Keep Kids Free teen art exhibit opens at Atlas

From the press release:

Keep Kids Free, an exhibition of spoken word, prints, paintings, and drawings created by young people who have been affected, directly or indirectly, by the prison system, opens April 7 at the Atlas gallery in Jackson Ward.

This group exhibition highlights the work of several teen-focused creative youth development organizations across the region. Highlighted programs include Teens With a Purpose from Norfolk, Free Minds Book Club from Washington, D.C., ART 180’s own Performing Statistics program, and others.

In addition, this exhibit will accompany ROOTS Weekend Richmond April 20-23, the fifth of sixth regional gatherings across the South coordinated by the artist-cultural organizer group Alternate ROOTS. Through the theme of Creating a World Without Prisons, and in partnership with ArtChangeUS, ART 180, and RIHD, the conference will take a close, critical look at the U.S. prison industrial complex–the largest system of incarceration in the world. ROOTS Weekend-Richmond aims to lift up artist-activists who are working towards a world where prisons are a thing of the past.

ART 180 will host an opening reception for the exhibition on Friday, April 7, from 6-9 p.m. during RVA First Fridays.­ The reception is family friendly, open to the public, and features an all-ages activity. The show will remain on display at Atlas, ART 180’s art center for teens, through April 28. Atlas is located at 114 W. Marshall St. in Jackson Ward and is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.