We Belong Here: Reclaiming Space Through Art
On October 24th, we will open We Belong Here: Reclaiming Space Through Art at RhizomeDC, featuring the work of incarcerated artists who are members of our local community.
Featuring over 50 works, We Belong Here explores themes of community, space, and identity. Because individuals sentenced in DC are sent to any one of the over 100 federal prisons across the country, many of our neighbors are now far away from home, severed from their communities and families. Others remain close by but are hidden behind the walls of our state prisons and county jails. With this exhibition, JAC hopes to reconnect these artists with our local community by engaging us with their unique talents, creativity, and vision.
This is JAC’s second exhibition in partnership with RhizomeDC, a non-profit community art space dedicated to promoting creativity as a force for personal empowerment and community engagement. The exhibition will open on October 24th and run through November 20th.
The opening reception, which will be held outdoors from 2-5:00pm on 10/24, will include readings and performances by participants of Free Minds Book Club and Voices Unbarred as well as opportunities to hear interviews with some of the featured artists. Guests will be invited to tour the exhibition in small groups. A virtual gallery of works in the exhibition will be available on JAC’s website to accompany the launch of the physical exhibition.
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Incarceration and Creativity: Art as Human Need
Sept. 17 – Nov. 17, 2021
JAC’s first in person exhibition since the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic will be hosted by the Sandy Spring Museum. This exhibition emphasizes our intrinsic need for creative expression, the courage and resourcefulness required to create a work of art within the repressive confines of a prison, and the power that art has to remind us of our shared humanity. Works by 26 JAC network artists will be featured including Tomás, Greg Bolden, Harry Ellis, Conor Broderick, Gary Harrell, William B. Livingston III, Joshua Earls, R. Zumar, Michael Bryant, Mike Tran, Corey Hayes, and James Sepesi.
General admission to the exhibition is free.
Reservations to attend the digital events will cost $5.00 for museum non-members.
Sandy Spring Museum is located at: 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring, MD.
Museum hours: Sun 12:00 – 4:00, Mon 10:00 – 4:00, Weds 10:00 – 4:00, Fri 10:00 – 8:00
Sandy Spring is also hosting two related virtual events featuring JAC network artists:
“Illustrating Death Row: From Personal to Policy”
Thursday, September 30 at 7:00 pm EST
Focuses specifically on racial discrimination and the death penalty, with panelists Robert Dunham and Ngozi Ndulue from the Death Penalty Information Center, and Kenneth Reams, an artist serving life in prison.
“Gender Justice: Women and Prison Sentencing”
October 22 at 7:00pm EST
Will focus on gender justice and the discrepancies between the sentencing of men and women, with Ashley Nellis of The Sentencing Project and Carole Alden, artist and mother of five children who served 13 years in prison for an act of self defense against domestic abuse.
Feb 26 – April 22
Justice Arts Coalition presents to you a collection of work from currently and formerly incarcerated, teaching, and independent artists. The work ranges from abstract paintings to computer animated video units and everything in between. At a time of global crisis, these artists have generously decided to donate some or all of the profits from the sale of their original work. Proceeds will help to sustain JAC’s mission as we continue to seek and implement innovative ways to support artists creating in and around the carceral system, to uplift and amplify their voices and celebratev their work.
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Inside & Out: Slow Art Day Date And Time
Sat, April 10, 2021; 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM EDT
Pause, look, share. On April 10, join the Justice Arts Coalition for a Slow Art Day celebrating Inside and Out, JAC’s inaugural virtual exhibition highlighting over 30 incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, teaching, and independent artists. We’ll look closely at three works of art and discuss our observations and experiences, focusing on the art and the art of seeing. By looking slowly, we’ll lean into discovering more about the work, the artists, and ourselves. No expertise needed, just bring your curiosity and willingness to unlock passion and creativity!
Artworks above by Harry Ellis, Jody E. Borhani-D’Amico and Shani Shih.
***This event is being offered as a pay what you can event, with a suggested donation of $20.00.***