In the depths of the covid pandemic lockdown, 31 people isolated in 25 different prisons in the UK and US produced extraordinary artworks exploring personal experiences of incarceration.
Artist Faye Claridge sent each participant a letter inviting creative responses to the Warwickshire symbol of the chained bear. She paired two folk art paintings from the two countries, showing different treatment of captive bears. These, as metaphors, provided inspiration for the remarkable artworks of We Bear.
“A really exceptional, deeply moving and humane exhibition and project,” We Bear visitor.
This publication showcases the works and is a second edition made to accompany the We Bear exhibition at Ann Arbor Art Fair 2022. The original publication was created alongside the Coventry Biennial exhibition of We Bear at Herbert Art Gallery & Museum (UK) 2021-2022. Please see fayeclaridge.co.uk/webear for more.
