The distinct colors of a stoplight are etched in our minds in early childhood: green means go, red means stop. But in University Museum’s ReACT Gallery, dozens of round green stickers represent much more than traffic signals. Green Dots are a call to action.

The exhibit, which opened Jan. 22, was done in coordination with the new Green Dot program at Iowa State. According to the Student Wellness site, a “green dot” is defined as “any choice, behavior, word or attitude that promotes safety for everyone and communicates utter intolerance for power-based personal violence in our Iowa State University Community.”

The exhibit was curated by Nancy Gebhart, educator of visual literacy and learning for University Museums, who was inspired after she attended a meeting about the Green Dot program. Both the Green Dot program and the ReACT gallery seek to inspire students to take action in their community.

“It’s not just about having an experience in the gallery, but an action outside the gallery,” Gebhart said.

In addition to green dots, there are red dots and barriers. Red dots are negative or violent acts that harm others, while barriers are what may restrict a person from reaching out to someone to take action.

“You’re not just trying to eliminate those barriers, but to recognize them and find out how to take action with those barriers,” Gebhart said.

A highlight of the exhibit is a new piece called “So Much to Contemplate” by Linda Lewis. The piece was selected by the Fall 2017 Diversity in Art class (DSN S 145X), and depicts a woman huddled on the ground. The piece can be interpreted in different ways, but Gebhart said students note the negative emotion the figure seems to be experiencing. When she asked what people would do if they saw someone in a similar position on campus, most students say “nothing.”

“What Green Dot teaches us is that walking by and saying hello – that can go a long way. It’s a way to say, ‘I hear you,’” Gebhart said.

Gebhart said many people don’t engage in the conversations surrounding power-based violence because of a lack of knowledge or awareness about the subject.

“They fear they’ll say the wrong thing, so they don’t say anything,” Gebhart said.

Though there have been many events, seminars and programs surrounding the Green Dot program at Iowa State, Gebhart believes art provides a different way for people to learn and process the information surrounding the program. She noted that several people who had undergone training sessions with Green Dot said they experienced something or viewed something differently because the art prompted them.

“Art can help us process emotions and practice empathy,” Gebhart said.

Each week, the Green Dot program holds an activity or event in connection with the ReACT Gallery. On Thursday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Green Dot program will be partnering with Special Collections and University Archives for a trivia scavenger hunt. The hunt begins at Parks Library and ends at the ReACT gallery. 

The exhibit will remain open until Feb. 16.