Real Art Ways

exhibitions |


community partners in action PRISON ARTS PROGRAM ANNUAL SHOW 2000 Six exhibitions throughout the state from April - August. Hygienic Galleries, New London April 8 - May 21 New Britain Public Library May 2-31 Thirteen Gallery, Danbury May 5 - 27 Real Art Ways, Hartford May 16-31 Bradley International Airport, South Windsor June 5 - August 31 This is the 22nd Annual Exhibition of work from artists in Connecticut’s Prisons. One of the largest exhibitions of its kind in the world, the Annual Show of the Prison Arts Program is reknowed for both the quality of the work exhibited, as well as the profound nature of its source. This is the only opportunity inmates in our prisons have to communitcate with the outside world, and their work provides a unique and powerful view into the criminal justice system few every see. The Annual Show is curated by Jeffrey Greene, Prison Arts Program coordinator.		Handkerchief Art Hygienic Galleries The Hygienic presents an exhibition of over 100 handkerchiefs from artists in Connecticut’s prisons. Thousands of inmates in prisons across the United States mail drawings and paintings done on handkerchiefs to loved ones on the outside every day. Folded and enclosed in envelopes which are often decorated as well, handkerchiefs depicting cartoon characters, religious themes, tattoo patterns, dedications to friends who have passed, depiction’s of prison life and visions of places outside the prison walls become an integral vehicle for affirming the artist’s existence to the outside world. This exhibition is curated by Trev Hedge, an artist who has participated in the Prison Arts Program’s exhibitions since 1995. An essay concerning handkerchief art in prison has been published by the Hygienic in conjunction with this exhibition. An exhibition featuring the work of Lester Allen and Michael Iovieno, two artists who have over fifteen years experience with the Prison Arts Program between them, will be held in the basement gallery in conjunction with the Handkerchief exhibition. Memories Real Art Ways Artists participating in Program classes at Osborn CI and Cheshire CI have created works which attempt to depict memories which recur from time to time throughout each artist’s prison sentence. While these memories range from the traumatic to the mundane, they all vividly illustrate the complexities of their lives, as well as the commonalties we all share. This exhibition has been organized with the assistance of Trinity’s Human Rights Program and Professor Dan Lloyd. New Britain as Curated by Robert Zinowski New Britain Public Library Artist Robert Zinowski was released from prison one year ago. The Prison Arts Program asked him upon his release to curate an exhibition of work from artists he knows and meets during his first year back in New Britain. The result, one full year later, is an eclectic exhibition which includes the work of his former high school art teachers, artists from the local tattoo parlors, an artist whose work he first saw at a local tag sale, a nine year old boy he met when the boy rang his doorbell hoping to shovel the snow in his driveway, photographs of graffiti from around town, and many more. This site of the Annual Show 2000, accompanied by both curator’s and artist’s statements is a particularly unique and profound exhibition. Thirteen Gallery An exhibition of art work by artists in Connecticut Prisons Bradley International Airport COMPREHENSIVE SITE - Selections from all of this year’s Annual Show exhibitions.