The Green River Victim Memorial Art Project — Organization for Prostitution Survivors

Welcome to The Green River Victim Memorial Art Project, a powerful initiative by the Organization for Prostitution Survivors (OPS) that aims to honor the lives of the victims of the Green River Killer and create a space for healing and remembrance.

About OPS and Our Mission

OPS is an organization founded and led by survivors, dedicated to facilitating recovery from prostitution, trafficking, and commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) through trauma-informed services.

OPS is committed to creating a world of gender equity, racial justice, and freedom from all forms of oppression and exploitation. Our survivor-centered services include case management, one-on-one advocacy, support groups, therapy sessions, integrated movement therapy, addiction and recovery support, referrals to housing resources, community meals, art workshops, yoga, peer engagement, employment services, leadership and professional development, and connection to other community resources.

We believe in providing a safe and supportive environment to survivors, where they are respected, heard, and supported in their journey towards healing and empowerment. OPS also engages with and trains organizations in the community to ensure that survivors have access to the resources and support they need, and that survivor voices are centered in decision-making processes.

The Green River Victims and Why We Memorialize Them

The Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, is responsible for the presumed murders of more than 90 prostituted women and girls in the Seattle area between 1981 and 2001. He was charged with killing 49 identified victims, more than half of whom were under the age of 18. The impact of these tragic deaths goes beyond the numbers, as there were many more victims who were never found or identified.

The creation of The Green River Victim Memorial (GRVM) is a crucial step towards acknowledging and healing from this tragedy. For far too long, these victims have gone unacknowledged, and it is essential that we address the violence of prostitution that continues to affect our community. The memorial seeks to dispel the myths and victim-blaming attitudes towards prostitution and provide a place for future generations to learn from our painful past.

The Beginnings of the Green River Victim Memorial

This Green River Victims Memorial (GRVM) has been at the core of the OPS since its inception.

The Green River Victim Memorial project began with Phase One, where survivors of prostitution, along with the families of victims, came together through participatory art workshops to create dialogue and promote healing. From January 2013 to October 2017, OPS organized art workshops led by local artists like Maggie Smith, providing survivors with the opportunity to engage with art as a part of their healing journey. These workshops not only facilitated restoration but also actively memorialized the lives lost.

The workshop attendees, who have been working in ceramic sculpture and tile, have been particularly interested in making art about the Green River victims. They have made tiles expressing ideas and emotions on this subject in ongoing sessions held monthly to create this living memorial.

Survivors Taking the Lead

At OPS, we firmly believe that survivors' voices should guide the memorial project.

Through their experiences and the healing power of creative arts, survivors have taken on the lead role, providing invaluable insights and establishing the foundation for a permanent memorial.

Their stories and expressions contribute to our community in profound ways, and it is vital that we welcome and honor their contributions.

The Tiles and the Future

As part of the GRVM, survivors and participants in the art workshops have created 100 exquisite ceramic tiles. These tiles, sculpted in bas-relief and adorned with intricate designs, express individual artists' reactions to the Green River killings. Some tiles commemorate specific victims, while others explore themes of violence, love, and hope.

Our first art exhibit for the Green River Victim Memorial Tiles was first on display at UW School of Social Work during June 2019. Our current goal is to partner with local Washington airports, King County Colleges, and Art Galleries to develop a traveling living memorial that celebrates the resiliency of survivors and raises public consciousness about gender-based violence.

The art exhibit will offer education on the world of CSE and provide an opportunity for the community to learn from the history of the Green River killings.

It will display strong artwork with emotional impact in places where art is not typically seen. We recognize the significant impact that trauma can have on individuals, so we're committed to ensuring that this project is grounded in sensitivity and awareness. The tiles' origin story will be accompanied by interpretive materials, such as an informative panel on an easel or a nearby wall, that are designed to educate and inform the viewer while avoiding any re-traumatization.

We are planning to have other GRVM specific Art Workshops to create more tiles in 2025 because the Art Workshop is itself an aspect of the Living Memorial.

Green River Victim Memorial Exhibit at Slip Gallery

This was our 2nd exhibit for the Green River Victim Memorial Tiles (previously on display at UW School of Social Work during June 2019).

This exhibit was on display from June 11th through July 5th.

OPS is raising public awareness about changing the narrative when it comes to survivors of CSE and to create a living memorial.

To achieve this, we featured around 60 exquisite ceramic tiles created by CSE survivors from our OPS art workshops.

Each glazed tile, carefully crafted, serves as a powerful expression of the individual artist's response to the horrific serial killings.

In this extraordinary exhibit, the public encountered tiles that honor and commemorate the lives of individual victims, paying tribute to their untold stories.

Other tiles delve deep into highly personal iconography exploring the issue of this violence, shedding light on the pain and healing. Amongst these creations, there were also tiles that exude love, hope, and an unwavering spirit of resilience.

Stay tuned for our next exhibit!

Take a look at our past Art Workshop on September 10th 2024

With hearts full of gratitude, we extend our deepest thanks to each participant, and to the generous artist who opened her studio for the GRVM Art Workshop Retreat on September 10th. Our journey from Seattle to Bainbridge Island became a sanctuary where we honored the Green River victims through the intimate craft of tile-making.

It was a gathering that transcended the bounds of a typical retreat, offering a sacred space to connect, to remember, and to channel our collective grief into a tangible form of healing.

We hold in our hearts the memories of those whose lives were tragically taken, acknowledging the weight of the voices silenced and the stories left untold. In each tile we crafted, there was a whisper of acknowledgement, a stroke of awareness, and a commitment to healing—not just for our community but also for the souls lovingly remembered.

The serenity of the Bainbridge Island studio, the nourishing food, the tranquility of the views, and the strength of our gathered community—these elements forged together, forming creations in wet bas relief that spoke volumes.

We are filled with anticipation to share the unfolding story of this living memorial with you soon. May our collective efforts continue to resonate hope, healing, and transformation.

Take a look at our past Art Workshop on January 21st 2025

With deep appreciation and warmth, we extend our heartfelt thanks to every individual who joined us, and to the compassionate artist who generously shared her studio for the GRVM Art Workshop Retreat on January 21st. Our voyage from Seattle to Bainbridge Island evolved into a profound sanctuary, where we paid tribute to the Green River survivors through the delicate and purposeful craft of painting new tiles.

This gathering was more than a retreat; it was a profound communion, offering a sacred ground for connection, remembrance, and transforming our collective sorrow into a palpable journey of healing.

We carry in our hearts the legacies of those whose journeys were cut short, recognizing the profound loss of voices that were silenced and stories that remain untold. Within every tile painted, there resonated a soft echo of acknowledgment, a mark of awareness, and a pledge toward healing - not only for us as a community but in honor of the spirits we fondly recall.

The peaceful ambiance of the Bainbridge Island studio, the nourishing soup provided, the calming beauty of the surroundings, and the resilience of our united community - all these elements melded together, leading to the creation of expressive relief works that profoundly speak to our collective experience.