About this Event
The Thirteenth Amendment is celebrated for abolishing slavery, but it included an exception clause for persons “duly convicted” of a crime as a compromise with the Confederate states in 1865. Today, incarcerated people in many states are forced to labor for little to no pay under the threat of further punishment due to this exception. Join us for a teach-in with Mural Arts to learn more from artwork and historical documents. We will also hear people’s personal experiences tied to the historical legacy of Pr*son labor. Attendees will create their own End the Exception, Abolish Slavery artwork to bring into their community to further spread this important message.
Mural Arts Philadelphia has partnered with Worth Rises, Justice Arts Coalition, and California Lawyers for the Arts to create End The Exception, a national art campaign about the Thirteenth Amendment. End the Exception is a three-phased participatory artwork led by artist Phoebe Bachman in collaboration with Akeil Robertson-Jowers. The first phase was a call for artwork to currently incarcerated artists to create small works about the labor they perform in Pr*son. The second phase is a series of teach-ins in cities across the country that are faced with high rates of incarceration and who are creating ballot measures to remove the exception from their state constitutions. In September, the artwork created through these initiatives will come together in an installation in Philadelphia.
Funding:
End the Exception has received funding from the Art for Justice Fund, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, as well as funds from the City of Philadelphia.
Speakers' Bios:
Phoebe Bachman (she/they) is an artist, facilitator, and project manager whose practice amplifies ongoing acts of resistance. They aim to build reciprocal relationships focusing on economic, gender, and racial justice.
Akeil Robertson-Jowers is an artist, educator, curator, student, returning citizen, and active member of the reentry community. Akeil is an ambassador and a skilled communicator able to bridge the gap between disparate peoples.
Mural Arts Philadelphia is the nation’s largest public art program, dedicated to the belief that art ignites change. For over 35 years, Mural Arts has united artists and communities through a collaborative process, rooted in the traditions of mural-making, to create art that transforms public spaces and individual lives. Mural Arts engages communities in 50–100 public art projects each year, and maintains its growing collection through a restoration initiative. Our core program areas—Art Education, Environmental Justice, Porch Light, and Restorative Justice—yield unique, project-based learning opportunities for thousands of youth and adults.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 10.00