Brothers Steven and William Ladd have been working with inmates in the NYC Department of Corrections for the past nine years as part of their art practice. Their experiences have been humbling, emotional and an incredible way to connect with inmates. “No one’s ever cared about me enough to have a conversation like this,” said one inmate during an interaction. The Other Side is an exhibition of artworks inspired by moments like this.
The exhibition fills the ground floor of the The Invisible Dog Art Center and include figurative drawings and paintings, sculptural wall works made in collaboration with inmates, and a series of spaces depicting a jail cell, a metal detector and a surveillance booth. These spaces reference the architecture of correctional facilities, with text revealing the backstory for each artwork. The artists hope the exhibition will inspire compassion, respect for humanity and action.
In their first exhibition dedicated solely to exploring the stories and experiences of their work with inmates from 2012 into 2020, the brothers recall nine years of bearing witness to the other side of the criminal justice system.
Both The Invisible Dog and the artists respect and understand the need for making this a safe experience for visitors. Only ten visitors admitted at a time. Masks and social distancing are required to enter the space and private tours are available upon request.
This exhibition is copresented by The Invisible Dog Art Center, the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) and Cristina Grajales Gallery.
Virtual Exhibition Tour & Discussion
Hosted by French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF)
Wednesday, September 23
6:30pm
Register HERE
About Steven and William Ladd
Steven Ladd and William Ladd are New York based artists and brothers. They grew up in a small close-knit community on the outskirts of St. Louis, Missouri, the third and fourth children in a loving and supportive Catholic family.
Steven, the older brother, was fascinated by sewing as a child. He began making his own clothes at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, where he became deeply involved in the costume department and built an independent study merging performance, design, and art. He graduated early, and left the Midwest to join William in 1999. William’s passion for beading began at 15, when a friend introduced him to macramé. Three years later, he left St. Louis and travelled the world as a fashion model with a bag of beads, finally settling in New York City.
Today, Steven acts as global ambassador, dreamer, thinker, communicator, and boundary pusher. He is the sewer, the book-binder, the pattern-maker. He makes drawings. He lays out plans for the future. William is the builder, the head of production, the disciplinarian, the beader, the performer. He meets every deadline and creates objects of breathtaking intricacy.
The brothers began their formal artistic collaboration in 2000. Their first creations were high fashion accessories for international designers, and their work was featured in an exhibition at the Musée des Arts décoratifs at the Louvre. Since then, they have explored many artistic avenues, in particular sewing, beading, drawing and hand-made books. Their pieces range in scale from tiny cast ants to murals over 40 feet square. Signature works include abstracted “landscapes” based on shared memories, people and experiences. The landscapes are displayed in grids on the wall or hidden in stacked boxes, then opened and laid out in formal, ritualistic performances. Their work is hand crafted and labor intensive, and usually involves recycled materials. Recurring themes include childhood memories, faith, and people and places that have impacted their lives.
In 2006 Steven and William founded Scrollathon as a way to engage people from all walks of life in collaborating on world-class artworks. To date over 9,000 people from all ages, backgrounds and abilities have conquered fears, shared healing and built relationships through Scrollathons. Steven and William’s works can be found in collections including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Fidelity International and Agnes Gund. Through partners Scrollathon has received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Knight Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Website: www.stevenandwilliam.com
Instagram: @stevenandwilliam
Health & Safety Policies
Masks that cover your nose and mouth are a must. This is for your health as well as ours. Smile with your eyes.
Stay 6 feet apart.
It should be easy, we've limited the 3000 sq/f gallery capacity to 10 visitors at a time and all 10 windows will remain opened.
Keep your hands clean.
We provide hand sanitizer and soap to wash them.
If you’re feeling ill, don’t come! We’ll be here to welcome you back once you feel better.
Please see our complete safety guidelines HERE.
On View
September 12–November 21, 2020
Admission
Free
Ten visitors at a time
Masks and social distancing required
Location
51 Bergen St.
Gallery Hours
Opening day Saturday September 12, from 12 to 8pm
Thursday–Saturday: 1–7pm
Sunday: 1 – 5pm