Abstract

Social practice art, which is a term I borrow from Mark Menjivar, or art geared toward amplifying social justice issues, is on the rise. This review examines how the organization, Performing Statistics, engages social practice art by activating artistic practices, leadership, and engagement from impacted communities and the intentional curation of art and statistics for the purpose of broadening public understanding of youth incarceration. The focus is on Performing Statistics’ No Kids in Prison exhibition at Cherry Street Pier in Philadelphia, though the review also addresses the traveling nature of the exhibition. I privilege the production process of the artwork as well as the exhibition experience that the art creates with the intention of expanding the reception that informational exhibits such as these tend to receive by engaging a close-looking analysis of the art.