Visitors walking through the Florida State University Student Union this month are encountering a 7-foot-tall art installation that changes depending on where they stand, using fractured images and survivor stories to explore healing from childhood sexual abuse. The installation, known as The Voices Project, is an immersive art experience between FSU’s Master Craftsman Studio and the Lauren’s Kids Foundation, a nonprofit focused on preventing childhood sexual abuse through education and advocacy.
“We started working with them (Master Craftsman Studio) to put together a piece where, when you look at it head-on, you see a clear image,” said Lauren Book, founder of Lauren’s Kids and a former Florida state senator from Broward County. “But as you move to the left or to the right, there are shards. If you come back to the center, however, you are always looking at that unifying image. I think that is truly what survivorship and thrivership is. There are pieces and parts that are challenging and difficult — but with guidance, support, love and counseling, we can be whole again.”
Construction was handled by FSU’s Master Craftsman Studio. After months of planning that began in October 2025, Studio Manager Phil Gleason and a team of students completed the build in a four-week sprint.
The project consists of 20 individual plexiglass panels with 10 intersecting panels in each direction. The panels were designed using CAD software to ensure the images aligned perfectly from specific vantage points.
“This project really pushed our limits as to what we were capable of, both with our research and our tooling in the studio,” Gleason said. “Seeing the reaction of people in the Union and realizing the impact of these fractured images and how they represent the persona of a survivor was when it really set in that this is a powerful, honorable piece to be a part of.”
Lauren’s Kids leads the annual “Walk in My Shoes” journey across Florida, partnering with rape crisis and child advocacy centers to connect survivors with local resources and raise awareness about childhood sexual abuse.
In April, a mobile recording unit traveled with the 2026 Walk in My Shoes 1,500-mile journey from Key West to Tallahassee to capture survivors’ stories in their own words. Each side of the sculpture features “Scan to Listen” QR codes, allowing visitors to hear the anonymous audio stories collected during the walk.
“It truly is an incredible piece, an incredible storytelling piece, a visually arresting piece, and something that is truly special and will live on far beyond the walk itself,” Book said.
The project’s presence at FSU is the result of collaboration among the Office of the Provost, FSU Facilities, Division of University Advancement and the Division of Student Affairs.
“The Voices Project serves as a powerful reminder of the strength found in shared narratives and the importance of a supportive, informed environment,” said FSU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jim Clark. “Hosting this work reflects Florida State’s responsibility to provide immersive experiences that challenge us to listen deeply and uphold our commitment to protecting and empowering the most vulnerable among us.”
The installation will remain on the main floor of the FSU Student Union through May 31.
Students, faculty, staff and the public are encouraged to visit, listen to the narratives and learn more about the resources available through Florida’s child advocacy centers. Survivors everywhere are invited to submit audio recordings up to five minutes long by emailing voices@laurenskids.org.
To learn more about the FSU’s Master Craftsman Studio visit facilities.fsu.edu/mcs, and for more information on the foundation’s mission, visit laurenskids.org.