Brush With the Law’s inclusive community uses art as a tool for social change and brings awareness to the critical social issues affecting our world today. Professional artists, students, advocates, and members of the behavioral health community work together to create meaningful changes in participants’ lives and their communities.
Out on the streets is where participants need the most appreciation and the most cheerleading for their efforts in trying to regain a place in society. For the most part, drug addiction and mental health go hand in hand; due to similarities, this is also true for drug addiction and criminal activity. Brush With the Law quickly evolved into a community re-entry arts program focusing on community service by seeking out city beautification projects.
CITY BEAUTIFICATION
Beautification is the process of making visual improvements emphasizing the necessity of order, dignity, and harmony.
Who works on the various projects BWTL takes on?
- College students (Arcadia University, Kutztown University, Montgomery County Community College, Bryn Mawr College)
- ARD Program – Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office
- DOC Prisoners – SCI Phoenix, SCI Greene, Montgomery County Correctional Facility
- Probation/Parole
- Mental/Behavioral Health
- People in recovery from substance use
- People with community hours to serve
- Community members who want to volunteer their time to a cause that engages people to work together.
All participants work creatively together on projects.
THE PROCESS
We often use the Polytab Method (a.k.a. “parachute cloth”) for murals. Polytab is a non-woven fabric, lighter-than-canvas material that takes on the form of the substrate it is applied to. Traditionally used in the garment industry, this fabric is now widely used in large public mural art projects.
The “parachute cloth” method makes it possible for people in all different places and spaces to participate in the creation of murals. This method allows us to take the fabric to various facilities for participants to draw, paint, and adhere to the prepared surface.
