A collaborative project between the University’s public history program, the State Correctional Institute Pittsburgh and the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is bringing an exhibit of artwork created by local inmates to campus.
Art Beyond Bars is composed of about 20 works—including poetry, drawings, sculptures and raps—that are meant to lessen the stigma of being an inmate by humanizing the incarcerated artists and demonstrating that they relate to everyday people despite being in prison.
An opening night reception for Art Beyond Bars will be on Friday, April 10, at 7 p.m. in Room 203 of the Union. The exhibit will be on display at the Les Idees Gallery on the third floor of the Union through Thursday, April 30.
The inspiration for the Art Beyond Bars grew from the work of Dr. Norman Conti, associate professor of sociology at Duquesne and leader of Pittsburgh’s Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, and Dr. Elaine Parsons, associate professor of history. The Inside-Out program holds classes inside jails and prisons, with class members including Duquesne students (outside) and incarcerated (inside) individuals.