“I chose to be a part of this project because I know abolition is the only way forward and as an artist I get to create the visual language that helps us envision this free future. It’s such a privilege to work directly with folks who have been system impacted as they are the experts on how we transform justice.”
- Elizabeth Blancas @ishouldbepainting
JAILS ARE A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS!
LET'S GET OUR PEOPLE OUT OF THEM!
When art = freedom. Since 2018, the People’s Paper Co-op (PPC) has collaborated with the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund on their annual Black Mama's Bail Out campaign. Each year, the PPC works with a powerful cohort of women in reentry to co-create a poster series and corresponding set of exhibitions, parades, press conferences, and events to raise awareness and funds for the campaign. Their posters, prints, and t-shirt sales have raised over $215,000 to free Black mothers and caregivers.
Celebrate and support this powerful collaboration between formerly incarcerated women at the People’s Paper Co-op and artists across North America. Every poster sold will help free Black mothers and caregivers for Mother’s Day!
There are 20 full sets of all ten posters that include a colophon, a stamped piece of handmade paper PPC Fellows made from criminal records, and a spray painted, stenciled envelope.
The People’s Paper Co-op is a women led, women focused, women powered art and advocacy project at The Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia. The PPC looks to women in reentry as the leading criminal justice experts our society needs to hear from and uses art to amplify their stories, dreams, and visions for a more just and free world.
In spring of 2023, the PPC partnered with artists from across North America to co-create a poster series to raise money to bail out Black mothers and caregivers for Mother’s Day. The women at the PPC sent their poetry, photos, protest slogans and art to artists who then transformed their art into a powerful set of posters.
Majority proceeds from your purchase from Justseeds will go directly to the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund; an organization dedicated to reuniting families and friends separated by our broken justice system. We hope you will put them in your homes, schools, public spaces, offices, and anywhere you feel these amazing women need to have their voices heard.
Endless thanks to the artists who contributed to this series: Afroplump, Camila Rosa, Caitlin Blunnie, Devon Cohen, Elizabeth Blancas, Noa Denmon, Juana Estrada Hernández, Meredith Stern, Singha Hon, and Shyama Kuver
To learn more, visit:
www.peoplespaperco-op.com // www.phillybailout.com
PEOPLE'S PAPER CO-OP FELLOWS 2016-2023: Faith Bartley, Aesha Barnett, Val Bell, Rusty Bentley, Carmelita Bird, Evonia Bivens, Latyra Blake, Jonquil Brown, Catherine Brown, Toni Brown, Antionette Carter, Crystal, Kelly Conway, Hakima Cooper, Nashae Cooper, Doreen Cuffie, Kerri DeLeo, Tasheema Flamer, Jamila Harris, Rochelle Harris, Tinika Hogan, Stephanie Jackson, Ivy Johnson, Kali Lamb, Nikkie Lee-Smith, Sheri Lopez, Kitty Marrero, Rosa McKnight, Latonya “T” Myers, Tracey Parker Gilbert, Adrian Perry, Brya Pickron, Janaya Pulliam, Tonya Randolph, Veronica Rex, Siani Rodriguez, Ros Ryder, Teresa Saunders, Michelle Scales, Lisa Shorter, Carolyn Smith, Monique Taylor, Kaylena Tabb, Amy Tlapa, Stephanie Waters, Heather Wiester, and Telfa Wills
In loving memory of our friends, Catherine Brown, Kelly Conway, and Amy Tlapa
The PPC is coordinated by co-directors Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist
#FREEBLACKMAMAS
#ENDCASHBAIL
