Allies Meet at Spring Hill Arts Gathering
Worth Rises, Right of Return, SHAG and Art for Justice Fund team members. Front row: Diane Lewis, Nicole Fleetwood, Russell Craig, Dana Gluck, Helena Huang, Sanya Mirpuri. Back row: LeAnne Alexander, Catherine Gund, Gilberto Rivera, Sue Simon, Stephanie Ingrassia, Jewu Richardson, Bianca Tylek, Jesse Krimes, Tim Ingrassia, Jared Owens, Amy Holmes. Photo courtesy of Spring Hill Arts Gathering.

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In early August, several hundred people came together in rural Connecticut to share a day of “Justice and Jazz” at the Spring Hill Arts Gathering (SHAG). Founded by Stephanie and Tim Ingrassia, the festival encompasses creative collaborations and conversations in an idyllic natural setting. Perhaps the isolation we’ve experienced during Covid elevated our need to unite. Here, the atmosphere could not have been more warm and welcoming and opportunities for human connection felt limitless.
Mary Baxter raps about injustice, including giving birth to her son while incarcerated – 43 hours of labor with shackles on her hands and feet. Photo courtesy of Spring Hill Arts Gathering.

Gilberto Rivera tells a festival attendee about his painting, Finding a Way. Photo courtesy of Spring Hill Arts Gathering.

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Art for Justice Fund and its grantee partners, Right of Return and Worth Rises, presented two panels, a performance by visual and musical artist, Mary Baxter, and a large art show. The exhibition was co-curated by Dr. Nicole R. Fleetwood, inaugural James Weldon Johnson Professor at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and artist Jesse Krimes, founder of Right of Return, a fellowship to support formerly incarcerated artists.
Russell Craig presents his multi-media work, Mockery, painted on a deconstructed Burberry jacket. Photo courtesy of Spring Hill Arts Gathering.

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Speaking to an attentive group of art lovers and local community members, the Fund’s board member, Catherine Gund, affirmed, “Now more than ever, we must move to reparative and restorative justice that is true and real for everyone. Fortunately, artists and advocates are working together to transform this broken system. They are changing the narrative around racism and biases by changing hearts and minds. And they’re shifting the very policies and practices that perpetuate these harms.”
Catherine Gund offers concrete suggestions for how we can help end mass incarceration. Photo courtesy of Spring Hill Arts Gathering.

Diane Lewis had to pay huge phone bills to hear her beloved son’s voice until her advocacy efforts secured change. Photo courtesy of Spring Hill Arts Gathering.

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Audience members, artists and advocates had the chance to exchange ideas and experiences throughout an evening of music and dance. Partnerships that were seeded have already begun to bear fruit. “SHAG allowed us to share our work with new allies, many of whom have begun to show up in powerful ways to support our mission. We’re grateful to the Ingrassias for hosting us and their commitment to justice,” reflected Bianca Tylek, Executive Director of Worth Rises. Her organization works to dismantle the prison industry and end the exploitation of those it touches. In Connecticut, Worth Rises recently led the nation’s first successful campaign to make prison and jail phone use free.
Bianca Tylek describes Worth Rises’ victory to stop prison telecom company abuse. Photo courtesy of Spring Hill Arts Gathering.

Helena Huang applauds festival founder, Stephanie Ingrassia. Photo courtesy of Spring Hill Arts Gathering.

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In addition to forging new alliances to end mass incarceration and transform the criminal legal system, more than half of the work in the exhibition was sold, with all proceeds going directly to Right of Return artists. One of the buyers included The Brooklyn Museum. “Not only is the entire team at SHAG devoted to art and justice, they exemplify the meaning of true partnership,” noted Helena Huang, the Fund’s Project Director. “It’s inspiring to see what’s possible when artists, advocates and donors work together to forge new relationships that accelerate lasting change.”
Nicole Fleetwood (far left) facilitates a discussion among Right of Return Fellows in the amphitheater. Photo courtesy of Spring Hill Arts Gathering.

About Art for Justice Fund
Art for Justice was founded in 2017 by Agnes Gund to end mass incarceration in the United States and the racism that drives it. This initiative, which will conclude in 2023, has already disbursed $90 million to radically reimagine and build a future of shared safety for all. To date, Art for Justice has made grants to 200+ artists, advocates and organizations that are transforming the criminal legal system.
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