LOGAN SQUARE — For the next five days, a pop-up prison cell will stand in the center of a plaza on the border of Logan Square and Avondale, a piece of artwork designed to evoke discussion about criminal justice in America.
The cell has a cinder block base with two wooden walls, two walls made of metal bars, a small three-foot-wide door and a reflective ceiling.
There's also two metal bunks in the six-by-eight cell taken from a shuttered prison in Illinois.
"We just want people to see it, touch it, feel it, lay on it, ask questions," said Enrique Morales, curator of the upcoming show which is being held in coordination with EXPO Chicago.
The satellite show is being held both inside Hairpin Arts Center adn the newly completed Woodard Plaza, which are both at the intersection of Milwaukee, Diversey and Kimball.
The show, titled A Broken Tail Light: Race Relations, includes both the popup cell and a gallery exhibition inside the Hairpin Arts Center.
"That's the number one reason you get brought in," Morales said, referring to the name of the show. "The broken tail light is where your journey starts."
Attendees will be able to enter the cell at any time Friday through Wednesday.
The show's lead artist is Dorian Allworthy. There is also work by Cortez Hodges and a video piece by Julia Pello.
Cortez, a 35-year-old who grew up in public housing in Chicago and served prison time, will be inside the cell for periods of the weekend.
"There's this thing going on with race relations and cops and the abuse of power and the probable cause concept," Cortez said. "There's a big elephant in the room and the elephant is pissed off. People are dying."
This show explores the physical and emotional aspects of race in America, subjugation, imprisonment, forgiveness, and rehabilitation, according to the curator.
Morales said the goal of the exhibit is to push the discussion of race relations.
"What's the one aspect of race relations that is completely disproportionate across every sector of the population?" he asked. "The embodiment of that is prison."
The opening night reception is set for Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. as part of EXPO Chicago After Hours.
An artists talk is scheduled for Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m. featuring artists Dorian Allworthy, Cortez Hodges, Julia Pello and curator, Enrique Morales. Illinois State Representative, Will Guzzardi will join the panel, addressing his work on criminal justice reform and Culture Curator and Arts Advocate, Janice Bond, discussing social justice and the power of healing through art.
Julia Pello's latest video piece, made for this exhibit, will be showing at 1:30 p.m. before the artist talk.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
