Razor Wire Phoenixes: Through Prison Walls

The Razor Wire Phoenixes: Through Prison Walls exhibition is comprised of three components: art installation, public workshop and an open forum. The exhibition is intended to create an inquiry into how we are imprisoned by our belief systems, not only as individuals, but as a culture, and to explore how we are responsible and accountable for the structure of our society. The initial focus from the art installation is the question, "What effect do our beliefs and attitudes about those we incarcerate have on our society"

Portland, OR (PRWEB) March 20, 2004 --The Razor Wire Phoenixes: Through Prison Walls exhibition is comprised of three components: art installation, public workshop and an open forum. The exhibition is intended to create an inquiry into how we are imprisoned by our belief systems, not only as individuals, but as a culture, and to explore how we are responsible and accountable for the structure of our society. The initial focus from the art installation is the question, "What effect do our beliefs and attitudes about those we incarcerate have on our society"

(NOTE - all events are being held at the Urban Grind Coffeehouse. Location information at end of release.)

THE INSTALLATION (April 3 -- 28 | Opening April 3rd, 2-5p.)
The installation consists of steel sculptures created by artist Adrienne Fritze displaying collaged boxes decorated by women inmates from the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville Oregon. The artworks are expressions of insights the women gained about their relationships with people they love as part of the interactive workshops led by Ms. Fritze. For the past year the workshops were part of Coffee Creek?s drug and alcohol rehabilitation as well as the parenting skills programs.

Ms. Fritze has conducted workshops for the past four years creating a permanent collection of boxes held by the artist for public display. These several hundred small works of art are what she calls, ?a community expression where each individual has created an opportunity in their lives to experience freedom, power and full self-expression in their relationships with others.?

THE WORKSHOP (Sat, Apr 17, 10a-2p, $25 suggested donation)
On Saturday, April 17th, Ms. Fritze will conduct a public workshop like those she conducts in the prison. Anyone who wishes to participate may register at http://www.urbanesque.com/empty/events.html#417art.

The workshop is titled, Beyond Your Prison Walls: Breaking Through the Beliefs That Bind. Ms. Fritze will lead the participants through a series of questions that will reveal, layer by layer, many of the opinions, attitudes and judgments that actually run their lives and determines the course of their relationships. The next level of conversation is about the price they pay for holding onto those viewpoints. ?It is when a person becomes painfully aware of the price they and the people around them pay for such rigid viewpoints that it is possible for them to create a new point of view?one that inspires and empowers them, one that creates the possibility of new relationships with the people most important to them.?

It is in the context of this new viewpoint the participants are ready to use the boxes. With images from stock photo books, magazines, and all manner of craft items they decorate their boxes to show how their relationship didn?t work before and what is now possible in their new point of view. The boxes are plain, white gift boxes measuring about four inches square. The boxes remain empty to signify that the participants are free to create a new viewpoint that works for any given relationship regardless of its current state.

The completed boxes will become part of the Razor Wire Phoenixes installation until the end of April. At that time the participants may come pick up their boxes if they so choose.

THE OPEN FORUM (Sat, Apr 24, 11a-1p, FREE)
"This is our first public discussion inspired by the completed boxes in the installation. Our intent in this discussion is to open up the possibility of new viewpoints with regard to crime and punishment. We will ask questions about the practicality of today?s prison system from the context of our own experiences of self-imprisonment and the impact our viewpoints may have on our community?s experience of freedom and imprisonment. Underlying the intent of this discussion is the premise that our viewpoints and beliefs as individuals determines the viewpoints and beliefs of society as a whole. We can be accountable and responsible for how our society works and this is the path to inspiration, full self-expression and freedom."

Along with the general public, Ms. Fritze and E&M volunteers are inviting people from all avenues related to the criminal justice system. This will include former inmates and their families as well as the families of current inmates, prison reform advocates, prison administrators, counselors, staff, government officials, service providers for prisons, and educators.

?This Forum is an experiment in creating and trying out new viewpoints on an old conversation from a broad base of distinct, pre existing points of view in the community. We really have no idea where it will lead, but we are committed to having it lead to someplace new.

The exhibition is an outgrowth of Empty and Meaningless: The Box Project, a community arts program devoted to providing people with breakthroughs in their personal relationships in any area of their lives, founded by life coach and artist Adrienne Fritze.

For information on any of these events the public is invited to contact Ms. Fritze at the Empty & Meaningless: The Box Project office (503-282-6011), or via E-mail at adrienne@urbanesque.com.

You may also visit the project website at www.urbanesque.com/empty.

(Note: all quotes are from Adrienne Fritze.)

LOCATION INFORMATION
Urban Grind Coffeehouse
2214 NE Oregon St (Corner of NE 22nd & Oregon, 2 blks N of Sandy Blvd.)
LOCATION CONTACT
Brenda Drain, Owner
503-546-0649
brenda@urbangrindcoffee.com
Regular Hours: M-F, 7a-4p | Sat 8a-4p | Sun CLOSED

EVENT INFORMATION
Empty & Meaningless: the Box Project
Adrienne Fritze, Founder        
503-282-6011
adrienne@urbanesque.com
http://www.urbanesque.com/empty