(WJET/WFXP) — A local art organization is partnering with a Pittsburgh-based group to share stories from people formerly and currently incarcerated.
This September, Erie Arts and Culture is inviting the community to view their latest exhibition, “Who We Have Become.”
The exhibition comes from the permanent collection of the Pittsburgh-based organization Let’s Get Free, which is a group working to end death-by-incarceration and support success for those currently and formerly incarcerated, according to their website.
The artwork asks viewers to look beyond the headlines and statistics of imprisonment to see the stories and people behind them.
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Created by people in prison alongside artists in solidarity on the outside, “Who We Have Become” is a collection of drawings, paintings, poetry, fiber art and more.
The works share personal experiences, offering social critique as well as possibilities for the future. They ask viewers to look closely and consider the people and experiences that too often go unseen.
The exhibition will be featured at Erie Arts and Culture during the upcoming Gallery Night on Friday, September 18. Gallery Night will feature 23 local galleries and art spaces throughout downtown Erie, open from 5–10 p.m. with food, music and socializing throughout the walkable area.
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Erie Arts and Culture is located at 419 State Street with the exhibition on Floor C2. The space will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. on Gallery Night and is free to attend.
Gallery Night will also feature artwork on display and available for purchase from artists Anthony Carson, Nicholas Gore, Rugile Morelli, Mathew Skelly and Nhu Tran. Proceeds from those sales will be split evenly between artists and the Crime Victim Center of Erie County.
The conversation continues Saturday, September 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. with representatives from Let’s Get Free and Erie artist Antonio Howard discussing the stories behind the exhibition and the role art can play in imagining new possibilities.
For more information on Gallery Night, click here. To learn more about “Who We Have Become,” click here, and to learn about the work of Let’s Get Free, visit their website here.
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