't make it to the recpetion to view the images in person - please visit the online gallery of FACES photos - Click Here -

Also for the month of April I will be donating 15% of all my sales through my online gallery on Art for Conservation to the SAVA(Sexual Assault Victim Advocate)Center.

To view my work online - Click Here -

24% (1 in 4) of Colorado women and 6% (1 in 17) Colorado men have experienced a completed or attempted sexual assault in their life time. That is equal to over 11,000 men and women each year who have experienced a sexual assault in Colorado. Unfortunately, only 16% of rapes are reported to Colorado law enforcement

Approximately 73% of rape victims know their assailants.

College age women are 4 times more likely to be sexually assaulted.

In 2006, there were 272,350 victims of sexual assault, not including victims 12 years old and younger.

Every 2 minutes someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted.

Hearts and Horses

Being a member of the Art for Conservation website means that I have to donate a portion of my profits to a cause that I support each month. Since I am involved with several organizations that I care deeply about, I have decided to do a featured charity of the month.

Each month I will be promoting these charities, and will be donating 15% of my profits to that charity.

This month I have chosen Hearts and Horses. Hearts and Horses is a therapeutic riding center that works to promote the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social well being of people with special needs through equine assisted therapy.

To learn more about Hearts and Horses, visit their website: http://www.heartsandhorses.org/.

And to learn more about their volunteer opportunities visit: http://www.heartsandhorses.org/volunteers.html.

I will be donating 15% of all of my profits this month through the Art for Conservation program to Hearts and Horses. So Support this great cause, and get a great piece of art!Http://www.artforconservation.org/artists/mariamontano

Other News

I have entered three of my images into the Center for Fine Art Photography's next competition, "The Art of Nature".

I also have three new images for sale online through the art for conservation website.

Don't forget, that you can be a fan of my photography on Facebook! See the widget below to become a fan today! I always run specials, and give aways through facebook, so become a fan and you can win a free print!

the FACES project

Each year for the past four years, I have been working on a project with the Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Center (SAVA) called, the FACES project.

The goal of the project is to raise awareness within our community that the impact of sexual assault has on the lives of men and women who live here.

The statistics are overwhelming.

1 in 4 women and 1 in 18 men in colorado will be sexually assaulted in their lifetimes. This project helps put a face, and a story to that statistic.

For more information on how you can help raise awareness, and help put an end to sexual assault please visit: http://www.savacenter.org/. Donate money, become a volunteer, help staff the 24 hour rape crisis hotline.