ON THE INSIDE Opens 11/5 at Abrons Arts Center

In a nation that incarcerates more people than any other country in the world, LGBTQ prisoners face a greater risk of physical and sexual victimization. They are more likely to experience assault and abuse by corrections officers as well as other prisoners, and less likely to have support from family and friends on the outside due to their sexuality or gender identity. Behind bars, their identities are stripped away and they become just another number in the system.

On the Inside is a group show of LGBTQ artists who are currently incarcerated. The art is made from basic materials the prisoners have access to behind bars: mostly letter-sized paper, dull pencils, ball-point pen ink tubes (the hard shell is deemed too dangerous), and unlikely innovations such as using an asthma inhaler with Kool-aid to create an air brushed painting.

The project started with a small ad in the Black and Pink newsletter, a monthly publication filled with prisoner-generated content. Ignited and inspired by this call for art, more than 4,000 pieces were submitted. Our forgotten Brothers and Sisters seized this opportunity to be heard, giving birth to this collective exhibition.

None of the artists will be in attendance as they are still behind bars, however, their works create cracks in the walls, allowing this much needed point of view to escape for the world to see.

All of the artists were compensated for their work. This directly impacts the prisoners' ability to provide for their well-being while incarcerated.

On the Inside has created a way for the public to directly interact with the incarcerated artists. Patrons will be able to text the artists through a transcribing service. Long term PenPals can be arranged onsite.

The art is not for sale.

Black and Pink is a nationally networked grassroots organization, including nine chapters across the United States, working to meet the immediate needs of LGBTQ prisoners while simultaneously building the movement for the abolition of the prison industrial complex. Black and Pink is the largest organization of LGBTQ prisoners ever, reaching 10,000 prisoners with a monthly newspaper of prisoner-generated content. Black and Pink has facilitated the connection of thousands of prisoners with outside pen pals and continues to grow those relationships. Black and Pink also supports the inside organizing of prisoners as they articulate their own demands in the prisons where they are held. The staff of Black and Pink is made up, exclusively, of formerly incarcerated people while volunteers come from a wide variety of experiences including a history of incarceration as well as those who have never been arrested or imprisoned.

Panel Discussion: Taking Action for Prisoner Justice | November 14th, 6 - 9pm
This evening's panel of LGBTQ community organizers and leaders in the movement for prisoner justice will offer concrete ways for attendees to go beyond the art and move into action.

For more information please visit: www.ontheinsideart.com