Punch Party with Maria Gaspar

Join Chicago-based artist Maria Gaspar in a workshop and conversation to consider the ways in which we practice freedom. Gaspar’s Punch Parties, which she has led in several states, engage with her Disappearance Jail archive. Since 2021, Gaspar has been collecting images of jails, prisons, and detention centers across the U.S. Workshop participants engage in a conversation about abolition and carceral systems, while punching holes in the images Gaspar has collected of Texas prisons. The act of hole-punching “disappears” the images of the facilities, offering new vistas and different landscapes beyond their walls. An abolitionist punch recipe created by New Orleans-based artist jackie summel and sourced directly from her Solitary Gardens will be served. Come enjoy and participate in this unique collaborative work!

The workshop is free and open to the public, but spots are limited. Please RSVP. All ages welcome, with supervision. All backgrounds and abilities are welcome.

Date:

Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 2pm-4pm

Location:

Blaffer Art Museum cafe

RSVP:

RSVP for the event here or complete the form below: