Opening Night Benefit: Thursday November 19th 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Open Exhibition:

Tuesday November 24th 2:00pm - 4:00 pm

Tuesday December 1st 2:00pm - 4:00 pm

Thursday December 3rd 2:00pm - 4:00 pm

Tuesday December 8th 2:00pm - 4:00 pm

Thursday December 10th 2:00pm - 4:00 pm

Please RSVP if you would like to attend the Opening Night Benefit. 

There is no need to RSVP for the open exhibition.

 -Art by participating artist, Richard Amos

In its early days, the Council played an important role in establishing art programming in correctional institutions around the state. In recognition of this history, and to highlight the potential of art to advance justice and as a path to restoration and transformation, the Council will host a three week long Art and Justice Exhibit. 

The Exhibit will showcase art created by prisoners, ex-prisoners, victims of crime, juveniles and children at risk, artists whose sensibilities or work reflects a social justice theme or has a connection to the Council’s mission, and similarly themed art donated by institutions or individuals. The exhibit will include drawings, paintings, prints and photographs as well as sculpture, textiles, jewelry, pottery, poetry, books, film clips, etc. 

The opening night, November 19th, will be the 2009 Art and Justice Benefit, this year’s version of the Council’s annual Equal Justice Benefit. All art submitted will be displayed to the public for the first time that evening, and certain pieces will also be sold to benefit the Council. A portion of the sale proceeds will be shared with participating artists.

The opening night program will include the presentation of the 2009 Equal Justice Award. This year it will go to a community member who has used art as a means to shed light on areas of concern in the justice system or to improve the delivery of justice. An Artist’s Award will also be presented on opening night. There will be food, drink, performances and a live art auction of significant donated pieces.

We expect attendance to exceed 300 on opening night. Attendees will include artists and members of the communities that our work serves, as well as lawyers, judges, educators, activists, legislators, social service providers and many community leaders representing areas important to our civic life, including the philanthropic, arts and entertainment sectors.

The exhibit will be open to the public for a few hours each day following the event. We expect some good press and hope, through the exhibit, to expose members of the public to the challenges faced by and successes achieved by the most marginalized of our populations. We also hope to engage the public in helping to address those challenges.

To become an Art and Justice event sponsor or host, or if you have questions, please contact Susan Smoluchowski at 612-353-3035 or smoluchowskis@crimeandjustice.org