Hear Us Make Artistic Noise
Art from the Juvenile Justice System

Curated by Kate Jellinghaus, Director of Artistic Noise, Boston.  Kate is a May 2010 Teacher Preparation Program alumna and is now teaching at Westwood High School.

Arnheim Gallery
September 7-24
Mon.-Sat. 10-6

Curator’s talk:  September 22, 5:30pm
See a gallery of images

Hear Us Make Artistic Noise, or H.U.M.A.N., is the original, founding name of the current non-profit organization, Artistic Noise, which serves incarcerated youth in Boston and New York City. The name was created by Minotte Romulus, one of our former participants and current Assistant Director of the program, and it captures the essence of our mission: to affirm the value of the youth we serve, provide them with a means of expression, and create a forum for their voices to be heard.

 Many of the pieces in this show were created around the concept of UBUNTU.

UBUNTU (oo-BOON-too) comes from the Bantu African languages and means – |
“humanness,” or “a person is a person through other persons.”

It is a philosophy of life that embraces interconnectedness and helps us understand that we are what we are because of and through others. It also implies choices that can generate peace. Positive actions reverberate between us as do negative ones. Ubuntu allows us to consider how responding with greater empathy, interest and forgiveness – rather than apathy, disinterest and revenge – might elevate us all.

By having an exhibit that features the artwork of incarcerated youth, we are hoping to both draw attention to important social issues as well as to give our young artists a public voice.  From a social point of view, it is significant and distressing, for example, that young people of color account for one-third of the nation’s youth population, and yet account for over two-thirds of the youth in secure facilities. The most recent research shows that our minority youth also come into contact with the system more often and receive harsher treatment at nearly every stage of the juvenile justice process than our white children.

The fact that such inequities, which have been widely documented, still exist, speaks to the ongoing factors of unequal access to resources and institutionalized racism that have deep and complex historical roots in our country. Learning about these discrepancies is important, but can lead to feelings of distress over the possibility for positive change.

However, the truth is that change is not only possible, it happens through us, on a daily basis, and is shaped by our values. As Dean of Multicultural Affairs and Education at the Taft School, Greg Ricks, said to me recently: “Kate, it matters not where you came from, but where you are going.” In that sense, the idea of UBUNTU challenges us to consider the ways, whether large or small, that we can build a world that is more equitable and life-affirming for everyone.

There are many ways that the process of positive change can get started. We can question our own biases and assumptions about others. We can look for ways to step out of our comfort zones and find places where we can be of help. We can consider acts of kindness and affirmation for their own sake, regardless of personal reward. Each of these steps requires the courage to act with more humanity, dignity and compassion.

Historically, the systemic responses for our incarcerated youth have had competing goals. They have been seen either as children in need of punishment or as children who have been broken and need rehabilitation.  Today, however, more and more people talk about the importance of “positive youth development” for our kids.

This approach advocates that ALL children be accepted as inherently valuable, important, and able. This is where we start. Positive youth development understands that kids need to be actors and participants and it’s up to adults to provide the opportunities and supports for success — without which growth is difficult.

This exhibit shows the kind of work produced by system-involved youth who are given support and a forum to discuss their ideas. Such art making, both individualized and collaborative, provides the means for emotions to be expressed and ideas to be developed in a way that is constructive and life-affirming. We invite you to engage the art and also to consider the spirit of UBUNTU in your own life.

Artistic Noise is an arts program for youth (13-18) in the juvenile justice system and non-adjudicated youth (14-21) living in the communities we serve. The program provides an opportunity for participants to process and document their lives using the visual arts while learning valuable life and job skills. Through the creation of artwork exploring issues such as self-Identity, hope, incarceration, and dreams– along with the exhibition and marketing of their artwork — the young people involved are empowered by – 1) following a complex project through to fruition; 2) having their voices heard through a visual medium; 3) participating in a collaborative project with their peers and facilitators. By working with youth both inside the detention facility and back in the community, Artistic Noise provides continuity for youth who are often experiencing trauma and upheaval in their lives.

Artistic Noise, Boston, is funded by grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Janey Fund.  Artistic Noise, New York, is funded in part by the Fund for The City of New York and partners with The Children’s Aid Society’s LINC Program and the Next Generation Center. Our other funding comes from the generosity of individual supporters and private organizations.  For more information, please see our website at: www.artisticnoise.org