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STOPMAX CONFERENCE Art for Justice will join with other contributors bringing art of inmate artists to the National STOPMAX Conference which is sponsored by American Friends Service Committee. The goal of the conference is to organize and abolish solitary confinement and inhumane treatment in U.S. prisons. Since 1997 Art for Justice artworks have been in exhibits in over 35 locations including The Philadelphia Watercolor Society's 2002 Annual Exhibit, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pendel Hill, White Dog Cafe, Temple University, and, most recently the Community College of Philadelphia. Art for Justice supports and exhibits inmate art to promote dialogue about ways to prevent crime, reduce levels of incarceration and improve the Criminal Justice System. With that mission in mind, the exhibit at Community College of Philadelphia was an outstanding success. Art for Justice presented TRANSFORMaNATION, an exhibit of works by 13 inmate artists, at the Community College of Philadelphia. The Opening Reception took place on February 25, 2008 following a Panel Discussion, Balanced Perspectives on Law and Society. The panel included: David DiGuglielmo: Superintendent of Graterford SCI, The panelists spoke from their own experience about issues of violence, crime and incarceration. There was a dynamic exchange with the audience, a diverse group of students, social justice advocates, educators, and community members. The Art for Justice exhibit, TRANSFORMaNATION, took place immediately following the panel discussion. Art for Justice coined the words TRANSFORMaNATION as the central idea for the exhibit. TRANSFORMaNATION
Art for Justice Director Ann Marie Kirk was available each day of Law and Society Week to talk informally with people viewing the exhibit. Members of the public who talked at length with the Director ranged from Students, Professors, Social Activists, Homeless Individuals, Directors of Organizations, Ministers, Mothers (some who returned to bring their children to meet with the Director and discuss the art), Business leaders, folks from all walks of life. Art for Justice acknowledges the strong, intense responses of the public to the exhibit. These are some of the direct quotes from viewers' written responses: "I am speechless. Your artists work is unbelievable and beautiful." "We are the children of the past and today's children are us in our future. Nothing I can hypothesize now that will reduce violence, crime and injustice than will protect our children. Our neighborhoods are damaged and broken." "This artwork is thought provoking, touching every sense -- just Magnificent! Especially Mr. Lawson. Best wishes to him and all who made this possible." "Your work is so powerful. There are so many ideas and assumptions of what power and freedom are. So many walk freely yet are weak and trapped in the constraints of conformity and falsehoods. You're free brother. I am so proud of you." "Everything that I see here is nothing less than the highest works of art. Everything is beautiful." "Wow. What a powerful display of humanity and creativity. Some of this work took my breath away." "Thank you for your art which adds beauty to this ugly world." Art for Justice is thankful to Community College of Philadelphia for the opportunity to bring this artwork to the public and acknowledges the genuine, meaningful dialogue that took place. Exerpts from Director Ann Marie Kirk's Introductory Comments at the Art for Justice exhibit, TRANSFORMaNATION, at the Community College of Philadelphia, February 25, 2008 "It was Ghandi who said: "Be the Change you want to see in the world." Art can be the creative expression of change. Art for Justice supports and exhibits inmate art because change is urgently needed in our prisons. Currently, the Criminal Justice System is showing a very poor return on investment, both in economic terms and in human resources. Promoting art within our prisons is a positive step because inmates involved in arts programs are far less violent while in prison and less likely to return to prison once released. Art for Justice artists have reached within and chosen to create while in prison. Our hope is that during this exhibit each of you will look within to recreate and re-enforce your own response to violence and crime and take action to be the change you want to see in the world. Some of the artists in this exhibit claim they are wrongly convicted, the others admit their guilt and seek redemption. Art for Justice calls for an Innocence Project in Philadelphia that will provide legal assistance to individuals who are wrongly convicted. Acknowledging that a person is wrongly convicted doesn't mean the crime didn't happen. It means the wrong person is serving the time. Spending your life in prison, for a crime you did not commit, is a gross injustice. Our future lies within our Youth. Investing in our youth benefits us all. Too many of our young people attend under resourced schools and live in neighborhoods where there are more guns and drugs than books. This is an avenue to crime and incarceration. Art for Justice proposes that instead of waiting for youth to fail and get in trouble with the law, we give all our youth excellent education and the supportive services they need. Art for Justice invests in our youth by delivering Road Map for Life Workshops which use the powerful, inspirational inmate art you will see in the exhibit to stimulate conversations with young people about the challenges they face every day. We all must play a part to save another generation from the desolate road to crime and incarceration. We must be -- in our own lives -- the change we want to see in the world. Thank you everyone. Enjoy the exhibit. May it inspire you to play a part and TRANSFORM this NATION.
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