Open Call for Clemency

Link: www.opencallforclemency.com
Role: Guest Curator
Dates: May 27th, 10am—Present
Artists: Arnold Raimondo, Billie Allen, Conor Ryan Broderick, George "Q" Qualls, Jose "Tony" Medina, Reggie West, Samson "Sam" Loynacan, Solomon Gideon, Jr., Tiona Rodriguez

The Confined Arts (TCA) and Releasing Aging People from Prison (RAPP) presents Open Call for Clemency, an online exhibition featuring works by artists who are currently incarcerated. The works reflect on personal responses to the current COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on the urgency and importance of clemency. The goal of this exhibition is to emphasize the humanity of those who are incarcerated, share their works as widely as possible, and ultimately reach the Governors’ offices, to advocate for clemency.

The current pandemic poses an imminent risk of serious illness or death for people incarcerated or working in correctional facilities across the nation. According to data gathered by the Legal Aid Society, “the infection rate at local jails is more than seven times higher than the rate citywide [New York City] and 87 times higher than the country at large.” An epidemiological model released by the ACLU and academic research partners has found that there will be “nearly 100,000 more deaths than current estimates, due to failures to reduce jails.” Open Call for Clemency urges governors to release those individuals who are most vulnerable during the growing and already deadly outbreak of COVID-19 among people who are currently incarcerated.

Open Call for Clemency is curated by Claire Kim. This exhibition is organized in partnership with the RAPP Campaign and Pastor Isaac Scott and Leia Squillace of The Confined Arts.