Taste of Justice

Press Release, September 10, 2006 Contact: Dennis Sobin 202-393-1511 [email protected] FIRST ANNUAL TASTE OF JUSTICE FAIR FEATURES EX-PRISONER AUTHOR, PAINTER AND ACTIVIST ANTHONY PAPA, MUSIC AND PRISON ART TThe first annual Taste of Justice fair will take place on Saturday, September 30, 2006 from 10 AM to 5 PM in Washington, DC at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library. It will feature acclaimed painter, author and ex-prisoner Anthony Papa, music, and prison arts and crafts. Cosponsored by WPFW radio, the event is free and open to the public. Many organizations from across America, including criminal justice advocacy, legal, educational, religious, and correctional, will be on hand to talk about and showcase their work. There will also be a stage where ex-inmate performing artists and others will entertain. Thanks to a grant received from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, painter and author Anthony Papa will make a guest appearance at Taste of Justice. In addition to being a highly-acclaimed painter, Tony Papa is the author of the book, 15 to Life: How I Painted My Way to Freedom (Feral House). The book tells how Papa painted his way to freedom. Convicted of his first and only criminal offense in a police sting operation, Papa discovered painting while at Sing-Sing. His 15-year sentence was cut short when one of his works was selected for exhibition at the Whitney Museum, and he was granted clemency by Governor Pataki. Since his release, Papa has become a noted advocatet for law and prison reform. A movie is being planned about him. Organizations participating in the Taste of Justice Fair include The Sentencing Project, DC Prisoners Legal Services Project, Prisons Foundation, The Sentencing Project, ACLU National Prison Project, CURE, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, Alternative Directions, Our Place, Grace Episcopal Church, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Penal Reform International, Asheville Prison Book Program, Witness to Innocence, International Community Corrections Association, The Beautiful Struggle, The Marijuana Policy Project, Drug Policy Alliance, Horton Dance!, Criminal and Restorative Justice Committee, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, Journey of Hope, NY Campaign for Telephone Justice, PRASI, Justice Maryland and Victim Offender Mediation Association. Also appearing will be the premiere jazz ensemble MudPie, which will perform throughout the afternoon, providing a playful musical experience with drums, bass and guitar that is free from traditional restrictions. Ex-prisoner Dennis Sobin will perform classical guitar music. Prison art from across the country will be displayed from the Prisons Foundation's extensive collection. The location for Taste of Justice is the Martin Luther King Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW Washington, DC. For further information please visit www.TasteofJustice.org or call 202-393-1511.