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Sobin "Behind the Wall" 16

Dear Friends, We are expecting an outstanding "From Prison to the Stage" show at the Kennedy Center this year (Labor Day weekend). Excellent plays and proposals sent to our review committee continue to arrive weekly. Playwright and Virginia inmate Hakim M. Abdul-Wasi sent us his terrific play "The Love that Divides." It compellingly tells the story of the turmoil in a Christian family when one of its members returns home as a converted and committed Muslim. It got high rankings by our review committee. Another excellent submission is by the Judy Dworin Performance Project. It's a collaboration between this well-known performance group and women at a maximum security prison in Connecticut. Entitled "Time In," here is an eye-opening and moving multi-arts piece that that integrates dance, music and dialogue in exposing the hopes and hardships of women in prison. In other news about our production "From Prison to the Stage;" we have a contact in Michelle Obama's office and have invited the First Lady to be one of our presenters. Stay tuned for more exciting updates about this widely acclaimed annual event that gives imprisoned playwrights and composers the recognition and prominence they deserve. Yours for justice, Dennis Sobin Prisons Foundation 1600 K Street NW Suite #501 Washington, D.C. 20006 A CALL FOR SUPPORT: The Prisons Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC that promotes the arts and education in prison and alternatives to incarceration. We are now accepting tax deductable donations. The support of our supporters, quite bluntly, is what keeps us going. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Prisons Foundation so that we may continue to promote the arts in prison and help encourage the wonderful atistic talent we cultivate everyday: *Note the views in this letter are those of Dennis Sobin. Please send your comments directly to him.

Prisons Foundation: Sobin "Behind the Wall" 15

Dear Friends, We recently added many improvements to our website, including regular updates to our popular "News You Can Use" section. New "unique ID" web-site counter, gives you a unique and easy way to win prizes. Just visit Prisons Foundation and view your unique visitor number at the bottom of the page. If you are the 500th, 1000th of 1,5000 visitor (or any interval of 500th visitors) you win your choice of our prison related music CD! If you visitor number on the counter shows you to be a winner, simply email us at [email protected] and let us know which of the following CD's you would like us to send you as a prize: • Prison Tracks: Instrumental guitar duets recorded in prison by Steve Andrew and Dennis Sobin. • A Stitch in Time: (a Lloyd S. Rubin Production) A moving holocaust musical written in prison by Lee Amirault and Dennis Sobin When contacting us with your "visit" number please be sure to include the full name and address where you would like your CD prize to be sent. Also note the approximate time of your visit to our website so we can verify your visitor ID. Thank you for your continuing interest and support of our work; and good luck! Yours for justice, Dennis Sobin #206757 C.T.F. D-3B #10 1901 E Street SE Washington, D.C. 20003 A CALL FOR SUPPORT: The Prisons Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC that promotes the arts and education in prison and alternatives to incarceration. We are now accepting tax deductable donations. The support of our supporters, quite bluntly, is what keeps us going. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Prisons Foundation so that we may continue to promote the arts in prison and help encourage the wonderful atistic talent we cultivate everyday: *Note the views in this letter are those of Dennis Sobin. Please send your comments directly to him.

Sobin "Behind the Wall" 14

Dear Friends, During the months he has spent in jail (which will soon come to an end) our Director Dennis Sobin has completed the second book he set out to write at the beginning of his incarceration. Dennis was incarcerated for going to D.C. City Hall (by invitation) to testify at a public hearing in defiance of an unconstitutional court order that his son (an Assistant District Attorney General that works in City Hall) had placed against him. The case is in appeal and being reviewed (many thanks to James Butler Esq., the ACLU and the legal team from Georgetown). The first book Dennis completed in jail is entitled "Outsider Art On The Inside: Understanding and Helping Imprisoned Artists." It is being type-set and prepared for publication and will soon be available at the Prisons Foundation website: (www.prisonsfoundation.org). Dennis' second book, "From Prison to the Kennedy Center: Starting Over at the Top" profiles many individuals and organizations. Dennis also discusses encounters with the legal system and notable activists, artists, convicts and individuals he has met over the last forty years of his activism including: Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr. and ex prisoner philanthropist Lloyd S. Rubin among many others. Below are the final paragraphs from this book: Midway through the 66th year of my life, while still in jail, a dream came true when I was visited and interviewed by a feature writer for the prominent national Music magazine "Spin." Many established artists would kill to get into this popular and influential publication, much less go to jail for it. After writer David Peisner and I discussed my musical and Foundation goals and accomplishments, I mentioned my political plans. David asked, "Do you think you'd have much of a chance of making an impact since you don't have clean hands?" David knows about the false allegations and relentless persecution in Florida that earlier resulted in ten years of imprisonment, and the tricks my son and sister pulled to re-incarcerate me on my return (after asking them for an accounting of my inheritance and personal savings). I answered, "To me, clean hands are empty hands.....mine are experienced hands." David already knew they were musical ones, having listened to my numerous CD's that I had recorded both inside and outside the underbelly of society: prison. About that underbelly, our political leaders would do well to spend some time there. Perhaps not a lengthy amount as I have done, but at least some period. They would then see the results of the mindless laws, mistake-prone judges and socially insulated and politically motivated members of the establishment's "lock em up" crowd. And they would understand the words of the sad but wise ex con I met in 1965 that helped shape my life: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." -Martin Luther King Jr. "Letter from Birmingham jail." Yours for justice, Dennis Sobin #206757 C.T.F. D-3B #10 1901 E Street SE Washington, D.C. 20003 A CALL FOR SUPPORT: The Prisons Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC that promotes the arts and education in prison and alternatives to incarceration. We are now accepting tax deductable donations. The support of our supporters, quite bluntly, is what keeps us going. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Prisons Foundation so that we may continue to promote the arts in prison and help encourage the wonderful atistic talent we cultivate everyday: *Note the views in this letter are those of Dennis Sobin. Please send your comments directly to him

Sobin "Behind the Wall" 13

Dear Friends, The Prison Art Gallery is expanding in a way that will benefit up to ten nonprofits organizations across America. The success of the Prison Art Gallery in Washington D.C. has been overwhelming. We've sold an enormous amount of art over the last few years and our good reputation means that we have received even more art recently; hundreds of excellent pieces from the growing pool of imprisoned artists who have heard about our gallery and advocacy work. Rather than seek larger gallery space, we have decided to place this new art with up to ten established nonprofit organizations (at no cost to them) across the country. If your organization has office space and an active membership, you will qualify. The only expense incurred by these "satellite galleries" will be the packaging and shipping of the art pieces. There are no other expenses or obligations. When this gorgeous and unique art gets to you - complete with artist biography and prison location - you will display it in the reception areas of your offices and offer it to your membership, customer base or the general public. Each price has a suggested donation but you can negotiate any price you wish. Of the amount you receive, your organization will keep 40% while the remainder will be forwarded to us on a quarterly basis to be shared with the artists who created the art! We will send replacement art for the pieces you sell so you will always have a full and fresh display. Periodically their will be rotation of this art to make your collection new and interesting. More than an opportunity to earn excellent revenue at no expense or risk, you can expect good publicity as you will be tied into our national network of galleries. The Prison Art Gallery and the Prisons Foundation always generate interest from newspapers and journalists. We will also share with you press releases we have developed and grant proposals that have won us sizable grants from our city's grants agency (funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, now with a bigger than ever budget). All regions of the country have such agencies ready to give funds to nonprofits for unique, socially meaningful art. To be considered for this no-cost opportunity to have a branch of the Prison Art Gallery at your location under your organizations sponsorship, kindly provide the following information: 1. Name of your organization 2. Website 3. Location/Mailing address 4. Telephone number 5. Date founded 6. Square footage of your office 7. Hours and days your office is open 8. Mission Statement 9. Contact person/email/phone Please email this information to [email protected] or mail to: Prison Art Gallery, 1600 K Street NW, Suite 501, Washington, D.C. 20006. Yours for justice, Dennis Sobin #206757 C.T.F. D-3B #10 1901 E Street SE Washington, D.C. 20003

Prisons Foundation: Sobin "Behind the Wall" 12

Dear Friends, We are pleased to announce to report that the selection of a world-class Board of Directors for our upcoming Safe Streets Arts Foundation is progressing well. We encourage others to continue to apply, however, since there are additional seats we wish to fill. We are striving for maximum diversity. The new Safe Streets Arts Foundation will take over (from the Prison Art Gallery) and expand our annual Kennedy Center program "From Prison to the Stage" which features the work of imprisoned and formerly imprisoned playwrights and composers. The Safe Streets Arts Foundation will also establish and oversee a network of prison galleries across the U.S. (and potentially overseas) under the sponsorship of other nonprofit organizations; using as a model our successful Prison Art Gallery in Washington, D.C. Listed below are the impressive and distinguished backgrounds of some the people who have been initially accepted to serve on the Safe Streets Arts board. Their names are being withheld pending final notification of all accepted applicants. Current board members selected include: • An established artist, art curator and art professor whose art is featured in a well known gallery. For the last six years she has been a mentor to imprisoned artists at a famous women's prison. • A former prisoner who produces and hosts a popular broadcast program for a major radio station. While in prison he formed a singing group that successfully performed and toured after the members were released; including a stunning and moving production at the Kennedy Center. • A warden of a large men's State Prison who holds a PhD and believes that "Art programs boost self-esteem." She previously served as warden of a maximum security women's prison and is a national speaker on modern prison initiatives. • A Social Scientist and professor of Criminal Justice who acquired his graduate degree after his release from prison in 1991. He has served on government commissions responsible for funding billions of dollars into community development and crime prevention programs. • A former elected official who is currently a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. An international traveler and collector of art, he holds a law degree and a master degree in International Affairs. If you are interested in submitting an application for a position on the board, please send a resume and a brief letter of introduction and interest to: Prisons Foundation C/o: Board Selection Committee 1600 K Street NW Suite #501 Washington, D.C. 20006 Yours for justice, Dennis Sobin #206757 C.T.F. D-3B #10 1901 E Street SE Washington, D.C. 20003 A CALL FOR SUPPORT: The Prisons Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC that promotes the arts and education in prison and alternatives to incarceration. We are now accepting tax deductable donations. The support of our supporters, quite bluntly, is what keeps us going. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Prisons Foundation so that we may continue to promote the arts in prison and help encourage the wonderful atistic talent we cultivate everyday. *Note the views in this letter are those of Dennis Sobin. Please send your comments directly to him.

Sobin "Behind the Wall" 11

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"SOBIN BEHIND THE WALL"

Mobile Prison Art Gallery Completes Successful Southern Tour

February 2009

 


Dear Friends,

We welcome back to Washington, D.C. our Outreach Coordinator, Donovan Berry and our mobile Prison Art Gallery. Donovan spent more than a month on the road touring several southern states with the popular & transportable Prison Art Gallery. A converted mobile home, it was purchased by the Prisons Foundation last year thanks to a settlement won against a government regulatory agency (our hats off, as usual, to the American Civil Liberties Union).

Donovan traveled with his family who represented the Prisons Foundation (and the creativity of imprisoned artists!) well and placed many works with both art collectors and justice advocates.

Despite a poor economy the tour proved successful with many new friends made and insights shared. The cost of the trip was underwritten through art sales and the continuous help of our supporters. A big thank you to all the art collectors, justice advocates and members of the general public who stopped and shopped. Stay tuned for photos of the event!

 

Yours for justice,

Dennis Sobin

#206757

C.T.F. D-3B #10

1901 E Street SE

Washington, D.C. 20003

 

Please send theatrical any submissions to to Prisons Foundation, C/o Selection Comit.  1600 K Street NW, Suite 501Washington, DC 20006 ([email protected]).

 *Note the views in this letter are those of Dennis Sobin. Please send your comments directly to him.

 

 

Prisons Foundation: Dennis Sobin's "Letter From Jail" #2

Dear Friends, The Prison Art Gallery now has Hi-rez images of original art available for your viewing and purchasing pleasure. Just go to the Prisons Foundation website; click on the Prisons Gallery button and select the link for original art sale. The actual site where the images are being housed is: www.Flickr.com/photos/dondimon. Once you get to the site you will see images arranged by categories and photo stream. For actual sizes, modality and prices of the images please call the gallery at (202) 393-1511. We are also pleased to announce that between now (December) and May 30th 2009, we will be reviewing plays and musicals written by prisoners and ex prisoners for our 2009 Kennedy Center "From Prison to the Stage" Program. The show will take place on Labor Day weekend, September 2009. If you are a prisoner or ex prisoner with a play or musical or will have one completed by May 30th, please send it to us. A cash prize will be will be rewarded to each of the five playwrights whose work will be performed. Other submitted plays, with names of their authors, will be noted in the Kennedy Center program. This event is part of the Kennedy Center's wildly successful and popular Page to Stage Festival featuring new works written for the theater by up-and-coming playwrights and theater companies. It is held annually and attracts an overflow crowd with its free admission and extensive publicity. Our 2008 "From Prison to Stage," made possible through the generosity of our Executive Producer Lloyd S. Rubin, enjoyed wide critical acclaim. We regret that no submitted material can be returned, although acknowledgment of receipt will be sent. Notice will be mailed when a final determination is made. We encourage playwrights and artists to submit inspired work that is both politically and socially relevant with robust, original themes. Please send submissions to: Prisons Foundation C/o Review Committee 1600 K Street NW Suite #501 Washington, DC 20006 Yours for Justice, Dennis Sobin #206757 Central Detention Facility 1901 D Street S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 *Note the views in this letter are those of the author alone. Please send your comments directly to him.

Prison Art Gallery: Coast to Coast Publicity for our Prison Art Collection. Thanks LA Times!

We have received much publicity in the Northeast since opening our Prison Art Gallery in Washington, DC, in 2006 for our unique Prison Art Collection. Now the LA Times has featured us in an article about the best places throughout the world to view and acquire art made by imprisoned artists. We look forward to more publicity this winter when we take our new Mobile Prison Art Gallery to art shows and festivals throughout the South.

ACLU Obtained Damage Award Used to Purchase RV Prison Art Gallery

[Courtesy of Prison Art Gallery] We are pleased to announce that we have purchased a beautiful and well-equipped motorhome RV (see below) with funds that the ACLU obtained for us in a settlement with the City of Washington, DC, following the illegal actions of DC police who tried to prevent us from displaying and selling art by imprisoned artists on the sidewalks of DC. Lawyers working with the ACLU successfully argued that the actions of DC police against us violated DC law and our First Amendment constitutional rights. We are planning a tour of much of our extensive collection of prison art with the mobile unit this winter throughout the Southern states. Would you or your organization be interested in hosting a prison art show in your city? if so, please write or call us at [email protected] 202-393-1511. Thank you.

Our Director in Concert, in Court, and possibly in Jail

[Courtesy of Prisons Foundation] October is turning into a busy month for our director, Dennis Sobin, but he will get a much-needed rest at the end of it if all goes...wrong. Dennis will perform classical guitar at the The 6th Annual Foggy Bottom Festival on Sunday, October 19, 2008 at the Eye Street Mall (At the Foggy Bottom Metro, between 23rd and 24th Streets, NW), Washington, DC. (*Rain Date, October 26, 2008 - same time.) Dennis will be performing the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Scott Joplin, and a unique classical guitar arrangement of the modern classic "Stairway to Heaven." Don't miss this riveting and possibly farewell concert. The 29th is Dennis Sobin's second important date in October, when he will be put on trial for entering City Hall on three occasions at the invitation of City Council member Phil Mendelson to testify at public hearings. His arrest was the result of actions by Dennis's son Darrin, a political adversary who is employed at City Hall as an assistant attorney general. He used his position and influence to get a stay away order against his father, which he asked the arresting officer and now the judge to interpret as not just staying away from him personally but away from all of city hall. You are welcome to attend Dennis's bench trial as he faces one and half years in jail if convicted of all three counts. It will be held in Judge Turner's courtroom, ground floor, DC Superior Court, 500 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 10 am.