A variety of artwork from current and former prisoners will be featured at the “Art of the Incarcerated” exhibit, to be held Oct. 4 (11 a.m.-5 p.m.) at Homeboy Industries, Los Angeles.
Money raised from the annual art fair supports two programs: PREP (Partnership for Re-entry Program) which help parolees integrate back into the community, and Get On The Bus, uniting children with their mothers and fathers in prison. This year’s theme is “Faith & Hope Beyond Prison Walls.”
“We do the annual show to educate the public,” said Sister Mary Sean Hodges, director of PREP. “The popular image of inmates in prison as media portrays them is evil persons who just do crimes and never should be welcomed back again into society. Well, all of us mess up, and all of us are redeemable and capable of healing.”
The Dominican Sister of Mission San Jose added that art is very therapeutic.
“We do it to give greater self-esteem to the inmates through displaying their art,” Sister Hodges said. “Artwork in prison is very healing, because inmates can express the pain that’s inside them. And being able to express that pain, they really can heal.
Homeboy Industries is located at 130 W. Bruno St., Los Angeles. Information: (213) 438-4820, ext. 23, or [email protected].
