What is Art Against the Odds?

By Rainstorm Ortega

On your way to your classes, you might have seen some posters on the walls and in bathrooms that say “Art Against the Odds” or have some other sort of wording or statistic on them. In case you were wondering what Art Against the Odds is; according to the official website it is, “a statewide prison art exhibition, organized and curated by Portrait Society Gallery of Contemporary Art.” The website can be viewed here for anyone interested.

According to the website, the purpose of Arts Against the Odds is to inform people that, “Wisconsin is a segregated state with high levels of incarceration for black and brown populations. This exhibition will allow participants to share their voices, visions, and ideas in an exchange with the outside world. It will define the act of art making as not only a creative past-time, but a life-saving tool of self-definition for those who are removed from society.” Although the field trip to the exhibit is over, the exhibition is still currently happening at the Neville Museum, and will be there through May 19, 2024, so even if you missed it, there is still time to go for a visit on the weekend to check it out