Prison art exhibit provides
a peek behind the bars
The Maude Kerns Art Center is offering Eugene a unique peek behind the iron bars and heavy walls of the penitentiary with an exhibition of work by prisoners and ex-prisoners.
The “Art Behind Bars” show will feature art — including paintings, letters, cards and three-dimensional sculpture using a wide range of media — all done by inmates. The show is focusing on local inmates, and most of the art comes from
inmates in Oregon’s state and federal prisons.
Maude Kerns Art Center publication coordinator Marsha Shankman said the show is a first for the gallery.
“In my seven or eight years working here, this is distinct; I don’t think we’ve ever exhibited art from prison,” she said.
The exhibit officially opens on Friday at 4 p.m. On Sunday, the center will hold a reception celebrating the art with special guest speakers, including U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken and Lane County Commissioner Peter Sorenson.
Shankman said she hopes that the art will speak for the artists.
“There are a lot of talented inmates. The work is very strong, very creative, and I’m sure it will certainly give people a different impression of what it means to be an inmate,” she said.
The show also will honor the 30th anniversary of Sponsors, a local non-profit support organization that aides ex-inmates. The Maude Kerns Art Center is located at 1910 East 15th Avenue.
— Steven Neuman
Playskool Fools, Snuggle-ups to perform at EMU
On Monday, the University Cultural Forum will bring Tracy and the Plastics to the University. The band is an electronic-dance solo project and the brainchild of Wynne Greenwood. During the performance, Greenwood will take on the alter-ego of “Tracy” with video-projected sidekicks acting as the backing band.
Greenwood is a performance-artist who is based in Olympia, Wash. She has previously performed in Meme America, another video-based band.
The performance is free and will begin at 9 p.m. in the EMU Fishbowl. Portland-based The Snuggle-ups and Eugene-based The Playskool Fools and the Noisy Toys Featuring The Weightlifter, will also appear.
— Aaron Shakra
