Halim Flowers

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts and Alvernia University are hosting an exhibition and live art programs featuring nationally-renowned artist Halim Flowers in downtown Reading on March 23rd.

In 1997, as a minor, Halim A. Flowers was arrested and wrongfully sentenced to two life sentences in Washington, DC. His experiences aired on HBO in the Emmy award-winning documentary “Thug Life in DC”. Released under a new juvenile resentencing law, Flowers’ 2019 freedom was documented by Kim Kardashian-West’s “The Justice Project” film. Upon release, he was awarded the Halcyon Arts Lab and Echoing Green fellowship awards. 

“Halim Flowers’ work is evocative and gripping,” said Levi Landis, executive director at GoggleWorks, where a limited-run exhibition of work on loan from local collector John Gallen will be on view from March 22nd through March 27th. “We are lucky to present a snapshot of his expansive work alongside dynamic programs with the artist that further bring his story to life.”

Public programs on Wednesday, March 23rd will take place at both campuses:

• From 3:30-5pm, Alvernia University (Francis Hall, Zygmunta Ln, Reading, PA 19607) will host a kick-off event featuring a presentation with the artist, live performances including readings of Flowers’ acclaimed poetry, John Gallen as guest speaker, and a moderated Q&A
  
• From 6-9pm, GoggleWorks Center for the Arts will host an exhibition opening reception, featuring an artist meet-and-greet and presentation, heavy appetizers, beer and wine bar, and entertainment.
  

About Halim Flowers
Halim Flowers is a visual artist, spoken word performer, businessman, and author of eleven published non-fiction works,” according to his artist bio. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Frederick Douglass Project for Justice as well as Cultural DC. He is an ardent advocate for human rights and is known for coining, “Love is the Antibody”. In the short time since the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016 effectuated his 2019 release from prison, he has created a broad spectrum of paintings and spoken word composed of a benevolent mission forged and galvanized over decades in a pressure cooker.

In 2020, Flowers’ TEDx Talk, “Criminal Justice Reform”, and his prolific production and exhibition of his visual art in nortable museums and galleries continues to advance his mission to promote love among all humans. A beneficiary of Georgetown University’s Prison and Justice Initiative, Flowers studied under Professor Marc Morjé Howard (2018-2019). More recently, as a grant recipient from the Art for Justice Fund, Flowers was featured as a “Justice Ambassador” in the film “Halim’s Hope” (2020).”