My City May 2023

“THE NEW ARRIVAL” DOC COLLISON, 2022

“STATE OF MIND” CHRISTOPHER STARK, 2022

it continued year after year.” The Prison Creative Arts Project was soon estab lished and expanded to include other forms of expression such as writing and music. At Florence Crane, the theatre troupe founded by Alexander in 1990, The Sisters Within, continues today even after closure of the Florence Crane facility. Today’s PCAP visual arts exhibition was started in 1996 by Janie Paul, Buzz Alexander’s wife and a local Ann Arbor artist. “She accompanied Buzz to a theatre workshop he was conducting and saw the visual art they were creating. She was compelled to bring it to the public,” adds Unrath. The first exhibition opened with a collection of 50 pieces and has grown to include 645 to date. “What we’ve found is that almost 90% of in mates pick up their first paintbrush while in prison,” says Unrath. “For them, it can be self-therapeutic or meditative. Artists

will often say they have found themselves in art. I feel the value for them is greater than for those who are free with more resources and connections.” Nora Krin itsky adds, “PCAP is a vital lifeline and connection to people in the world for the incarcerated and justice-impacted. The incarcerated are normally erased from the public consciousness. PCAP changes that. It can be a source of social, financial (for those who sell their artwork) and emotional support.” Anyone currently incarcerated in Michigan is eligible to be included in the PCAP exhibition as chosen by a group of University curators. Working with each prison's special activities coordinator, PCAP would visit each prison and spend time viewing the art and speaking with the artists. “We have a curatorial team of seven people made up of community members and students,” explains Unrath. “We go into the facilities and meet the

artists and talk to them about their work and as a team, we select the pieces for the exhibit. It’s my favorite part of the process and I get excited every year.” The chosen works are displayed during the two-week exhibition when they are also available for purchase. The artist sets their asking price and, if sold, the funds go directly to the inmate. Proceeds above the asking price will go toward sales tax and the Michigan Department of Corrections to aid the inmate benefit fund. After the exhibition, the artist has a choice to either designate their art to a family member or friend on the outside, or donate it to the PCAP. The “Shared Humanity” exhibit in Flint in August will be composed of donated items and all purchases during the exhibition will benefit the PCAP programs. “We worked out a deal with the Department of Corrections to allow inmates to gain proceeds from their art

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