The Cal State San Bernardino Community-Based Art project’s “Through the Wall: Prison Arts Collective” exhibition and book will go on display at CB1-G gallery in Los Angeles, May 14-29.
An opening reception at the gallery is set for 3-6 p.m. Saturday, May 14. CB1-G is located in the warehouse art district of downtown Los Angeles at 1923 S. Santa Fe Ave. A closing reception and book party is scheduled for Sunday, May 29, from 2-4 p.m.
“Through the Wall: Prison Arts Collective” features more than 100 pieces made by incarcerated artists participating in the Community-based Art project’s weekly programs at three state prisons: the California Institute for Men, the California Institute for Women and the California State Prison, Los Angeles County.
The exhibition showcases the diversity of artistic styles and depth of creative expression among artists who are incarcerated, while also demonstrating the possibilities inherent in a successful collaboration between a university and prisons.
The exhibition includes artworks by men and women participating at all levels and working in a variety of media. This includes participants in advanced critique classes who have taught themselves to paint and draw while incarcerated and gained art historical context for their practice, as well as those participating in their first-ever art beginning painting or sculptural crafts classes with the Prison Arts Collective project.
All of the artwork is donated, and proceeds from the sale of the pieces will support the Community-based Art project’s continuing programming in the prisons and the community.
During the run of the exhibition, “Ask a Teaching Artist” will allow visitors to meet the artists of the Prison Arts Collective while viewing the art. The teaching artists primarily come from CSUSB, of which many are alumni who have stayed on to volunteer in the project.
Also, guests may participate in a project called “Collaborative Reflection,” which provides the opportunity for viewers to share their feedback, questions, comments and visual responses for a book that will be shared with participants after the exhibition.
“Through the Wall: Prison Arts Collective” will also include a book, edited by Cal State San Bernardino assistant professor of English Alexandra Cavallaro and CSUSB master of fine arts candidate Matthew McMilon, and designed by Julian Rubalcaba.
The book is divided into two sections: “Visions” includes images of the art from the exhibition and “Voices” includes creative writing by participants. The book also includes an introductory section with texts by Teaching Artists, images of the project in process, and an opening essay by Community-based Art Prison Arts Collective founder Annie Buckley, an associate professor of visual arts at CSUSB.
CB1-G is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
About CSUSB Community-based Art
CSUSB Community-based Art is dedicated to facilitating art throughout the local community at sites that would not otherwise have access to it, including after school programs for at-risk children, shelters for youth and low-income housing for seniors,. The program also promotes art in correctional facilities, including state prisons, the CSUSB Reentry Center, and county probation.
On campus, students learn about the social, cultural, and economic barriers to access art. On site, students, alumni and volunteers shift the paradigm by facilitating art with populations that are vulnerable and at-risk.
CBA was founded and is directed by artist/writer and associate professor of visual studies, Annie Buckley, in collaboration with students, alumni, and volunteer artists and writers at Cal State San Bernardino.
About Prison Arts Collective
The Prison Arts Collective is a project of CBA dedicated to facilitating art in local prisons and supporting further collaborations between the state university and prison systems.
About California State University, San Bernardino
Set in the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, Cal State San Bernardino is a preeminent center of intellectual and cultural activity in inland Southern California. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, CSUSB serves more than 20,000 students each year and graduates about 4,000 students annually. For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.