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Behind the Wall

Art & Writing from Prison

“Behind the Wall” was a traveling exhibition of drawings, paintings, letters, stories, and poems produced by people in prison. It was displayed at Tompkins County Public Library in Ithaca in February 2023, Seymour Library in Auburn in March, Seneca Falls Library in April, Coburn Free Library in Owego in May, and Cortland Free Library in June.

 

“Behind the Wall” included 140 works by 90 individuals in detention facilities in 22 states. There was a letter-writing station where visitors could send feedback directly to the participating artists. The libraries organized special programming to accompany the exhibition. 

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The artworks and writings in “Behind the Wall” were collected by Prisoner Express, a project of the Durland Alternatives Library, and curated by Ithaca-area artist Treacy Ziegler. Prisoner Express uses newsletters, book exchanges, and art and creative writing programs to foster hope and a sense of community among incarcerated people around the country. The project currently serves more than 4,000 prisoners and has reached more than 37,000 over the last 20 years. 

 

“Behind the Wall” was conceived and coordinated by Story House Ithaca. Prisoner Express and Story House Ithaca are both projects of the nonprofit Center for Transformative Action

The exhibition was presented in collaboration with the Finger Lakes Library System and supported by an action grant from Humanities NY.

Events

  • AL! The Weird Tribute – A Musical Comedy Experience
    AL! The Weird Tribute – A Musical Comedy Experience
    Jul 19, 2025, 7:00 PM
    NRE Space, 402 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Get ready for an unforgettable night of laugh-out-loud musical comedy as AL! The Weird Tribute comes to Ithaca, NY! A ComedyHOF production
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Jul 20
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Jul 20, 2025, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Story Night
    Story Night
    Tue, Jul 22
    The Nocturnal Café
    Jul 22, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    The Nocturnal Café, 103 S Geneva St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Bring your own story or just come to listen! The theme is "SUMMER!" No competition, just an evening of swapping stories with friends and strangers.
  • The Writers' Room
    The Writers' Room
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, Aug 06
    Tompkins County Public Library
    Aug 06, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Tompkins County Public Library, 101 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Work on your project in the company of fellow writers
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Aug 24
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Aug 24, 2025, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Presentation Night
    Presentation Night
    Tue, Aug 26
    Liquid State Brewery
    Aug 26, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Liquid State Brewery, 620 W Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Celebrate the joy of learning at this evening of short talks by non-experts (and there's beer!)
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Sep 07
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Sep 07, 2025, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Presentation Night
    Presentation Night
    Tue, Jul 08
    Liquid State Brewery
    Jul 08, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Liquid State Brewery, 620 W Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Celebrate the joy of learning at this evening of short talks by non-experts (and there's beer!)
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Jun 29
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Jun 29, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Mending Circle
    Mending Circle
    Multiple Dates
    Thu, Jun 19
    SewGreen
    Jun 19, 2025, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
    SewGreen, 112 W Green St, #2, Ithaca, NY 14850
    Stitch, patch, share tips, and swap stories at our monthly mending circle
  • Story Night
    Story Night
    Tue, Jun 17
    The Nocturnal Café
    Jun 17, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    The Nocturnal Café, 103 S Geneva St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Bring your own story (8 minutes max) or just come to listen! The theme is "Discomfort Zones." No competition, just an evening of swapping stories with friends and strangers.
  • MARCELLA documentary and Q&A
    MARCELLA documentary and Q&A
    Mon, Jun 16
    Jun 16, 2025, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    Cinemapolis, 120 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Catch a screening of the delicious new documentary MARCELLA about the disabled immigrant woman who introduced America to genuine Italian Food.
  • The Roast of Ithaca
    The Roast of Ithaca
    Fri, May 23
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    May 23, 2025, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    A no-holds-barred roast of the city we love (and sometimes love to complain about)
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, May 18
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    May 18, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • SingTrece: Changing Hearts One Positive Note at a Time
    SingTrece: Changing Hearts One Positive Note at a Time
    Apr 25, 2025, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, actress, and playwright SingTrece performs!
  • Presentation Night
    Presentation Night
    Tue, Apr 22
    Liquid State Brewery
    Apr 22, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Liquid State Brewery, 620 W Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Celebrate the joy of learning at this evening of short talks by non-experts (and there's beer!)
  • Playwrights Jam
    Playwrights Jam
    Sun, Apr 20
    Kitchen Theatre Company
    Apr 20, 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    Lively readings of theatrical works in progress. Join as a playwright, actor, audience member, or all three!
  • Postcards to the Planet
    Postcards to the Planet
    Sat, Apr 19
    Ithaca Commons
    Apr 19, 2025, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Ithaca Commons, 120 S Aurora St, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
    For Earth Day, drop by our table on the Ithaca Commons and give the planet a piece of your mind
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