ARTinside

ARTinside.Filling Spaces
sculpture from ARTInside

ARTinside: filling spaces, was a social sculpture project at the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center that used art to fill the empty spaces inside the facility, and perhaps inside the participants. During this 8-week residency, teens worked with community educator, Victor Castro of USgathering, and Madison Public Library’s Bubbler program to transform the empty spaces of the detention center, creating site-specific art installations that were developed by the group and that used their inorganic debris generated every day, such as juice cups, milk cartons and cereal containers. The experience challenged participants to think about their role in our environment, while also promoting teamwork, self confidence and social development.

Due to the nature of the facility, we welcomed new and old particpants every week, though not one teen was present for all 8 weeks. Yet all particpants have ownership in the art. The ARTinside project was on display inside the detention center for 18 months and a photodocumentation binder resides in the detenction center library.

And be sure to check out some of the other Making Justice Residencies.

*ARTinside was funded in part by an Our Town grant from the National Ednowment for the Arts (NEA).

Sort ARTInside by:

Weeks 1

ACTION PHOTOS

TEEN REFLECTIONS

ACTION PHOTOS

TEEN REFLECTIONS

WEEK 1: The kickoff to ARTinside was exciting for teen participants and detention staff as they were introduced to the world of USgathering (AKA Victor Castro, AKA Sato, AKA TETRApakman) and a new workshop model. Participants chose nicknames, assembled their masks, formed groups, and began working together to develop rules for the 8-week project.

ACTION PHOTOS: Photos are not normally allowed during Bubbler sessions at the Juvenile Detention Center, but artist, Victor Castro, only had to tag along with the Bubbler for one session to develop the Bubbler Head masks. When the teen photographer was ready to take a picture of the action, they would announce for all participants to put on their hats, and SNAP!

TEEN REFLECTIONS: After each weekly session, participating teens were asked to write down their reflections for the day, which may include their feelings, an outline of what they did, or directions for future participants to continue their design.

ACTION PHOTOS: Photos are not normally allowed during Bubbler sessions at the Juvenile Detention Center, but artist, Victor Castro, only had to tag along with the Bubbler for one session to develop the Bubbler Head masks. When the teen photographer was ready to take a picture of the action, they would announce for all participants to put on their hats, and SNAP!

TEEN REFLECTIONS: After each weekly session, participating teens were asked to write down their reflections for the day, which may include their feelings, an outline of what they did, or directions for future participants to continue their design.

  • picture of the blank space inside the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center
    1
  • Picture of artist Victor Castro sitting in front of the Madison Municipal Court sign
    2
  • a sign hung near the detention center kitchen that lists the recyclable materials to collect for the 8-week project
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  • 5
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  • picture of teens holding their art creations as a group
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  • handwritten instructions from two teens for someone to continue their art piece next week
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  • picture of teen hands making art with milk cartons
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  • picture of teen hands making art with milk cartons
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  • handwritten instructions from four teens to continue their art piece next week
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  • picture of teens working on a milk carton art piece
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  • picture of teens creating art with milk cartons
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  • handwritten teen instructions from three teens
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  • picture of artist Victor Castro on a ladder installing teen art piece at the detention center
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  • picture of ARTinside logo
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