JAC network artist Chris Trigg details the enormous challenges facing incarcerated artists over the last 10 years and more recently in light of pandemic lockdowns. Surviving prison requires some creativity. It often becomes about making the most of a bad situation. If you look, creativity manifests itself everywhere. People making something out of nothing. Some …

Continue reading Chris Trigg on the state of the arts in federal prisons

This piece written by Janie Paul was originally published in The Conversation. Reposted with the author’s permission. Over the past few months, most of us have found ourselves in unfamiliar territory trying to shape the formlessness of our days while contending with physical separation. Many incarcerated people, however, have spent years figuring out what to …

Continue reading What we can learn about isolation from prison artists

By R. Zumar This is baby Harmoni, born January 27th, 2020. I look at her at peace with no worries in the world. A new little human gifted to us, a life with so much potential. Like all children, at least in our country, she will have the basics to survive and grow. She will …

Continue reading The Becomings of A Master: The Portrait Series #3

We write this message in response to the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, David McAtee and countless other Black people at the hands of police and law enforcement across the country. As a community that includes many people impacted by our unjust law enforcement and carceral systems, we mourn the deaths …

Continue reading Black Lives Matter

This month, we are highlighting two artists in our network: brothers Jordan (Jordy) and Joshua (Josh) Earls, a poet and painter/writer, respectively. What follows is gathered from our correspondence with the artists, the work they have generously shared with JAC, their descriptions of their work and processes, and an interview with their parents, Penny and …

Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Jordan and Joshua Earls

In the month of April, National Poetry Month, JAC invited the artists in our network to participate in a poetry challenge: writing “I am From” poems. Annabel Manning of Prison Art + Aesthetics Project (PAAP) is collaborating with JAC on an “I Am” poetry and drawing project.  JAC invites network artists and writers to submit …

Continue reading I am From…

We recently talked with Sarah Dahnke and Sarah Pope, our newest additions to the Teaching Artist Spotlight series. Sarah Dahnke is the Artist Director and Sarah Pope is the Associate Director of Dances for Solidarity (DFS). Dances for Solidarity is a collaborative dance project where Dahnke and Pope, who both possess a professional and creative background …

Continue reading Teaching Artist Spotlight: Sarah Dahnke and Sarah Pope of Dances for Solidarity

On May 23, 2020, in collaboration with The Prison Story Project, the Justice Arts Coalition will be presenting a premiere screening of “On the Row,” a documentary created by The Prison Story Project that explores the humanity and stories of men currently on death row. As part of our larger Create + Connect: Online Workshop …

Continue reading The Prison Story Project