Artist Juliana Huxtable has launched digital raffle “Free The People” via her Instagram page. The project aims to raise money for a mutual aid fund to help people in New York City who can’t currently afford their bail. With the proceeds of the raffle, individuals currently affected will be released into the community to await their court date. Confirmed COVID-19 cases have been surging in NYC jails, with the situation in Rikers Island jail complex being described as “a public health disaster unfolding before our eyes”.
Announcing the raffle on 11 April, Juliana wrote in an Instagram caption: “COVID-19 virus is spreading faster in NYC jails than anywhere IN THE WORLD … PPL IN JAIL because they can’t afford bail are calling on us for mutual aid lets get it.”
The five highest contributors will receive an original print by abstract artist and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Nicole Eisenman. The next five donors will receive an original poster by Juliana and all who donate will receive a PDF of previously uncollected work by interdisciplinary artist, writer and cultural critic Hannah Black.
Donations can be directed to artbailoutnyc via Venmo and artbailoutnyc@gmail.com via PayPal.
For further info, check out Juliana’s post below.
