Five regular suitcases have been transformed into powerful narrative art pieces shining a light on emotional events experienced by clients from the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley.

These moving pieces created by local artists are part of “The Great Escape – Suitcase Art Exhibit” traveling throughout the city of Santa Clarita through Wednesday, March, 8 2017. Residents are encouraged to visit the exhibit and learn about domestic violence and the available resources in the community.

The traveling exhibit is in conjunction with the Domestic Violence Center’s inaugural “The Great Escape Gala,” a benefit event happening on Friday, March 17, 2017. Local artists from the Santa Clarita community were each paired with a domestic violence client to learn about their domestic violence history—the struggles and triumphs—and translate their escape stories into art using a simple suitcase as their frame. Suitcases were chosen to symbolize the path the domestic violence client took to escape their dangerous situation.

A local artist and Domestic Violence Center representative will be at each exhibit showing to share their experiences and answer any questions about the non-profit organization.

The suitcases will be on display at the following dates, times and locations:

* Saturday, February 18, 2017 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Valencia Library, located at 23743 Valencia Boulevard

* Friday, February 24, 2017 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Canyon Country Library, located at 18601 Soledad Canyon Road

* Saturday, February 25, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at La Galeria Gitana, located at 120 N. Maclay Avenue in San Fernando

* Wednesday, March 8, 2017 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at College of the Canyons, located at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road

“Imagine having to flee a dangerous situation within minutes, maybe seconds. That’s what these suitcases are meant to do, put you in the shoes of our clients,” says Linda Davies, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Center. “But the story isn’t all tragic, these clients are survivors, and the suitcases not only share their painful pasts, it also showcases their future hopes and dreams,” she adds.