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).
