Join us for three days of engaging, all-ages activities exploring self-care, self-investment, and self-expression as responses to carcerality and criminalization. Along the way, we’ll reflect on systemic injustices and imagine restorative, unifying alternatives.
By participating in art, music, and humanities experiences, we’ll foster both personal and collective well-being—challenging the acceptance of dehumanizing systems and sparking meaningful conversations on justice and healing.
Friday, February 21
9:00am-5:00pm | FREE Admission to the McLean County Museum of History (200 N. Main St., Bloomington, IL 61701)
Hosted by: McLean County Museum of History
Highlights: Temporary display exploring the history of mass incarceration in McLean County
Details: Free to attend; no registration required
6:00–8:00pm | FREE Opening Event
Creativity Center (107 E Chestnut St., Bloomington, IL 61701)
Hosted by: BCAI Cultural Arts & Humanities, Creative Healing Art Therapy, and King Moosa
Highlights: Art and education with King Moosa (mask making), live printing with Silver Back Apparel, music, and refreshments. Masks created will be displayed at the Sunday concluding concert at Illinois Art Station. Free registration; donations to participating organizations welcomed. Other partners present include Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishment, McLean County Reentry Council, and Friends of the BCPA.
Details: Free to attend; donations to participating organizations welcomed. Mask making registration required
Saturday, February 22
10:00am–2:00pm | FREE Saturdays at the Station
Illinois Art Station (101 E. Vernon Ave., Normal, IL 61701)
Highlights: Drop-in artmaking for young artists (ages 2–14+) and families, inspired by artists exploring themes of justice and self-care. Other partners present include ISU Art Education students, McLean County ROSC, and representative of Ameren/Nicor’s Gas Energy Efficiency Offering
Details: Free to attend; no registration required.
10:00am-3:00pm | FREE admission to the McLean County Museum of History (200 N. Main St., Bloomington, IL 61701)
Hosted by: McLean County Museum of History
Highlights: Ribbon decorating in third floor classroom. Ribbons will be featured in Pride Month display at Museum in June.
Details: Free to attend; no registration required
1:00–2:30pm | FREE Artmaking Workshop
University Galleries of Illinois State University (11 Uptown Circle #103, Normal, IL 61761)
Highlights: Create tactile sculptures inspired by the work of Chicago-based artist Andy Slater, who invites participants to engage senses beyond sight. All materials provided.
Details: Free to attend; registration required: https://events.illinoisstate.edu/event/artmaking-workshop-2/
2:00–4:00pm | FREE Mask Making
Creativity Center (107 E Chestnut St., Bloomington, IL 61701)
Hosted by: BCAI Cultural Arts & Humanities, Creative Healing Art Therapy, and King Moosa
Highlights: Art education, conversation, and creation. Masks will be displayed at Sunday’s concluding concert event.
Details: Free to attend; registration required.
4:30-5:30pm | FREE Yoga Flow with Universe Yoga & Healing
Creativity Center (107 E Chestnut St., Bloomington, IL 61701)
Hosted by: Universe Yoga & Healing
Highlights: This class will provide a safe environment to participate in a self-healing class with community
Details: Free to attend; no registration required.
5:30-6:30pm | FREE Expressive Painting Class with Undra Uphoff
Creativity Center (107 E Chestnut St., Bloomington, IL 61701)
Hosted by: Creative Healing Expressive Arts Center
Highlights: Expressive painting class facilitated by trauma informed, art life coach Undra Uphoff that engages the whole body and brain using movement and the senses to empower expression and connection with self and others.
Sunday, February 23
10:00am–12:00pm | FREE Mask Making
Creativity Center (107 E Chestnut St., Bloomington, IL 61701)
Hosted by: BCAI Cultural Arts & Humanities, Creative Healing Art Therapy, and King Moosa
Highlights: Art education, conversation, and creation. Masks will be displayed at Sunday’s concluding concert event.
Details: Free to attend; registration required
1:00-2:00pm | FREE Intro to Ukelele
Creativity Center (107 E Chestnut St., Bloomington, IL 61701)
Hosted by: Harmonium Music Therapy, LLC
Highlights: Develop a new skill and a way to express yourself musically
Details: Free to attend; no registration required.
2:00-3:00pm | FREE Yoga Flow with Young Yogi
Creativity Center (107 E Chestnut St., Bloomington, IL 61701)
Hosted by: BCAI Cultural Arts & Humanities and Young Yogi
HIghlights: Full body yoga to improve mobility and relieve stress
Details: Free to attend; no registration required.
7:30pm | Wellness Weekend Concluding Concert
Illinois Art Station (101 E. Vernon Ave. in Normal)
Highlights: Yea Big’s Neuroplasticity concert series at Illinois Art Station continues with a special Sunday concert event featuring opener hip-hop artivist King Moosa and modular synthesizer Matthew Ryals on his South/Midwest solo tour.
Details: Pay-What-You-Can. Doors at 7:00pm. Show at 7:30pm. Wellness Weekend mask display available for viewing.
Purchase Tickets HERE
This program is made possible in part by a grant from Illinois Humanities through its Envisioning Justice initiative. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by speakers, program participants, or audiences do not necessarily reflect those of the Illinois Humanities, our partnering organizations or our funders.
Envisioning Justice is a project of the statewide organization Illinois Humanities designed to “leverage arts and humanities to examine mass incarceration and collectively shape a more just future. …Since 2017, Envisioning Justice has created free public arts and humanities programs in partnership with communities and people affected by the carceral system and provided grant funding for individuals, nonprofits, and collectives.”