Art from behind Bars
Dan Clore
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo
Lawrence Journal-World
Art from behind bars
Show features prisoners' creative work
By Lisa Schmitz
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Ernest Martinez can work magic with a 40-cent handkerchief
and some leftover oddities.
Martinez, an inmate at the Eastham Unit in Lovelady, Texas,
uses coffee grounds, pencil shavings and aloe vera lotion to
decorate handkerchiefs made by prison laborers.
His work, along with the creative stylings of other inmates,
will be displayed at "Freedom Unbound: Art from within
American Gulags," an art show sponsored by the Lawrence
Anarchist Black Cross. The exhibit opens Wednesday night at
the 4-1-1 Studio, 411 E. Ninth St.
"Ernest is one of many talented prisoners who will be
featured," says Chantel Guidry, an Anarchist Black Cross
member and local activist. "With this show, we want to
people to see what prisoners are capable of creating, even
under the most inhumane conditions."
The Anarchist Black Cross aims to bring attention to the
plight of all prisoners, Guidry says, and to make personal
connections with inmates. Many of the organization's members
have pen pals behind bars.
"There are 2.2 million people in America's prisons right
now," says Tony Young, co-organizing the show with Guidry.
"Those are people in there, human beings. We just feel they
should be treated as such."
Guidry and Young have received more than 100 pieces of art
from prisoners across the country; the 4-1-1 Studio -- owned
by Lawrence artist Dave Loewenstein -- is filled with
submissions ready for display.
"We sent out information about the show to prisoners we
knew, and word spread," Guidry says.
Richard Gwin/Journal World Photo
Tony Young and Chantel Guidry, members of Lawrence Anarchist
Black Cross, display a collection of art by people in
American prisons. The work will be on view through July in
"Freedom Unbound: Art from within American Gulags," at 4-1-1
Studio, 411 E. Ninth St.
Most of the work submitted is from male inmates; only two
women have sent in pieces of art.
"The problem is, we don't have a lot of contacts in the
female prison population," Guidry says. "That's something I
really want to work on."
Artists range in age from early 20s to late 50s.
Much of the artwork will be for sale, starting at $5 for
hand-decorated envelopes to $400 for one prisoner's entire
collection. Profits will go to the artists, though some
requested the money stay with the Anarchist Black Cross to
cover costs and sponsor future shows, Guidry says.
Young says he has been impressed with the quality of work
received.
On view
What: "Freedom Unbound: Art from within American Gulags," an
exhibition featuring artwork from prisoners across the country
When: A reception will be from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Raegan Butcher, a poet from Washington who has written about
his own time behind bars, will speak at the event. Local
band Lila also will perform. The exhibit runs through July 7
and will be open daily from noon to 5 p.m.
Where: 4-1-1 Studio, 411 E. Ninth St.
Info: 550-8531
"One artist, Ricky Brown, sent dozens of amazing cardboard
pieces to us, which is pretty remarkable considering his
situation," he says. Brown is serving time at Georgia's
Dooly State Prison, where art is considered contraband.
"Just imagine having to constantly hide your artwork from
guards for fear of it being taken and destroyed," Young says.
Many of the submitted pieces radiate raw expression through
surprisingly detailed means, Loewenstein says, considering
the prisoners' limited access to standard art supplies.
"The work is just honest," he says. "The prisoners are
communicating what life was like before prison, in prison
and what they picture life to be again outside prison walls."
The show opens the same day as the We Are Resisting
Conference, which will be on the Kansas University campus.
The conference bills itself as a weeklong festival of
resistance for dissidents from around the country.
"We had been talking about doing this show for awhile, and
with the conference happening, we thought this was the
perfect time to do it," Guidry says. "We hope it will bring
in more people who are in town."
Young says he hopes the show will open people's eyes to the
basic right of artistic expression.
"Our prison system touts rehabilitation, but really, it is
the exact opposite when art is discouraged," he says. "To
have that right taken away makes no sense for anyone."
--
Dan Clore
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