In the final phase of our three-year artistic residency on Alcatraz, our primary goal was to contextualize the themes we had explored via the classics: isolation, incarceration, justice, and redemption. We created and presented artwork that engaged conversation around these issues and present day realities, while including the voices of marginalized and hidden populations.

We Players fulfilled the mission of our three year residency on Alcatraz with a series of four art exhibitions, a youth conference, and our culminating event – the weekend-long Alcatraz Symposium on Justice & Freedom. We created and presented a new performance in the Cell House, hosted inspirational panel discussions, presented new visual art by our collaborators, held meaningful ceremony, taught workshops at the San Francisco Juvenile Justice Center, and presented a fabulous collection of inmate-produced visual artwork in collaboration with the William James Association.

This project marked the beginning of our exceedingly positive collaboration with the talented Patrick Gillespie (our current Visual Arts Director), who held the role of Alcatraz Gallery Curator.  Patrick worked closely with Ava and Lauren to identify and engage our collaborating artists, prepare artwork in the gallery, and facilitate panel discussions. WE could not have pulled off the massive undertaking that was 2011 Alcatraz without you, Patrick. Thank you for sharing your art, your excellent communication skills, your inspiration, and your fortitude.