A RT
BEHIND BARS
On View
Sept. 12-Oct. 20
Opening Reception Sept. 12th, 6:00-8:00PM
Featuring
Michael Vandergrift, Brian Witham, Luis Lopez, and Josue Benitez
Excerpt “Art Behind Bars (ABB) presents the work of four artists who create art during their incarceration at the United States Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana. Their work offers a rare and deeply human perspective on life behind bars. These four men, each incarcerated for serious crimes, discovered through art a means to confront their experiences, explore their identities, and imagine the possibility of personal change.” — Rosalie Guzofsky AAC Executive Director & Curator of ABB
Josue Benitez “My art journey began when I was first arrested because I found out that my son wanted me to draw him a picture of his favorite cartoon character, Woody, from Toy Story. It was then that I started to draw so I could get a little closer to my son... ...Over the years art has helped me to focus on something other than prison. It helped me to develop a better character, more patience and more confidence in myself, not just as a man but also as an artist.”
Josue Benitez Champions (Diptych) Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
Josue Benitez El Rapero Acrylic on Board
Jo Sun Acrylic on Stretc
osue Benitez nrise/Sunset ched Canvas
Josue Benitez Chimp Car Acrylic on Board
Michael Vandergrift “After I was sentenced, I was still living life the wrong way [and] I had no purpose or passion in my life... I started to tattoo in 2021 as a means to survive in here. After a year of doing that, I wanted to learn how to draw to get away from that and to get involved in being more productive... When I painted my first picture, it blew my mind that I was able to do that. It woke something up inside of me that I never felt before... ...Art means rge world to me. It’s allowed me to view life from a different perspective. It’s taught me patience that I’ve never had. But more importantly, it’s allowed me to see something in myself for once. It’s given me a purpose...”
Michael Va Philly Love Acrylic on
Acry
andergrift Stretched Canvas
Michael Vandergrift America Worthy ylic on Canvas Board
Michael Vandergrift The Liar (Masks of Everyday People, Series 1) Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
Left to right Michael Vandergrift Shattered Acrylic on Canvas Panel Michael Vandergrift Dazed and Confused Acrylic on Canvas Panel
Brian Witham “Many years ago, at the supermax, I began as an artist, working graphite and colored pencils, and I continued working as an artist off and on as circumstances permitted for 15 years in total. It was my dream to become a painter, but at first, I could not get paint. Then 5 years ago, when my situation stabilized and I was at a place which allopwed painting, I began acquiring a painting kit and started the painter’s journey... Painting is taking up the space inside that was once occupied by planning and training for criminal endeavors.”
Brian Witham Maine Icons: Intrepid Black Capped Chickadee, Young Female Moose, Defiant Lobster Acrylic on Hardboard Panels
Brian Witham A Side of Galadriel You’ve Never Seen Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
Brian Witham Garden Rabbit Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
Left to right Brian Witham Portrait of Freud Acrylic on Improvised Panel Brian Witham Still Life/Self Portrait Acrylic on Stretched Canvas
Luis Ángel López “I’ve had so much time to think, and although I have wanted to give
up and end everything, I push myself everyday to keep searching for that better man that I had hoped to find... While incarcerated, I’ve taught myself to draw, then how to use watercolors, and eventually how to paint. They have all taken me down a path of trying to learn how to create... ...I’m self taught, and I’m always telling other what they can learn when they believe and apply themselves. I’m not special, and I deserve nothing, but I work hard every day to try and learn the skills required to become a better artist... I hope that after people see my artwork, they walk away saying to themselves ‘that young man did his job.’”
Luis Ángel López (Not See) The Ballerina Mixed Media
Left to right Luis Ángel López (Not See) Tarot of Death Card Mixed Media Luis Ángel López (Not See) For Country Mixed Media
Luis Ángel López (Not See) The Red King Mixed Media
Luis Ánge
el López (Not See) The Pink King Mixed Media
Schedule a private gallery tour today! Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10AM-8PM Saturday 10AM-1PM
Contact:
acook@abingtonartcenter.org 215-887-4882, ext. 166
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ABINGTON ART CENTER 515 Meetinghouse Road Jenkintown, PA 19046 215-887-4882