Those incarcerated in prisons and jails are, as one would expect, largely unable to access the plethora of options available to those in the free world who wish to entertain and express themselves. Books, while available, are typically from small and outdated libraries, access to television is often limited, and recreational or educational programs are too-often underfunded and unable to accommodate all those who are interested. As a result, many incarcerated people turn to something that requires little reliance on others: art.
Although many prisons have art therapy programs, the creation of art in prisons is by no means exclusive to these projects. Whether through visual, literary, or musical arts, incarcerated people have found a multitude of ways to express themselves creatively. In this post, we’ll be discussing each of these areas of art and featuring a few distinguished artists.
VISUAL ART - TATTOOS
Tattoos, while a relatively well known aspect of prison culture, are often overlooked in their artistic merit. Instead, they tend to be thought of as shoddily done reminders of a person’s delinquent history. While there are valid concerns associated with the practice of tattooing in prisons - poor hygiene practices while tattooing have been associated with the spread of hepatitis C and HIV - many incarcerated people find the opportunity to express themselves and make an individual style choice worth the risk. In acknowledgement of the danger it poses, both in the spread of disease and the potential promotion of gangs and hate groups, the practice is banned in nearly all prisons.
In 2007, a pilot program began in several Canadian prisons to open tattoo parlors. The project was meant to serve as a form of harm reduction, permitting individuals to get tattoos with clean needles for a small fee. There were also a few restrictions on the content and placement of tattoos, with gang and hate-related symbols forbidden, as well as tattoos on the face, neck, and genitals. Unfortunately, the program was politically unpopular and seen as the use of taxpayer dollars to fund the tattoos of criminals. It was shut down after its initial trial period of one year.
LITERARY ART - WRITING
Writing is perhaps the most well-known and easily accessible form of art made by those in prisons and jails, in large part thanks to organizations like Free Minds who seek to share the work of incarcerated writers with the general public. Unlike tattooing, it is permitted (if anything, encouraged!) and requires very few materials. Writing allows people who are incarcerated to process their emotions, reflect on their past, and share their experiences with others.
George T. Wilkerson is a prolific writer and poet on North Carolina’s death row who has been featured by BleakHouse Publishing, an organization headed by AU professor Robert Johnson. In addition, he has written several articles for The Marshall Project. His work humanizes those on death row, speaking both of the struggles they face and the small moments we all can relate to. You can read some of his work here.
MUSICAL ART - RAP
Hip-hop and rap culture has long been tied with the unjust mass incarceration of Black Americans. While many musicians are inspired by their past experiences in the carceral system, or have their careers interrupted or cut short after an arrest, some have found a way to continue their work in prison.
Darrell Wayne Caldwell, also known as Drakeo the Ruler, is an example of one such person. His 2020 album Thank You For Using GTL was recorded in Los Angeles County’s Men’s Central Jail, with the poor jail-phone audio quality and automated interruptions stating that each call is being recorded making it impossible to forget the context in which it was made. Further enmeshing his experience of the justice system and his art, a primary piece of evidence in the case for which Drakeo was arrested was the lyrics of his songs - a fact acknowledged in the album as he states, “This might sound real, but it’s fictional / I love that my imagination gets to you.”
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To learn more about art in prisons and to create with friends and peers, join SJS at our annual art night this Thursday at 7:30! Additional information and other upcoming events can be found on our Instagram (@sjsatau).
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References
About. BleakHouse Publishing. (n.d.).
https://www.bleakhousepublishing.org/about
CBC/Radio Canada. (2006, December 4). Prison tattoo parlours get the axe.
CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prison-tattoo-parlours-get-the-
axe-.619060#:~:text=The%20pilot%20program%20was%20designed,Theproject%20cost%20%24600%2C000%20to%20operate.
George T. Wilkerson. Kat Bodrie. (2023, June 5). https://katbodrie.com/georgewilkerson/
Ruiz, M. I. (2020, June 10). Drakeo the ruler / Joogszn: Thank you for using GTL. Pitchfork. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/drakeo-the-ruler-thank-you-for-using-gtl/
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