Thirteen artists incarcerated in Michigan are showing work at the Coventry Biennial 2021 in an exhibit titled We Bear. The exhibit includes work by 31 artists incarcerated in 25 prisons in the US and UK. "All the artworks were made remotely in the most difficult of circumstances, in the middle of a global pandemic, and powerfully communicate a range of experiences of being incarcerated," says exhibition creator Faye Claridge.
We Bear exhibit. Photo: Faye Claridge
Claridge worked remotely with people in prisons in the UK and US, asking them to create new artworks inspired by themes around the Warwickshire symbol of the chained bear. PCAP coordinated participation in the US, inviting artists from its Annual Exhibition of Art by Michigan Prisoners to contribute. Michigan artists Parker Ayers, Susan Brown, John Gaik IV, Samuel Hendley, Jacob Mann, Destrey McCoy, Duane Montney, Theo Moss, Daryl Rattew, Alvin Smith, Serge Tkachenko, Amber Wilson, and Andy Wynkoop are exhibiting.
We Bear runs October 8, 2021–February 6, 2022 at the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry. Admission is free. The exhibit publication is available online and includes artwork images and artist statements.
