UNM’s Moving Image Arts class shares stories of those incarcerated in exhibition

The University of New Mexico’s Moving Image Arts class invites the campus community to an exhibition in partnership with the local nonprofit, JustWrite.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 21, with a reception on Thursday, Feb. 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the John Sommers Gallery located on the second-floor lobby of the UNM Art Building.

Co-founded by Diahndra Grill, JustWrite is dedicated to collaborating with incarcerated individuals or in post-incarcerated transition. The organization uses visual and literary arts for self-discovery, healing, cultural preservation, and community building.

In the fall of 2024, Grill teamed up with UNM faculty member Eden Radfarr to unite university students and individuals incarcerated in New Mexico’s prisons and detention centers.

Curated by Grill, Radfarr, Wren Hall Hartley and Sonya Burke, the project Through the Wall: An Exchange of words and images paired students from Radfarr’s Moving Image Arts class with incarcerated writers, who contributed poems for a new anthology. The students then created short experimental films inspired by the poems, culminating in an impactful exhibition that delves into themes of hope, suffering, joy, and endurance.

“We hope that in visiting our show, you will want to become part of our ongoing conversation about freedom, safety and solidarity,” said Grill.

The exhibition’s catalog showcases the emotional depth of the project, offering viewers a glimpse into the lives and experiences of those incarcerated. Alongside the films, the exhibit features student poetry created during JustWrite workshops, as well as final projects that celebrate the core values of the organization.

For more information, visit John Sommers Gallery.