Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2805

Tonight's special guest is Rob Maniscalco from North Charleston, South Carolina, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Abandoned by his mom when he was very young, Rob was groomed and assaulted by his sister's boyfriend, a doctor at the children's hospital, who “infiltrated” his family when Rob was 14. Ignored by parents and church leaders, with his childhood derailed, Rob developed feelings of abandonment, guilt and worthlessness. Rob became an overachiever in the arts to prove his worth and gain the needed affirmation, mostly from women. Rob wrote a coming-of-age book about what led to the abuse and a fictional future asking “what if I confronted the perpetrator?,” called, The Fishfly. Rob describes his journey, "Recovery is a lifelong process. Just when I think I'm ‘healed' I'm triggered back into chaos. You can only fail when you stop trying, unless you've made a disgusting mess, in which case you should just quit while you're ahead." Rob is a nationally renowned artist, gallerist, author, teacher, and actor/director of his original play, Vincent John Doe. His recent dramatic reading of a poem, from the perspective of the perpetrator, might be played during the show:  https://www.maniscalcogallery.com/the-destroyer/. These days Rob's focus is on being the best portrait artist and fine artist he can be, being a loving husband and raising his two amazingly insightful kids. He says, “They teach me every day (or should I say every weekend) about being alive.”