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Crowd flocks to opening of exhibit by incarcerated artists

LAKE PLACID — “Notable Landscapes and Figures of the Adirondacks: Art Exhibit by Incarcerated Artists” opened on Saturday, July 3 at the John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Lake Placid and was visited in the first few hours by a hundred visitors.

Nathalie Thill, executive director of Adirondack Center for Writing, was thrilled to see the community support.

“Supporting these artists by visiting the exhibit and bidding on their art is a way to connect to a population that is often forgotten,” Thill said. “We were so thankful the community came out in such force, about a hundred people came to support these artists, how beautiful.”

The exhibit was curated by the Adirondack Center for Writing and Federal Correctional Institute Ray Brook, and all of the 25 works of art were created by incarcerated artists. The paintings and pottery were all inspired by classic Adirondack landscapes and figures, in a theme chosen by the artists.

Staff from FCI Ray Brook and Adirondack Center for Writing were present for the exhibit opening and to greet visitors.

The Adirondack Center for Writing has presented a creative writing program at FCI Ray Brook since 2002, which is the longest-running arts in corrections program in the federal system in the country. The COVID-19 restrictions in the federal prison system were particularly stressful for both the incarcerated and the staff.

All the artwork will be auctioned online and ends on Aug. 31 with the proceeds going to the Adirondack Center for Writing, as chosen by the artists in recognition of all their years of dedicated work for arts in corrections. Those interested in bidding can visit the art in-person or view the pieces online when the auction goes live on Aug. 17.

More information about the exhibit and the silent auction at adirondackcenterforwriting.org.

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