Art Activism: Bridging Divisions

People in prison are faced with not only the physical walls separating them from the wider community, but social stigmatizations that erase their creativity, voice, and humanity. Since 2022, A.R.T. & Justice – an activist research group – has been partnering with an Art Activism class at Abbotsford Secondary School to support collaborative acrylic painting with artists in prison in the Fraser Valley. This year, the partnership has expanded to include two Emily Carr University of Art & Design classes, with students collaborating on mixed media and poetry with incarcerated artists and writers. The theme – Bridging Divisions – was selected by an artist in prison – reflecting on the rampant divisions in our worlds, and the urgent need for solidarity, and the hope that comes from building community across difference. Join us to witness the work of art students and people in prison as they grapple with this theme across artistic mediums.