Anacostia Community Museum
Lorton Reformatory: Beyond Time
October 11, 1970 – November 1, 1970
Lorton Reformatory is a corrections facility near Washington, DC. As of September 1970, Lorton houses 1,600 residents, most of whom are from the District. In collaboration with inmates, the museum hosts community discussions, or "rap sessions," and presents art works, concerts, and original plays to promote understanding of the men’s lives. The residents’ creative spirit comes through in paintings, ceramics, and other visual arts, as well as musical ensembles and theatrical groups.
Portrait of an Elderly Woman, Clive Gilmore, 1970. Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
