Six new artworks created by people who have been affected by the justice system have been unveiled at the Midtown Community Justice Center.
People coming into court at the Midtown Community Justice Center will now be greeted by six new artworks created by artists who have been affected by the justice system. This marks the first time that system-impacted New Yorkers have seen their work displayed in a criminal courtroom.
The project, a collaboration with community partner Artistic Noise, underscores the dignity and humanity of those who come into the justice system while bringing hope and beauty to an often intimidating environment. It’s part of the Community Justice Center’s ongoing commitment to creating a welcoming, warm, and supportive space for everyone who comes into court.
The Midtown Community Justice Center—which we operate in partnership with New York’s court system and the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice—brings government and community together to create thoughtful, compassionate responses to crime and other local challenges. Our Midtown team commissioned Artistic Noise to lead the new art installation, bringing people with lived experience of the justice system to the center of the creative process. Alumni artists from Artistic Noise—Jasmine Alford, Samantha Cortez, and Joseph Goodwin, with the help of Hyseem “Bishop” McIndoe—worked together to create a three-panel painting, two large canvases, and three smaller canvases for the Midtown courtroom.
Drawing from their own experiences with the justice system, the three artists aimed to transform the traditional courtroom atmosphere with themes of nature, New York City landmarks, and the interplay of light and dark, representing hope and care for those coming into court. Painter Nicolas Holiber provided artistic direction throughout the three months of the creative process.
The installation—with the support of Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Adam Silvera, NYC Criminal Court Administrative Judge Tamiko Amaker, and New York County Criminal Court Supervising Judge Kevin B. McGrath, Jr.—is just one example of how the Community Justice Center has partnered with Artistic Noise to bring the transformative power of art into the legal system.
“The installation of these artworks in the courtroom illustrates what a community justice center should look and feel like: collaborative, restorative, and vibrant,” said presiding Judge John Zhuo Wang. “I am honored to witness the continued evolution of Midtown Community Justice Center and grateful to court leadership, the Center for Justice Innovation, and Artistic Noise for their support.”
“Bringing art into the Midtown Community Justice Center courtroom is a simple yet profound way to help create the environment a court should be for our community members—supportive, human, and welcoming,” said our CEO Courtney Bryan. “The Center for Justice Innovation is proud to be a bridge between valued partners like Artistic Noise and the Office of Court Administration to further reach our goal of building Community Justice across New York and beyond.”
“The Midtown Community Justice Center commissioned our partners at Artistic Noise to create uplifting art for our courtroom walls to enhance the experience of everyone who enters, including program participants, guests, and staff,” said Danielle Mindess, Project Director of Midtown Community Justice Center. “We believe the design of physical space impacts feelings of well-being and conveys the values of an institution. The artworks reflect the Midtown Community Justice Center’s vision for a justice system that puts people first and strives for healing. I’m grateful to Artistic Noise’s Alumni Artists in Residence for their inspired work, and to the Office of Court Administration for their partnership in bringing this project to fruition.”
“There are very few partners who we admire, and whose work we look up to, as much as Midtown Community Justice Center and the Center for Justice Innovation. Working on an art project like this, in collaboration with their team, with the knowledge that it will go up in a space where people are oftentimes feeling scared, nervous about their futures, or worried about the outcome of the day, was a huge responsibility to us all,” said Calder Zwicky, Executive Director of Artistic Noise. “Seeing our Alumni Artists in Residence work so hard to create a piece that emphasizes the vibrancy of the midtown area, alongside the hope for a better future for us all, has been an incredible experience to behold. Having been in multiple courthouses over the years in support of the young people we serve, I know firsthand just how scary these spaces can feel when they’re not as thoughtfully and equitably designed as they are at Midtown Community Justice Center. I hope that this project stands as a testament to the incredible points of view and dynamic artistry that system-involved people can have and that it showcases the creativity of the Artistic Noise community within a space where other system-impacted people can experience it as well.”