Humans of Life Row: Journeys in Art, Harm and Healing

Join the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) in collaboration with the Pr*son + Neighborhood Arts/Education Project (PNAP) and the Beyond Prisons Initiative at the Center for the Study of Race, Politics & Culture for a discussion on incarceration. The experience will begin with a guided tour of our exhibition, "Into the Hourglass: Paño Arte from the Rudy Padilla Collection," in the Main Gallery, followed by a discussion with light refreshments. 

During our discussion, PNAP will share and discuss a statement on Art, Harm and Healing co-authored by a group of men facing life sentences in Illinois who are members of the PNAP’s Think Tank. The statement was written for a visual art exhibition, , centered on the experiences, dreams, and lived realities of people facing life sentences in Illinois.  

We invite attendees to join us in learning about the process the Think Tank engaged in to write this statement and to discuss the themes it raises. What does it look like to create a “safe space” behind Pr*son walls that acknowledges the humanity of people facing life sentences and enables vulnerability and healing through academic and artistic endeavors? How can the arts bring grace and understanding to one another? How can we address harm while also recognizing each other’s humanity?

Speakers: 

• Jimmy Soto, PNAP Think Tank member 
• Maria Pike, Chicago activist and mother of Ricky Pike 
• Alice Kim, Director of Practice, Beyond Prisons Initiative, Center for the Study of Race, Politics & Culture

This event is free, but registration is required as space is limited. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 West 19th Street, Chicago, United States