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Art Escape at Alcatraz

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P.A.T.H. - Prison Arts Touching Hearts - was formed from the heart. This non-profit was born from a labor of love and long-standing desire to create a platform designed to showcase the incredible talent of incarcerated artists.   P.A.T.H.'s mission is simple and straightforward:  to provide a much needed voice and validation to those in the shadows and largely hidden to the public eye. It also serves as a vehicle for incarcerated artists to give back to the community in a meaningful, positive and powerful way - through their art!

Our program is a triple winner: 1) It offers hope and purpose to incarcerated individuals by projecting them in a positive and rehabilitated light; 2) It helps other worthwhile community-based causes (and non-profit organizations)through P.A.T.H's fundraising efforts and 3) provides, beauty, culture, compassion and joy.

As often as funds permit, P.A.T.H. puts forth a "Call to Incarcerated Artists" for artwork with subject matter revolving around a specific theme in order to be showcased, appreciated and made available for purchase by the general public.  Artwork is generally donated by incarcerated artists and created with art materials available to them according to and dependent upon the rules and regulations of the prison in which the respective inmate is incarcerated.  The most widely used art tools are the commonplace blue or black ball point pen; #2 lead pencils; graphite; charcoal; pastels; colored pencils; watercolors; coffee for stain and M&M or Skittle candies for coloring... and on occasion acrylic paints.

Finally after three consecutive years of persistent pushing through requests via comprehensive proposal applications, the Art in the Parks Conservancy of San Francisco finally gave P.A.T.H. approval to use of The Band Room at Alcatraz to install a major inmate art exhibit and event scheduled for May-June 2017.  The title of this event is "ART ESCAPE AT ALCATRAZ". 

Over 50 pieces of original art by incarcerated artists pertaining to the long history of the island will be on display.  The purpose of this major artistic and educational upcoming, multi-media project is:

1) To celebrate and commemorate the 100 Year Anniversary of The California's National Parks Service through the installation of a unique and exciting exhibit of drawings and paintings, as well as original poetry and music.   The theme for this show is "Alcatraz Through the Ages: The History, Landscape, Life, Culture, Flora and Fauna of the Island of Alcatraz".  Art images will specifically reflect and portray Alcatraz from the time it was a Civil War Military Fort and Prison to a Federal Penitentiary; Native American Indian Take-Over Occupation site to its present day internationally renowned touristic attraction and destination spot.

2)  Original Spoken Word, book readings and signings by the established author - Gennifer Chenko of AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS series fame, as well as music will be incorporated into this multi media event.

An overflow  of smaller pieces of original artwork, as well  as a privately curated collection of authentic vintage ephemera (i.e., newspaper/magazine articles, photographs, etchings and souvenirs) pertaining to Alcatraz will also be included in the show at two separate public libraries in Marin County for educational and human interest purposes - the Tiburon Public Library and The Anne T. Kent California Room of the San Rafael Public Library within the Frank Lloyd Wright Marin Civic Center building.

Apart from the purchase of a ferry ticket to Alcatraz, the exhibit is open to the general public, is family friendly and admission is free.

Upon de-installation of the exhibit at Alcatraz, as Director of P.A.T.H., it is my desire and goal to have this become a traveling show.  The next leg of this journey would be to secure a gallery venue in NYC so that those on the East Coast can see, experience and enjoy it, too!

No amount is too small...whether it's $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or more....Monies received from your thoughtful and generous donations is 100% tx deductible!  Upon your request, P.A.T.H. will send you a fomral receipt with its non-profit Tax ID #.  Monies will be used for the professional matting and framing of all artwork for presentation purposes; professional installation fees; marketing collateral and necessary miscellaneous administrative expenses (i.e., copying, printing, postage, etc.).  Please note that P.A.T.H. is volunteer driven and no salaries are taken!

The above should give you a good overview of this project and why P.A.T.H. is requesting your financial support and contributions to make it happen.  If you have any questions, please feel free to learn more by going to the P.A.T.H. website:
www.prisonartstouchinghearts.org, or by contacting me at the address listed below.

Thank you for your interest and support!

(Art Credit: Acrylic painting by Steve Scadden, PA)

Blessings,
Leslie

Leslie Lakes, Director
P.A.T.H.
P.O. Box 1702
Mill Valley, CA 94942
The Power of Art - To Transform Lives
P.A.T.H. is a MarinLink 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit Project

Organizer

Leslie Hendricks
Organizer
Mill Valley, CA

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