Nonprofit - Visual Art
Website: http://www.prisonartstouchinghearts.org/
P.O. Box 1702, Mill Valley, CA 94942
P.A.T.H. is designed to provide a platform for a much needed voice and validation to incarcerated artists – those in the shadows and largely hidden to the public eye, while providing them with a vehicle to give back to the community in a meaningful and powerful way – through their art!
P.A.T.H. was founded by Director Leslie Lakes, a professional artist who has been passionate about supporting Arts in Corrections since 2005:
As a professional artist in my own right, I was first introduced to artwork by incarcerated artists in 2005 when The Fortune Society in NYC sponsored their “Fifth Annual Inmate Art Auction.” Like others at the time, I bid on several pieces of artwork; when I finally received the artwork in the mail, I was so blown away by the sheer talent that I requested to write back to the respective artists to share and show my appreciation.
Over the years, I have had the unique opportunity and pleasure to get to know many of these incredibly talented individuals. Hence, P.A.T.H. was formed from the heart; a labor of love and from my long-standing desire to create a platform to showcase their incredible artistic talent. P.A.T.H. is also designed to provide a platform for a much needed voice and validation to incarcerated artists – those in the shadows and largely hidden to the public eye, while providing them with a vehicle to give back to the community in a meaningful and powerful way – through their art!