Sunday, December 10, 6p.m – 9p.m. Dulcenea - 1431 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago The world's largest traveling visionary art exhibition featuring work by Robert Venosa, Martina Hoffmann, Oliver Vernon, J Garcia, Kris Davidson, Roman Villagrana, Mark Hensen and many others. Original works from each artist available during silent auction: doors open at 6 p.m., auction close at 8:30 p.m. Solo Cello set by Rena Jones and Dominic Johnson, beverages and light food provided.

This Prison Arts and Crafts Show is sponsored by the Prison Art Gallery and the Prisons Foundation. It will be held at First Trinity Lutheran Church, 309 E Street, NW from 10 AM to 5 PM, with free admission, live entertainment and hundreds of pieces of prison art for sale from prison artists across America, including original art and prints by ex-prisoner Russ Luncsford. Luncsford will appear on December 9 noon at the First Trinity Arts and Crafts Show and also on the same day at the Prison Art Gallery at 3 PM (1600 K Street NW, Suite 501, Washington, DC). Russ Luncsford, 38, a resident of Waterloo, Iowa, was released from prison in January 2005. During his incarceration Luncsford made artistic contributions to various prisoner advocacy groups throughout the United States. Today post-release, he continues to work with the Prisons Foundation and several other groups, realizing the human potential caged within the nation's growing prison system. Luncsford’s artwork reflects the despair and oppression of unforgiveness for those who remain in prison and also for those who remain chained to a past as debilitating as any prison constructed from concrete and steel. He wants to raise awareness that unforgiveness is counterproductive and no less uncaring than that of the offense itself. This is not to condone criminal or otherwise harmful behavior. Russ believes people need to be held accountable for their actions. In promoting forgiveness Russ has teamed up with Joel Kimball, an exprisoner and friend from Canada, to form a not- for profit organization called Compassion Works. Through Russ's powerful artwork they seek to move other hearts to a restorative perspective that wrong need not be returned for wrong or harm for harm but that something positive may be brought from tragedy. In addition to Luncsford and his work featured at the Prison Arts and Crafts Shows, there will be live entertainment by exprisoner classical guitarist Dennis Sobin and Jazz by MudPie, providing a playful musical experience with drums, bass and guitar that is free from traditional restrictions. For further information visit www.PrisonsFoundation.org or call 202 -393-1511. (Art by Russ Luncsford is featured in "Art for Justice" (Pg 14), a bimonthly newmagazine published by the Prisons Foundation which can be viewed at www.PrisonsFoundation.org, and also on the Prisons Foundation website at http://prisonsfoundation.org/prints/ box.html. Luncsford is available for interviews and media appearances before and during the event. High resolution examples of his art will be sent as email attachments upon request.) Contact: Dennis Sobin email: [email protected] phone: 202-393-1511

For Immediate Release: November 4, 2006 Contact: Tony Newman (646) 335-5384 or Tommy McDonald (646) 335-2242 Artist, Activist Tony Papa to Highlight Cruel Drug War with Art Installation in Oakland Nov. 9-11 Show Visually Depicts Major Tragedies of Drug War: “Two Years for One Joint”; “HIV Due to Dirty Syringes”; “Racial Disparity of Drug War”; all on Display at Harm Reduction Conference in Oakland Papa Discovered Art in Prison and Painted His Way to Freedom after 12 Years Behind Bars Under Draconian Drug Laws Noted artist, activist and author Anthony Papa will highlight the casualties of the war on drugs at an art installation during the Harm Reduction Coalition conference in Oakland November 9-12 The Harm Reduction Coalition conference brings together hundreds of drug policy reform advocates from across the country to discuss effective public health approaches to dealing with drug use and misuse. The conference will take place November 9-12 at the Marriot hotel, Oakland City Center, 1001 Broadway, CA “The Drug War” is an art installation by artist/activist Anthony Papa. The installation is a multi-media presentation that visually portrays some of the most compelling drug war issues in the news. The visual narratives in the installation are powerful reminders of the raging war on drugs that ravages many of our communities. “The use of art as a political weapon is not new,” says Papa who discovered his political awareness through his art and has used his art as a vehicle to fight the drug war. “Through history, the role of the artist as a social commentator has been invaluable. Art is a great vehicle for expressing views to others in a way that is unmatched in any other media outlet for its truthfulness”. “Like Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ and Goya’s ‘Third of May,’ which both powerfully portrayed the atrocities of war, my installation follows their lead in revealing the impact of America’s drug war.” Papa spent 12 years in prison for a first time non-violent drug offense. While imprisoned, he discovered his artistic talent. In 1995, after a showing of his art at the Whitney Museum, his case attracted national attention. Two years later, New York Governor George Pataki granted Papa executive clemency. Papa currently works for the Drug Policy Alliance. The installation highlights issues that affect all Americans, whether they use drugs or not. It is steeped in a continuous motif of an upside down American flag, which signifies the universal concept the state of distress in war. · “Justice in Black and White” shows the racial imbalance of the effects of the New York’s Rockefeller Drug Laws. Ninety-four percent of those incarcerated under the laws are black and Latino. Ten crying babies dress in prison garb dangle in front of their incarcerated mothers and ask “where are our mothers?” · “Two Years in Jail for One Joint” shows the madness of the drug war. Mitchell Lawrence, an 18-year-old was sentenced to two years in jail for one joint by an over zealous prosecutor in Massachusetts. A single golden joint sits in a silver jewelry box surrounded by dozens of candles · “Give Them All Dirty Needles and Let Them Die” - taken from the cruel quote of TV’s “Judge Judy” - boldly illustrates how New Jersey is the only U.S. state that lacks a needle exchange program. Dozens of bloodied syringes penetrate a coffin draped with the New Jersey flag. · Part of the installation a marijuana plant asks the question who should decide what medicine we should put in our bodies – cops or doctors. · “Got a Cold? Prove it and Sign the Log” portrays the hoops Americans must now jump through to buy cold medicine due to the federal government’s desire to monitor our everyday actions in the name of the curbing the methamphetamine “epidemic.” Papa hopes the installation raises awareness for mainstream society who rarely think about the drug war. “I use my art as a means of visually translating the deep emotional responses of the human condition. My life choices forced me to discover my hidden artistic talent. In the same way I try to make that intuitive connection with the viewer by living through my work, breaking down barriers that separate us from truth.”

“The Drug War” is a multimedia art installation which visually portrays some of the most compelling drug war issues in the news. The visual narratives, which include bloody syringes and crying babies, are powerful reminders of the raging war on drugs that devastates our neighborhoods, homes and families. When : November 9th - November 11th Where: Harm Reduction Coalition Conference Marriott Hotel - Oakland City Center, Room 206 101 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607 For more information: Tony Newman: 646-335-5384