The limited-edition series intertwines art & wine to foster advocacy for U.S. prison reform.
St Helena, CA, February 5, 2024 – The Prisoner has announced the second release of Corrections. This limited-edition series aims to use art and wine to shift cultural narratives around mass incarceration and advocate for change. This year, the winery has partnered with the prolific Philadelphia-based artist Jesse Krimes, featuring a detail from his monumental artwork Apokaluptein: 16389067 on a magnum bottle of Reserve Red Blend.
Each Corrections release invites artists to explore how a wine label can be used to advocate for prison reform through existing or original works. Winemakers pair that artwork with a vintage exclusive to the release, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a nonprofit partner dedicated to driving prison reform. This year’s featured work, Apokaluptein: 16389067 is a 15 by 40-ft artwork that was created during Krimes’s 70-month sentence and was intricately crafted from 39 prison bedsheets. The title, referencing the Greek origin of 'apocalypse' and Jesse's Federal Bureau of Prisons identification number, explores how media perceptions shape societal values.
"Prison is designed to remove all the societal markings that define you as a person. Art, however, works in contrast to that. Creating Apokaluptein: 16389067 helped me retain a sense of identity that couldn't be taken away," Krimes said. "I hope that Corrections will aid in raising awareness and reaching a much wider audience beyond those who may visit an exhibit or a museum. It's a compelling way to educate on an issue that affects many and to challenge long-held stereotypes about individuals who have been incarcerated."
A percentage of the sales from each Corrections bottle and a direct donation from The Prisoner will go towards The Center for Art & Advocacy. This organization, founded by Krimes, is the first artist-led initiative that supports justice-impacted artists nationally. The Center for Art & Advocacy provides financial aid, mentoring, and resources to justice-impacted artists so that they can overcome the challenges they face in traditional arts communities. The primary goal of The Center is to use art as a means of reshaping the criminal justice narrative and promoting social change, racial justice, and equity.
"Corrections is a testament to our belief that art can inspire action and drive social change", said Angela Knotts, Director of The Prisoner Wines . "Through our partnership with Jesse Krimes and The Center for Art & Advocacy, we're proud to support justice-impacted artists and contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding prison reform."
This year’s Corrections release is a 2021 Reserve Red Blend from Napa Valley, representative of the favorite sites, varietals, and winemaking style synonymous with what The Prisoner is known for. The winemakers carefully selected the best lots of Malbec and Petite Sirah and combined them with the unique characteristics of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Merlot.
Corrections can be purchased online or onsite at The Prisoner Wine Company tasting room in St. Helena, CA for $150. To learn more about Corrections, visit https://theprisonerwinecompany.com/products/corrections-reserve-red-wine
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ABOUT THE PRISONER
The Prisoner debuted more than two decades ago, leaving an indelible mark in the world of wine and swiftly changing American perception of what a red blend could be. Unrestricted by traditions, The Prisoner has rewritten the script for luxury wine brands, growing to include a range of rule-bending blends with provocative label designs. Today, The Prisoner continues to push boundaries. Led by the forward thinking of Director of Winemaking Chrissy Wittmann and her team, The Prisoner works with over 100 growers in northern California to bring together exceptional fruit to produce a family of bold and intriguing wines. The Prisoner Wine Company is located on Highway 29 in Napa Valley and welcomes visitors year-round for unexpected, immersive experiences. https://theprisonerwinecompany.com
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR ART & ADVOCACY
The Center for Art and Advocacy, established in 2022, aims to empower artists impacted by the criminal legal system. Through initiatives like the Right of Return Fellowship, the Center provides financial support, mentoring, and resources to justice-impacted artists, addressing the challenges they face in traditional arts communities. The organization, a legacy project of the Art for Justice Fund, collaborates with the Mellon Foundation to sustain its mission. Notably, its fellows have achieved significant recognition, receiving awards such as MacArthur Fellowships and Pulitzer Prizes, and exhibiting at renowned museums within the first five years of the Center's establishment. The Center's overarching goal is to reshape the narrative around criminal justice through art, fostering social change and advocating for racial justice and equity. To learn more, visit: https://centerforartandadvocacy.org/
ABOUT JESSE KRIMES
Jesse Krimes is a Philadelphia-based artist and the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Art and Advocacy, the first national organization dedicated to supporting formerly incarcerated artists. While serving a six-year prison sentence, Krimes produced and smuggled out numerous bodies of work exploring how contemporary media shapes or reinforces societal mechanisms of power and control.
His work has been exhibited at venues including MoMA PS1, Palais de Tokyo, Philadelphia Museum of Art, The International Red Cross Museum, Zimmerli Museum, and Aperture Gallery. Krimes won an Emmy Award for his documentary “Art and Krimes by Krimes.” He was awarded fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, the Art for Justice Fund, Creative Capital, Independence Foundation, Vermont Studio Center, and Captiva Residency.
Krimes’s work is in the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum, The Bunker Artspace, OZ Art NWA, Kadist Art Foundation, and the Agnes Gund Collection. He is represented by Jack Shainman Gallery in New York. In addition to his independent practice, he successfully led a class-action lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase for their predatory practice of charging people released from federal prison exorbitant fees.