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Behind the Wall

Art & Writing from Prison

“Behind the Wall” was a traveling exhibition of drawings, paintings, letters, stories, and poems produced by people in prison. It was displayed at Tompkins County Public Library in Ithaca in February 2023, Seymour Library in Auburn in March, Seneca Falls Library in April, Coburn Free Library in Owego in May, and Cortland Free Library in June.

 

“Behind the Wall” included 140 works by 90 individuals in detention facilities in 22 states. There was a letter-writing station where visitors could send feedback directly to the participating artists. The libraries organized special programming to accompany the exhibition. 

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The artworks and writings in “Behind the Wall” were collected by Prisoner Express, a project of the Durland Alternatives Library, and curated by Ithaca-area artist Treacy Ziegler. Prisoner Express uses newsletters, book exchanges, and art and creative writing programs to foster hope and a sense of community among incarcerated people around the country. The project currently serves more than 4,000 prisoners and has reached more than 37,000 over the last 20 years. 

 

“Behind the Wall” was conceived and coordinated by Story House Ithaca. Prisoner Express and Story House Ithaca are both projects of the nonprofit Center for Transformative Action

The exhibition was presented in collaboration with the Finger Lakes Library System and supported by an action grant from Humanities NY.

Events

  • "Mine" film screening and Q&A
    "Mine" film screening and Q&A
    Tue, Apr 08
    The Soil Factory
    Apr 08, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    The Soil Factory, 142 Ithaca Beer Dr, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    See a filmed version of an "existential play" by Anna Evtushenko, who recently received her PhD at Cornell
  • The Writers' Room
    The Writers' Room
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, Apr 16
    Tompkins County Public Library
    Apr 16, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Work on your project in the company of fellow writers
  • Mending Circle
    Mending Circle
    Multiple Dates
    Thu, Apr 17
    SewGreen
    Apr 17, 2025, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    SewGreen, 112 W Green St, #2, Ithaca, NY 14850
    Stitch, patch, share tips, and swap stories at our monthly mending circle
  • Postcards to the Planet
    Postcards to the Planet
    Sat, Apr 19
    Ithaca Commons
    Apr 19, 2025, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Ithaca Commons, 120 S Aurora St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    For Earth Day, drop by our table on the Ithaca Commons and give the planet a piece of your mind
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Apr 20
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Apr 20, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Presentation Night
    Presentation Night
    Tue, Apr 22
    Liquid State Brewery
    Apr 22, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Liquid State Brewery, 620 W Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Celebrate the joy of learning at this evening of short talks by non-experts (and there's beer!)
  • SingTrece: Changing Hearts One Positive Note at a Time
    SingTrece: Changing Hearts One Positive Note at a Time
    Apr 25, 2025, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, actress, and playwright SingTrece performs!
  • The Writers' Room
    The Writers' Room
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, May 07
    Tompkins County Public Library
    May 07, 2025, 6:00 PM – 6:05 PM
    Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Work on your project in the company of fellow writers
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, May 18
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    May 18, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • The Roast of Ithaca
    The Roast of Ithaca
    Fri, May 23
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    May 23, 2025, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    A no-holds-barred roast of the city we love (and sometimes love to complain about)
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Mar 30
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Mar 30, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Refugee Voices
    Refugee Voices
    Sun, Mar 16
    Anabel Taylor Hall
    Mar 16, 2025, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    Anabel Taylor Hall, 548 College Ave, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Honor the displaced people among us at an afternoon of stories, music, dance, skits, snacks, and fellowship.
  • Resilience by Samite
    Resilience by Samite
    Sat, Mar 01
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Mar 01, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    One-man multimedia musical show by internationally recognized musician, humanitarian, and artist Samite Mulondo
  • I Own This Stolen Land reading and discussion
    I Own This Stolen Land reading and discussion
    Jan 26, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    CAP ArtSpace Gallery, 110 N Tioga St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    A reading by Oneida poet Kenzie Allen in the CAP ArtSpace gallery followed by a discussion with artist Ben Altman
  • Mending Circle
    Mending Circle
    Thu, Jan 23
    SewGreen
    Jan 23, 2025, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    SewGreen, 112 W Green St, #2, Ithaca, NY 14850
    Stitch, patch, share tips, and swap stories at our monthly mending circle
  • Presentation Night
    Presentation Night
    Tue, Jan 21
    Liquid State Brewery
    Jan 21, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Liquid State Brewery, 620 W Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Celebrate the joy of learning at this evening of short talks by non-experts (and there's beer!)
  • Stages of Life play reading
    Stages of Life play reading
    Sat, Jan 18
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Jan 18, 2025, 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Professional actors read short plays written by participants in our intergenerational playwriting workshop
  • Mending Circle
    Mending Circle
    Multiple Dates
    Thu, Dec 19
    SewGreen
    Dec 19, 2024, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    SewGreen, 112 W Green St, #2, Ithaca, NY 14850
    Stitch, patch, share tips, and swap stories at our monthly mending circle
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