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When life means life: West Philly photographer to talk about prison documentary project

October 14, 2011

prison
Detail from an inmate-made quilt that is part of the Grace Before Dying traveling exhibit (click to enlarge).

Most of the 5,000 prisoners incarcerated at Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, will die there. Angola is the largest maximum security prison in the United States. Prisoners there have long sentences, virtually life sentences. West Philly-based photographer Lori Waselchuk released a book this summer documenting the prison’s inmate-run hospice program, which provides dying prisoners some comfort and dignity in their last days. You can talk to her about it this Sunday.

Waselchuk will sign her book, Grace Before Dying, and talk about the project as part of an event hosted by the West Philly-based non-profit Books Through Bars on Sunday, Oct. 16. Running from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the A-Space (4722 Baltimore Ave.), the event will also feature quilts made by Angola inmates that are part of a traveling exhibit (now at Saint Joseph’s University) accompanying the Grace Before Dying project. Local quilters and textile artists will also be on hand to discuss their work.

The event ends with a screening of the documentary In the Land of the Free, which tells the story of Angola inmates Herman Wallace, Albert Woodfox and Robert King, also known as the Angola 3, who between them spent almost a century in solitary confinement. Wallace and Woodfox are still in solitary after more than 37 years.

Here is a schedule for the event:

3:30 p.m. – Quilter’s Roundtable. Local quilters and textile artists will present their work.

5 p.m. – Reception

6 p.m. – Lori Waselchuk talk and book signing

7 p.m. – Screening of the In the Land of the Free

 

4 Comments For This Post

  1. Anne Says:

    Go to this!!! I worked as a public defender in New Orleans for many years. For whatever reason I do not believe (and never did) that the vast majority of these men need to die in Angola. I’ve been to Angola, the place is a feudal state where prisoners learn to cope, but it’s not life in any respect. Go to this exhibition, talk to the author, learn compassion.

  2. Natalie Says:

    Is this event today?

  3. admin Says:

    Natalie- it is on Sunday. Sorry about that. We updated the article.

  4. Anne Says:

    It’s Sunday.

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