BEHIND THE BRICKS, a collaboration between the Crossing Arts Alliance and the Crow Wing County Jail, was designed to bring access to the arts as a vehicle for communication to a traditionally underserved audience. Instruction to develop artistic skills in inmates of Crow Wing County Jail began in the fall of 2013, where inmates began creating both visual and literary artwork. Blue Cottage Agency is proud to serve as Project Manager for this important collaboration.

A book of selected inmate artwork titled Behind the Bricks, published by RiverPlace Press of Brainerd, will allow the artwork to be shared and distributed to a larger audience. The publication launch to the public is September 25, 2014 at the reception exhibit in the Q Gallery. The book retails for $15.95.

If you would like to sponsor a book for an inmate, library, jail, prison, church or mental health facility,  please download a sponsor card and mail to the Crossing Arts Alliance, 1001 Kingwood Street #114 Brainerd MN 56401. Behind the Bricks Sponsor card

Area visual and literary artists submitted original work for the BEYOND THE BRICKS community art project, selecting a piece of artwork created by a Crow Wing County Jail inmate and creating a companion piece (writing to art and art to writing) that reflect the mood, meaning and/or feeling of the original work. The BEYOND THE BRICKS exhibit of original work with the companion pieces will be displayed at the Crow Wing County Jail for staff and inmates and at the Q Gallery, Franklin Arts Center, 1001 Kingwood St #222 in Brainerd, from September 25 – October 11(Homecoming week) for the greater community. An opening reception is planned for September 25.
Brainerd Dispatch Story and Video

Crossing Arts Alliance activities are funded, in part, by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Five Wings Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund; and grants from Brainerd Service League, Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union, Kohl’s, and the Anderson Family Legacy Fund. For more information visit www.crossingarts.org.

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