Many have seen the white posters around town with the black writing and scribbled out paper titled "This Gift I Still Have". It's easy to glance at this and see it's an art exhibit at the college. But this exhibit is more than just that.
This Gift I Still Have artwork is from Youth Homes, inmates of the Missoula County Juvenile Detention Center, Billings Juvenile Detention Center, Ted Lechner Youth Services Center, and Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility.
The pieces of art were produced from April of 2020 thru May of 2021, as these inmates were dealing with not only the personnel problems that landed them in the detention centers but also the pandemic. The subjects and use of bold lines and color help show the observer what these artists have been going through during these trying times.
Tonight from 6-8 PM there will be a public viewing of this exhibit. The event will feature Zoomed-in video of the students performing raps they've written on the inside. Staff from Free Verse and Youth Homes will be in attendance, food and drinks will be provided by Sweetwater Coffee, and DJ AURA will be spinning sweet beats throughout the evening. This will be a must see for any art enthusiast. If you miss tonight's event the exhibit will run through the month of October.
