Art & Krimes by Krimes
July 1 – September 17, 2023
Located on the third floor of The Baker Museum
MTV Documentary Films presents
an AJNA production
in association with Wavelength & Giving Voice Films
2022, NR, Documentary, 85 minutes
Director: Alysa Nahmias
Producers: Alysa Nahmias, Amanda Spain, Benjamin Murray
Writers: Alysa Nahmias and Miranda Yousef
Cast: Jesse Krimes, Jared Owens, Gilberto Rivera, Russell Craig
In conjunction with the exhibition Prison Nation, The Baker Museum presents the film Art & Krimes by Krimes. This 85-minute documentary plays on a loop during museum operating hours throughout the run of the Prison Nation exhibition.
While locked up for six years in federal prison, artist Jesse Krimes secretly creates monumental works of art — including an astonishing 40-foot mural made with prison bed sheets, hair gel and newspaper. He smuggles out each panel, piece by piece, with the help of fellow artists, only seeing the mural in totality upon coming home. As Krimes’ work captures the art world's attention, he struggles to adjust to life outside, living with the threat that any misstep will trigger a life sentence.
The film includes animation created by acclaimed animator Molly Schwartz in collaboration with Jesse Krimes. The original score is by composer Amanda Jones in collaboration with formerly incarcerated musicians who are alumni of Musicambia, a program that uses the power of music to build supportive communities where incarcerated individuals can build human connections, engage in learning and rebuild their lives. Through performance and creation, participants develop self-confidence, positive self-image and communication skills. By sharing their skills, musicians grow as teachers and citizens committed to humanizing our justice system.
This film was made with support from the Sundance Institute Momentum Fellowship, New York State Council on the Arts, Meadow Fund, The Harnisch Foundation, LEF Foundation, Wavelength, World of HA and Wyncote Foundation.
Visit the Exhibition
Reserve your museum tickets online.
Museum Admission
Scenes from the film
Still from the feature documentary Art & Krimes by Krimes directed by Alysa Nahmias. An AJNA Films production. Courtesy of MTV Documentary Films.
Artists Jesse Krimes and Russell Craig in a still from the feature documentary Art & Krimes by Krimes directed by Alysa Nahmias. An AJNA Films production. Courtesy of MTV Documentary Films.
Artist Russell Craig in a still from the feature documentary Art & Krimes by Krimes directed by Alysa Nahmias. An AJNA Films production. Courtesy of MTV Documentary Films.
Animation by Molly Schwartz from the feature documentary Art & Krimes by Krimes directed by Alysa Nahmias. An AJNA Films production. Courtesy of MTV Documentary Films
Still from the feature documentary Art & Krimes by Krimes directed by Alysa Nahmias. An AJNA Films production. Courtesy of MTV Documentary Films.
Associated Events
Prison Nation organized by Aperture, New York, and curated by Nicole R. Fleetwood, Ph.D., and Michael Famighetti. The presentation of this exhibition at Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum is curated by Courtney McNeil, museum director and chief curator. This exhibition was made possible with lead support from the Ford Foundation. Additional generous support was provided by the Reba Judith Sandler Foundation.