Coe College Prison Learning Initiative hosting its second ArtLinks event November 29
Coe College will host an ArtLinks event on Wednesday, November 29 in the Athletic & Recreation Complex (ARC) classrooms 218-219 (second floor of the ARC building on the Coe College campus). It is free and open to the public. Registration is available here, but not required. Walks-in are welcome.
At an ArtLinks gathering, participants view a selection of works by incarcerated artists and discuss them with other attendees. They then may choose to write short notes to one or more of the artists describing their responses to their artwork.
The ArtLinks event is presented in partnership with Justice Arts Coalition (JAC), a national network and resource center for those creating art in and around the criminal legal system.
ArtLinks provides participants with an opportunity to view new work by incarcerated artists in JAC’s network. Participants are encouraged to share feedback, reflections and encouragement with the artists through hand-written letters, which JAC sends off to the artists. Time and time again, the people at JAC hear how much it means to the artists that the public are seeing, appreciating and being impacted by their work.
Knowing that participants took the time to engage with their work brings the artists hope and validation and inspires them to keep creating.
“It was eye-opening to get a glimpse into the creative and artistic lives of women behind bars. The art itself was inspiring and the stories behind it were powerful,” said Writing Center Director and Assistant Professor of Rhetoric Jane Nesmith.
This event is hosted by Coe's Prison Learning Initiative which offers a range of hands-on experiences for campus and community members to learn about the impacts of incarceration and the carceral system.