Frankfort- In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, today the Governor and Mrs. Patton unveiled a nationally recognized exhibit of photographs taken of domestic violence victims. The photograph exhibit, entitled Living with the Enemy will be displayed in the Capitol during the first two weeks of October. Governor Patton said, "The stark reality of these photographs may allow people across Kentucky to see domestic violence for what it is, a crime against women and children which must end." The First Lady, who serves as Co-Chair of the Governor’s Council on Domestic Violence, added, "The story of domestic violence is a harsh one and there is no better way to show what this crime does to families than to use the faces of women and children as our storytellers."

Donna Ferrato, the photojournalist who took the pictures, and representatives from the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association and the Governor’s Office of Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Services participated in the unveiling. Becky Hagan, President of the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association, said, "It is our hope that Ferrato’s graphic depiction of the reality of domestic violence will inspire all Kentuckians to work toward peace in Kentucky homes." The exhibit is in Kentucky as part of a special domestic violence program, "Project Vision", which is designed to heighten public awareness to the crime, particularly in the rural areas of the Commonwealth. The Kentucky Domestic Violence Association will show the exhibit through slide presentations during the month of October in Paducah, Beattyville, Hopkinsville, Louisville, Ashland, Lexington, Henderson and Owensboro.

Living with the Enemy is being made available nationally by Domestic Abuse Awareness, Inc., a non-profit organization founded by Donna Ferrato. Seventeen years ago, while working on an unrelated story, Ferrato saw a man violently strike his wife. Until that day, she thought the greatest threat of danger to women came from strangers. As Ferrato said in 1991, "That experience changed my life as a photographer. Shocked that love could go so wrong, I became obsessed with documenting domestic violence. Driven to try to do something about it, I found that a camera was my best weapon."

In observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Governor’s Office of Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Services will also distribute over 3000 posters showing four of the photographs to spouse abuse shelters and other victim advocates, prosecutors, judges, police officers, and other Kentuckians statewide.

For Additional Information contact Carol Jordan, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Services at (502) 564-2611.