Paper and Memory with the People's Paper Co-op
In conservation science, the phenomenon of “hysteresis” holds that paper will retain the memory of its past shape of being folded even after being flattened. With this concept in mind, we’ll be talking with Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist from the People’s Paper Co-op (PPC) to hear about their cathartic work with returning citizens to make paper out of their expunged criminal records. While this paper contains the remnants of its past, it is transformed through the act of shredding, pulping, and remaking, forming a vehicle for new creative expression. Courtney and Mark will talk about this project, as well as the broader scope of their highly collaborative and multidisciplinary process to work with individuals directly impacted by the criminal legal system to develop the tools, skills, and networks to advocate for themselves, their families, and residents across the city of Philadelphia in advance of the forthcoming launch of their book, Let’s Get Free: The Transformative Art and Activism of the People’s Paper Co-op.
This webinar addresses Focus Area #2: Inclusive engagement with diverse communities of the Foundation for the Advancement in Conservation’s (FAIC) Held in Trust Report on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.
The People’s Paper Co-op is a women led, women focused, women powered art and advocacy project at the Village of Arts and Humanities in North Philadelphia. The PPC looks to women in reentry as the leading criminal justice experts our society needs to hear from and uses art to amplify their stories, dreams, and visions for a more just and free world.
Since 2018, the People’s Paper Co-op has collaborated with the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund on their annual Mama's Day Bail Out campaign. Each year they organize exhibitions, billboards and public art installations, parades, press conferences, and events to raise awareness and funds for the campaign, while sharing the stories, dreams, and demands of formerly incarcerated women with tens of thousands of Philadelphians. Their poster and t-shirt sales have raised over $225,000 to free Black mothers and caregivers for Mother’s Day.
Their work has been exhibited in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Art and Industries Smithsonian Museum, Philadelphia City Hall, and many galleries, universities, and public spaces. Their work is part of the permanent collections of museums, libraries, and universities across the country including Amherst College, University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC), University of Illinois, Chicago, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Carnegie Mellon, Temple University and many others.