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Billy Willoughby

On August 5, 2019August 13, 2019 By theprisonartscoalition

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Jesse Osmun

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the_justice_arts_coalition

Community, information, and resources for artists working in and around the US criminal legal system. Contact wendy@thejusticeartscoalition.org

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Our friend and advisor @carole.alden.94 is featured on her home state’s Heritage and Arts department website today. Carole’s Fish House, which she created while incarcerated, won best in show last year in the annual exhibition sponsored by the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, and is now part of the state’s permanent collection. Her Prison Fish sculpture is here in DC with JAC, and has been on display at at @rhizome_dc and @fiasfabfinds, along with a number of her illustrations. We’re looking for more opportunities to show Carole’s work, and also for permanent homes for it. Please contact Carole or JAC if you’re interested in exhibiting or purchasing it! Full story https://heritageandarts.utah.gov/meet-the-utah-artist-who-is-crocheting-her-way-to-a-new-life/.
#fiberart #sculpture #crochet #fishart #dcartscene #dcgalleries #artindc #artforjustice @the_avam @publicwelfare @nicolefleetwood @dcartscenter @dcartallnight @watergategallery @warholfoundation @artistsforpeace @artforjusticepodcast

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1. “James Dean. When I first watched ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ I knew I wanted to be him. He’s a badass and I felt like I had to add my own touch to this portrait. I absolutely love this picture.” 2. “This drawing is an every day reflection of life here in prison and I’ve had my day’s where I’ve felt so burned that there was no way out. I loved drawing this picture and as simple as it is it is deep and means so much for me.” - Chad Wesley Merrill

Visit our online galleries to see more of Chad’s dramatic portraits, including depictions of Alfred Hitchcock, Salvador Dali, and Al Pacino.
#portraits #artist #artforliberation #jamesdean #prison #incarceratedartists #justiceartscoalition #endmassincarceration 🎨💯🔥✊🏽

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These wonderful postcards are going out to artists in JAC’s network, thanks to the creative #artbeyondbars volunteers at @nonameartgroup. We’re grateful for their partnership and desire to bring a little bit of joy and connection to our incarcerated friends. 🎨🙏💕
#artconnectsus #endmassincarceration #communityarts

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From photographer @petermerts ・・・
This is a classical guitar student at Sierra Conservation Center, near Jamestown, California. The design on his guitar was engraved using a prison tattoo machine.
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Instruction by the William James Association. Photo by me, courtesy of the California Arts Council. #artsinprison #incarceratedartists #prison #prisonart #prisonphotography

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From @lifelines_project ・・・
Join the LifeLines Project THIS SATURDAY at Vox Populi (Philly) for a participatory arts workshop where participants will investigate – in hands on and creative ways – what freedom means in a society that routinely locks people in cages for decades, and what it would take to actually imagine a more liberatory and transformative future.
This event is part of the #HowAreWeFree exhibit, which is hanging at Vox from September 6 - October 13. How Are We Free explores the nature of freedom and confinement through creative collaboration between people who have been sentenced to die in prison and visual artists outside the prison walls. Visual economies and regimes of power have been massively employed by the state and the media in order to criminalize people. This exhibit interrupts those regimes and instead invites viewers to investigate what actually creates conditions for safety, healing, justice, transformation, and liberation.

#AbolishDBI

Image on flyer by Gb Kim

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Happy @theheadandtheheart fans at @theanthemdc with their @prisonart6 posters! This poster was the result of Will’s first artistic collaboration with his son, so he’s especially proud of it. It’s an honor to be able to spread the Livingston love in #DC! 🎨🎼💯
#artconnectsus #artforliberation #incarceratedartist

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From the artist, R. Zumar, who recently contributed a post entitled "The Becomings of a Master" to our blog. Visit our site for more from R. “Here are two pieces of work I created. They were just how I was feeling at the time. Expressing my thoughts through visual stimulation. I call it mind art. "Motivation," 15x20inches, prismacolor pencils worked with oil on paper.
This is a portrait of my son, Zumar Shy'dreek Bell, with his first two ultrasounds beneath him. He was five at the time and starting school back in 2013-14. Now he is eleven and the years just seems to fly by, not waiting for any to catch up with time lost. I was already locked up before I knew his mother was pregnant with him so was never afforded the opportunity to be there for him, but through art I will. He is autistic and lives in an environment that may not be receptive with what he may need. I don't know much about autism! All I do know is I love my son, and better than the will to die for him, I have the will to live for him. He is my heart, my soul, my motivation to show him there is more to the world than he knows. That his future can be bright.
This is how I introduce him to the world, an immortal symbol of my love. This, is Motivation. "Redemption," 15x20 inches, prismacolor pencils worked with oil on paper.
What do you think of redemption? When does a person reach the point of being unredeemable?
This is a depiction of he devil atoning for his sins and given a blessing. Being returned to an Angel of God. Even the devil can be redeemed, he just has to want to.”
🎨🔥💯✊🏾
#motivation #inspiration #prismacolor
#artconnects #artforjustice #artforliberation #transformativejustice #incarceratedartist #blacklivesmatter #redemption

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A first! pARTner project participants Angelica Maria Soto, inside artist, and Haley, outside artist, collaborated to bring this beautiful image to life. Haley started it off, and the two artists exchanged the piece by mail a few times before deciding to call it complete. We’d love to see more pARTner collaborations! If you’re an artist, and would like to be paired with an incarcerated artist to exchange work, feedback, and support, follow the link in our bio! Most of the 30+ inside artists on our waiting list are visual artists, but we have a few musicians and writers waiting for pARTners, as well as a dancer. 🤝🎨🎼🕺🏽✍🏽💯❤️
#artconnects #penpals #arttransforms #artforjustice #artforliberation #communityarts #incarceratedartists

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Such a pleasure to witness these inspiring entrepreneurs — including our friend Maurice, who performed with @voices_unbarred at our recent exhibition opening, and @_marcus_bullock, whose @flikshop is a great resource for anyone who writes to incarcerated friends and family members — present their pitches to a packed room of potential investors yesterday. Check out the third pic or msg us to find out how you can support their work. “There is no shortage of innovative ideas...The reality is you guys are not investing in the communities that can come up with them.” - @_marcus_bullock
Read the full story at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-hard-pitch-four-men-who-spent-time-in-prison-are-now-hoping-to-convince-people-to-invest-in-them/2019/09/25/1f57e548-dfa4-11e9-8dc8-498eabc129a0_story.html
#entrepreneurship #reentry #returningcitizens #innovators

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We had a blast at our inaugural #Petworth First Friday with @petworthartsdc, @voices_unbarred, A Better Sentence, and @freemindsbookclub. Poetry readings, theater, and of course, breathtaking visual artwork galore! Thanks to all who came out to show their support, and all who participated, especially our hosts at @willowstores, @fiasfabfinds and @loyaltybooks. 🙌🏻🙌🏼🙌🏽🙌🏾🙌🏿

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JAC spent the evening at @eaton.dc learning how we can better support incarcerated artists to #takecreativecontrol of their intellectual property. Thank you @takecreativecontrol and @ipsocialjustice for organizing such a lively, empowering, and informative clinic! 🎨🎤🎼🎭✍🏽✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
#artforliberation #artforjustice #createjustice

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#Repost @voices_unbarred ・・・
Come interact with our #returnedcitizens again tonight as they showcase one of our Forum pieces from our recent performance at The Kennedy Center! There will also be visual art, film, and poetry created by system-impacted people. Join us tonight 9/6 6-9pm, along with @petworthartsdc @the_justice_arts_coalition , A Better Sentence, and others, for First Friday in Petworth. Artwork on display at @fiasfabfinds @loyaltybooks and @willowstores with performances beginning at 7:30pm @willowstores *see website for more info #voicesunbarred #artinprisons #firstfriday

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Danny Ashton’s artwork is right at home at @fiasfabfinds. Come check it out for yourself tomorrow night! #Repost @petworthartsdc ・・・
See in full color the artwork splashed around at our neighborhood pARTner establishments as we kick off another First Friday in Petworth tomorrow, 9/6/19!
Come out to support your local arts community and the artists and organizations we collaborate with in presenting unique and compelling programming for all to enjoy.
September’s First Friday highlights DC teaching artists and organizations making a positive impact by providing arts opportunities in prisons, jails and reentry programs.
Link in bio for all the details🙌🏽
See you there!

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Head over to our blog to check out artist Danny Ashton’s editorial, Not a Prison Artist. It’s his response to a recent increase in requests for artwork depicting his experience of incarceration. Please share your thoughts with us!
Link in bio.
#illustrator
#artforliberation #artforjustice #prisonart #artinprison

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Hope to see you there, DC friends!
#Repost @petworthartsdc with @get_repost
・・・
One of many captivating works of art that will be displayed during next months First Friday in Petworth.
We are collaborating with @the_justice_arts_coalition @voices_unbarred and A Better Sentence in showcasing DC area organizations providing arts opportunities inside prisons and jails. Take in this full piece plus many beautiful artworks by incarcerated artists and returned citizens in an Evening of Poetry, Theatre and Visual Art on Friday September 6th from 6pm-9pm @willowstores @fiasfabfinds @loyaltybooks
Artist-Gary Harrell
🎨🎤🎭✊🏽
#dcartscene #dmvartists #dcartexhibit #petworth #artopening #artforjustice

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Last night, volunteers gathered at @rhizome_dc to write letters to incarcerated artists in response to artwork they’ve submitted to JAC. During the event, one of the artists whose work was on hand called JAC Managing Director Wendy, and upon hearing what we were up to, expressed his gratitude for the volunteers - “please let them know just how much what they’re doing matters to us...hearing from them changes everything.” JAC continues to find ways to foster connection and solidarity through art — in the places it’s needed most. This was the first of many letter writing nights to come, so if you’re in the DC area, and would like to participate, shoot us a message and we’ll be sure to get you on our mailing list. Or, if you’re not local, but would like to correspond with an artist in prison, visit our website and check out our pARTner project!
🎨✍🏽🤝
#artforliberation #artinprison #artforjustice #dcartscene #dcartists #endmassincarceration #artconnects

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