Studio Note #3- Art in Carceral Systems

Hi everyone, Inis here. Welcome to the third blog of Studio Notes! I am very excited to share my insights from my summer research project where I explored art in carceral systems at the Vera Institute of Justice.

Our first guest speaker was Sean, who introduced us to the concept of prison escapism. I was fascinated by how creative expression allows individuals to achieve a sense of momentary freedom. One story that sticks with me is when one woman said she forgot that she was in prison when writing poems, or when incarcerated individuals at Riker's Island created zines filled with poems which became such a popular commodity. Everyone wanted to get a copy. This truly speaks to the value of physical objects and artistic outlets in a space that is meant to strip them away from free thinking. It was at Vera that I truly became what I call an "artivist", determined to fuse art with social activism.

Wanting to learn more, Sean connected me with a friend, Jermaine Archer. Jermaine took me through his story: incarcerated for 22 years for a crime he did not commit, he then dedicated his life to investing back into the community through art. For him, putting on plays was cathartic. It was his way of reclaiming agency and forming a community in such a dehumanizing place.

Now, he leads Rehabilitation for the Arts, an organization that uses creative outlets for growth and community for incarcerated individuals. He reflected that his old RTA group chat is still alive, with people constantly updating one another about their lives. His determination to benefit the world inspires me today, motivating me to fight for change through "artivism."

The A24 film Sing Sing brings the powerful stories of RTA alumni to life as they use the arts to challenge the perceptions that people have of incarcerated individuals. They hope that this movie can inspire audiences to realize that these are human beings that have the potential to grow when given a helping hand.

Mariam Kaba's Return to Sender exhibition touches on this topic of prisons as censorship. Her exhibition reimagines art as a method of resistance, that incarceration is more than physical confinement but also the control over freedom of thought and creativity. The exhibition highlights artworks by incarcerated artists, exposing how prisons restrict access to books, letter and art supplies.

Hector (Bori) Rodriguez's War Against Censorship

My favorite piece is Hector (Bori) Rodriguez’s War Against Censorship, made with colored pencils and glow-in-the-dark paint to confront this censorship. Words like “the new Jim Crow” emphasize that true freedom requires dismantling carceral systems. 

Art is never just about the escape, but about dignity, imagining freedom and resisting oppression. Arts access is a necessity for people inside and outside of carceral systems. Investing in the community first gives outlets of expression before people enter the carceral system.

These people are multifaceted human beings in their own right. Too often, incarcerated individuals are stripped of their dignity. From prison walls to integration into society afterwards, they are referred to in such dehumanizing labels: "inmates", "cons", "felons", "convicts." As a society, we must remember that everyone is a human being and treat them as such. Seeing the power in stories like Jermaine’s and analyzing Hector (Bori) Rodriguez’s pieces, I feel inspired to fill in the gaps of my own education. Seeing the impact of using art as a means of social change, I feel proud to lead an initiative to promote art accessibility and shape the next generation of "artivists."

Until the next note,

Inis