This collection of works was crafted within the confines of our nation's prisons, telling the decades-long story of mass incarceration from an insider's perspective. These original pieces of visual and written art depict U.S. presidents, both past and present, and critically examine their records on criminal justice, while revealing to the viewer through personal narrative, the realities of the lived, carceral human experience. These works challenge the readily-accepted notion that our criminal punishment systems operate as intended — to make us safer and stronger as a nation.
As Workhouse stands today, a former prison, repurposed into a physical, tangible representation of new possibilities and the power of creativity, we encourage our visitors to embrace a new understanding and profound rethinking of justice and freedom in America. Indeed, justice reimagined.
Curator and creator: Caddell Kivett
Kivett is a journalist and former editor for the Nash News, a freelance writer, and a writer for the Prison Journalism Project. Kivett studied Media and Journalism at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has been incarcerated in North Carolina since 2010. “This project connects the American public with the people and their stories locked behind bars and challenges the actions of our leaders and to ignite positive movement and change… I felt it was both necessary and timely to include the incarcerated—those at the heart of the issue—in the growing discussion about criminal punishment and system reform.”
Participating artists:
Valentino Amaya, Kirston Angell, Cedar Annenkovna, Aquilia Barnette, Rodeguise Calhoun, Cortnee Eaglen, Harry Ellis, Sean Fox, Bednago Harper, Brian Hindson, Yuri Kadamov, Kidwifdacrayons, Dillan Letellier, Lezmond Mitchell, Lucas Rash, J. Scott, James Sepesi, Larry Shoemaker, Robert Spence, Mike Tran, Nhut Vo, Sean White, Adam Young with honorable mention to Cedar Annenkovna, Sean Ybarra
Participating writers:
Leo Cardez, Safi Dona't, Gary Farlow, Shawn Harris, Byrant Harrison, Aaron Kinzer, Jasmeel Kumar, Lisa Lesyshen, Frederick Mason, Kenny Reams, Fernando Rivas, Michael Theriault, Tyler Trantham, Kyle Triplett
Images:
Bednago Harper, And Justice For All, 2023, Oil and acrylic on canvas
Cedar Annenkovna, The United States of America: Red Blue Black, 2023, Mixed media collage
Adam Young, The United States of One Dollar, 2023, Watercolor on paper