Compassion Works for All’s Prison Portrait Project will be on display at the New Deal gallery in SoMa on Friday, November 18th, from 6:00-9:00 pm.

The Prison Portrait Project matches people incarcerated in Arkansas with local artists who create a portrait of the confined person. The portraits tell a story and are all displayed and sold at the New Deal gallery. Unsold portraits will be available after the event online.

The aim of CWFA and the Prison Portrait Project is to bring to light the experiences of people living behind bars in Arkansas and across the country. This project is not about making claims on guilt or innocence, or whether someone is "good" or "bad". In fact, many participants have very difficult stories that may be hard for viewers and artists alike. However, we invite viewers to reflect on our common humanity in light of this context, not because it’s easy, but specifically because it’s hard. If we sincerely believe that compassion works for all, then we must extend it even to those who have done egregious things and trust that compassion can be transformative.

On Saturday, November 19th, CWFA will also host a live storytelling event at the New Deal gallery from 1-5 pm. Stories will be told by people who have been incarcerated in Arkansas, and there will be an opportunity for Q&A and conversation afterward.

Proceeds from this event benefit the local artists as well as research-based mindfulness programs at CWFA that help people who are incarcerated take responsibility for themselves, build resilience, and live a more compassionate life.

This year’s artists include:

Zina Al-Shukri

Alice Aida Ayers

Laura Brainard Raborn

Sydney Carmichael

Meikel Church

Adaja Cooper

Hamid Ebrahimifar

Laura Fanning

DebiLynn Fendley

Melissa Gill

Amanda Heinbockel

Jose Hernandez

Tanya Hollifield

Layet Johnson

Omaya Jones

John Kushmaul

Ron McAdoo

Stacey McKinney

Michael Schaffer

Kasten Searles

Chrystal Ashunti Seawood

Ricky Sikes

Nicole Stewart

Sondra Strong

Ellie Wheeler-Hill