Write Letters to Prisoners of Conscience Before Close of Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz

Write Letters to Prisoners of Conscience Before Close of Ai Weiwei on Alcatraz

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Over half a million visitors from across the globe have travelled from Pier 33 to see the provocative and reflective exhibition, @Large: Ai Weiwei – and with good reason. Located on our most infamous island in The Bay, Alcatraz is the destination for locals and vacationers alike to experience a world-class affair where art meets activism.


The masterminds at For-Site have collaborated with Chinese visionary and activist Ai Weiwei to create an experience where visitors come face-to-face with the social issues of human rights and personal responsibility. While all four zones of installations made up of sculpture, sound, and breathtaking mixed-media are significant in their own way, it’s the interactive activity that takes place in the penitentiary's abandoned dining hall that is truly not to be missed.

Guests have the opportunity to directly immerse themselves in the exhibition at the Yours Truly installation by writing (or even illustrating) a personalized message, to remind current prisoners of conscience—people jailed because of their political, religious, or conscientiously-held beliefs—that they are remembered. So far, 50,000 postcards, decorated with images from the nations where the detainees are held, have been sent to more than 20 countries. The recipients are prisoners whose portraits crafted from Legos (yes, those colorful building blocks) appear in the Trace exhibit – the very prisoners who Ai Weiwei calls “heroes of our time.”

As Alcatraz swings back into high season, your best bet for ensuring a chance to experience @Large is through the advanced purchase of tickets and special access tours. Make sure you clear a space on your calendar since April 26, 2015 is your last day to visit the exhibit. // aiweiweialcatraz.org

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