more from Beyond the Bricks and a giveaway

A few more images from the Beyond the Bricks exhibit.  Each of the visual art pieces here are made by the jail artists with literary work by community artists.  Something we noticed was that the visual art tended to be a little more uplifting whereas the jail writing pieces were a little more raw.

Since sharp tools like scissors or wire or even pencils with attached erasers are not allowed in the jail  our instructors had to pre-cut pieces for collage and weaving.  Inmates drew will small golf pencils and occasionally erased using the bottoms of their shoes.  Necessity is the mother of invention, no?

You can click on the photos below to get a closer look.

This companion artist took a different approach.  She made an art collage that complimented her companion artist's collage rather than create a literary piece. Inmate artist piece is on the right.

As I mentioned in my other post, we had a book published that contains the work of the inmate artists.  I have one I'd like to offer as a giveaway.  All you need to do is leave a comment below, with a thought about this project.

This giveaway is now closed.

A winner will be drawn at random by one of the ducks next Tuesday, Oct. 7th and announced on Wed.

If you'd like a copy of your own they are for sale on Amazon, HERE.

Thank you all!

Beyond the Bricks opening reception

Last night we had the opening reception for the Beyond the Bricks exhibit at the non-profit for which I work. You may remember me sharing a little bit about the Behind the Bricks project, where volunteers went into the Crow Wing County jail and taught art and writing to the inmates.  We asked community members to create companion pieces in response to those pieces, the result of which was the Beyond the Bricks exhibit.  

I created this boxed landscape in response to my companion artist's writing about a small brown leaf he had found in the jail. At the reception last night I had an opportunity to meet my companion artist in person. He told me the whole story about that leaf, and he explained to me how difficult it was in jail to be utterly separated from the outside world. We talked about my piece and what it meant to me and how I tried to imagine how I might feel in his situation, both of us knowing that I couldn't fully appreciate that kind of pain without having lived it. As he read his own words aloud, he was visibly moved, I think by the memories his words brought back, by this event celebrating him not as an inmate but as an artist.... as a human being, and by this community reaching out and embracing him. We're all deeply flawed, and last night was not about passing judgement, but about acceptance.

My words can't convey how moving this was for me. I walked away with tears in my eyes, but not before thanking him for being open to this project, shaking his hand, and giving him a hug. Later in the evening he came up to me and told me that he planned to keep on with his art, and that this project had changed him.

The arts matter, people. The arts matter.

Below are images of companion works from the exhibit. Several of you had asked if I would share images so here are a few. The visual art in each of these was created by a community member and the writing by an inmate artist. Next week I'll share some of the visual art created by inmates with companion writings by community artists.  If you're a softy like me you might want to grab the tissues.  

You Could Be Anywhere

A glimpse at the exhibit as a whole. If you are in the area, please stop by and see it. The show is here until October 11th and then will travel to a few local churches. It's extraordinary, you won't want to miss it.

Beyond the Bricks

at The Crossing Arts Alliance's Q Gallery

2nd floor, the Franklin Arts Center

Brainerd, MN 56401

Tues - Fri 10-4

thru Oct 11

As part of this project a book was published featuring the art and writing of the inmates. The companion pieces are not included in the book but believe me, the book is incredible in its own right.  It is available in the Crossing's Sales and Gift Gallery or on Amazon.  I hope you'll give it a look, and if you would consider spreading the word, I'd be so grateful. I'm so proud to be a part of this important work and would encourage other communities to consider a similar program as well.

Long-windedly yours,

Lisa

Behind The Bricks

 I have to share something that I'm working on as part of my day job as Director of The Crossing Arts Alliance, a non-profit in Brainerd, MN.  I'm so excited by this project that this might get a little long, sorry.

For several months, some of our members have been volunteering in the local jail, teaching art and writing skills to the inmates.  I know it's been incredibly rewarding for the volunteers and given the response from the inmates, I'd say it's been equally so for them.

Part of the scope of the project is to compile a book that features the work of the inmates.  They're excited about this, that they'll have work in a book.  That's a big deal for anybody, I think, and especially for some of those folks who haven't had much in the way of positive recognition.  They'll each receive a book of their own to show off to friends and family, and then we'll be selling some in our Sales Gallery. 

The other part of this project is that we are doing an exhibit using the art and writing from the inmates coupled with art from the community.  How it works is this...we have asked the visual artists in our community to choose a piece of inmate writing that speaks to them and create a companion visual art piece to it.  Writers are asked to choose a piece of visual art, and write.  All of these pieces will be on exhibit, side by side, in the jail for the inmates to view, and then in our gallery.  Talk about goosebumpy.  The idea of community members reaching out and connecting with people they don't know, people from different walks of life and circumstances, is a powerful thing.  If we all made a habit to try to understand or connect with others, even a little bit, imagine how our world might change.  Goosebumpy, I tell ya.  

I chose my piece this week, a writing about a crumpled leaf that found its way into the jail.  The inmates watched for this leaf, this interloper from outside the walls, for weeks as it was kicked along the halls.  It spoke to me so strongly, imagining how meaningful a crumpled brown leaf might be if I were separated from nature for too long.

We try to realistic about what our long-term impact will be on these folks, but we can't help but hope that maybe one, just one, will find something in the arts that makes them want to make a positive change in their life.  I think I can honestly say this project has made a change in mine.

What kinds of rewarding projects have you been involved with?  Or what are your local arts non-profits doing?  I'd love to hear.

Happy Friday, everyone!