Faith Ringgold and Mary Baxter in Paint me a Road Out of Here

Join Colossal, Intuit Art Museum and the Women’s and Gender Studies Department at DePaul University for the Chicago Premiere of Paint me a Road Out of Here, the award-winning documentary film from Aubin Pictures, directed by Catherine Gund. Featuring artists Faith Ringgold and Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, Paint Me a Road Out of Here uncovers the whitewashed history of Ringgold’s masterpiece, “For the Women’s House,” following its 50-year journey from Rikers Island jail to the Brooklyn Museum.

The film will be followed by a discussion with Leah Faria, film participant and Community Liaison at Women Building Up.

About the Film

In 1971, artist Faith Ringgold created a monumental painting “For the Women’s House” for the women incarcerated at Rikers Island jail. Fifty years later, artist Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, who gave birth in prison 15 years ago, finds herself banding together with an eclectic group of activists, politicians, artists, corrections officers and Faith Ringgold herself to free the artwork with the ultimate goal of freeing the women. Paint Me a Road Out of Here is a wild tale of the painting’s whitewashed journey and the two artists who challenged the same powerful and oppressive institutions, a half century apart, with their artwork, their voices and their shared, persistent goals.

"Paint me a Road Out of Here" Official Trailer (2025)

Q&A Participant: Leah Faria, film participant and Community Liaison at Women Building Up

Leah Faria (she/her) is a mother, daughter and sister who has dedicated over twenty years advocating for communities most impacted by the Criminal Legal system. Leah is a survivor of both domestic and State violence and uses her direct experiences as a way to educate, build community, network and organize within vulnerable Black and Brown communities. She is an instrumental leader of the Rikers Island initiative where during bi-weekly visits she provides support and resources to the women and gender expansive people detained at the Rose M. Singer Center, bringing them a sense of hope in what so often feels like a hopeless situation.

Discussion Moderator: Grace Ebert, Editorial Director, Colossal

Grace Ebert (she/her) is a writer, editor, and curator. She is the editorial director of Colossal, and in 2025, she co-founded Joy Machine gallery with her partner, Christopher Jobson. Grace serves on the board of Chicago Books to Women in Prison and is a co-curator of Prism/Prison, an art magazine connecting artists outside and inside the U.S. carceral system. She and Christopher are currently writing a book about community art (forthcoming from Artisan in 2027).