May 12, 2022
Nash prisoner artists have their own special area at North Carolina Wesleyan University
Over seventy pieces of art, created by dozens of prisoner artists at Nash Correctional Institution, now line five massive walls at The Dunn Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of North Carolina Wesleyan University in Rocky Mount, NC.
This first-of-its-kind exhibit, which opened on May 12 and runs through August 5, showcases the creative talent of the NCI Art Club, one of the most admired and respected prison art clubs in the state and country.
The art on display at NCWU, such as the one pictured above by Eric Lynch, includes a wide variety of styles, from charcoal to pastel and others. Many of the pieces are available for purchase, with the profits going to the Community Resource Council.
NCWU Art Curator Greg Purcell invited NCI to hold an exhibit on campus after serving as a judge at NCI's most recent Art Show a few weeks ago at the invitation of Nash Case Manager Ms. Markell Mitchell. "One of my goals when I took this job," Purcell told OurJourney, "was to book an art exhibit with a prison, so when Ms. Mitchell invited me to the art show at Nash, I readily accepted."
Along with the NCI administration and its entire Program Staff (pictured below, with Greg Purcell, seated), several members of the Rocky Mount art community attended, including representatives from WLQC Life 103.1, one of the sponsors of the exhibit.
"Finding Freedom Through Art" is open to the public each weekday and admission is free.
