DRAWN TOGETHER

**** CANCELED! ****

We have canceled this event to help with efforts to slow the transmission of coronavirus. We will reschedule the event when the threat of coronavirus has diminished. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your support!

Please join us for a special event!

Drawn Together:
Dogs, Art, and Inmates

A Pop-Up Art Benefit
Opening Friday, March 13, 2020
5:30-8:00 pm

FRANK Community Art Gallery at
University Place in Chapel Hill

charcoal and pencil drawing of a puppy being held in hands. The fingers have letters tattoed on them.
charcoal and pencil drawing of a woman kissing a dog's muzzle
charcoal and pencil drawing of a terrier mix dog in a track suit

The community is invited to join EENP for a pop-up art benefit to learn more about the ABEL program and how EENP’s dogs connect the worlds inside and out of prison, and support this work through purchase of artwork. Original artwork as well as prints will be available for sale with all proceeds benefitting EENP’s ABEL program.

About EENP and At Both Ends of the Leash

EENP is a local nonprofit agency founded in 2008 with the mission to partner people with dogs to improve lives. In 2014, EENP started a partnership with the NC correctional system called At Both Ends of the Leash (ABEL). Through ABEL, EENP teaches inmates to train assistance dogs that are then partnered with people who have disabilities. This is a triple win: the dogs get full-time attention, training, and love; the inmates develop interpersonal, leadership, and job skills while giving back to the community despite their incarceration; and the clients receive life-changing support for their disabilities in the form of a highly trained canine partner.

For the ABEL trainers, the program often starts as just a job working with dogs but it grows into an opportunity for intense self-discovery and connection. ABEL teaches skills needed to train assistance dogs that will help improve the lives of EENP clients. By design, it also gives the inmate-trainers an opportunity to connect with each other and the outside community to improve their own lives.

About the Show

It is through this connection that “Drawn Together” was conceived. An ABEL trainer who is a gifted illustrator was inspired through his work in ABEL to turn to EENP dogs as subjects. He was drawn to the challenge of capturing and sharing their emotional connection. As he drew the dogs, he donated his portraits to EENP with hope that they could be used to further EENP’s mission.

These portraits form the basis of “Drawn Together” and will be featured along with art by others working in and with ABEL. The artwork will be accompanied by narrative text from the ABEL trainers about their experiences in the program and photos of EENP dogs and the ABEL trainers, spotlighting the talents, care, and effort the trainers give in their quest to help others.

Where

FRANK Community Art Gallery
University Place
Chapel Hill
(please note that this is at the other end of the mall from FRANK gallery and has limited hours!)

When

Opening - Friday, March 13, 2020 from 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Additional hours - Saturday, March 14 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, March 15 from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Additional hours may change so please check this page before coming.

**** CANCELED! ****

We have canceled this event to help with efforts to slow the transmission of coronavirus. We will reschedule the event when the threat of coronavirus has diminished. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your support!

Detail of a charcoal drawing of a puppy with text that reads "Drawn Together: Dogs, Art, and Inmates; a pop-up art benefit; Friday, March 13, 2020 5:30-8:00 pm; FRANK Community Art Gallery at University Place in Chapel Hill"
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