Justice Arts Coalition Blog

The Becomings of a Master

by artist R. Zumar What makes a master artist? How does one achieve that title? Become a master in their own right? Is it going to school for decades and being under the tutelage of an artist? Achieving several degrees and certificates that look good on paper like a good resume? What is it? I …

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Not a Prison Artist

Visual artist/illustrator Danny Ashton responds to a recent influx in requests for artwork depicting his experience of incarceration.

Hillside High Art Students reach out to incarcerated artist with Artist Trading Cards and motivational messages

Hillside Continuation High School 11th and 12th grade students in Upland Unified School district in Southern California had the opportunity to connect with an incarcerated artist using their own art thanks to the Justice Arts Coalition pARTner project.

Kudos For Memoir About Teaching the Arts in a California Men’s Prison

In her unforgettable memoir, HUMMINGBIRD IN UNDERWORLD, released this week by She Writes Press, Deborah Tobola intertwines the story of her rowdy family and occasionally tumultuous childhood with the story of her nine-year stint as a teacher of arts and creative writing at the California Men’s Colony, a prison in San Luis Obispo, California.

Teaching artists & educators working in prisons, lease take and share this survey about copyright empowerment for incarcerated people.

The Slippery Slope of Kindness

Teaching artist Treacy Ziegler's third installment of a series of essays on kindness in prison.

Just Art Initiative

by Annabel Manning As part of the Jail Arts Initiative, I give a series of art workshops based on the “Nana” using Nikki de Saint Phalle’s “Nana” figures as a departure point. This way incarcerated adult participants can explore the themes of identity and agency through the female form.  Their “Nana’s” become portraits based on …

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Celebrating a successful opening night…and a video launch!

by Wendy Jason, Managing Director of the Justice Arts Coalition On Saturday, May 25th, at Rhizome DC, the Justice Arts Coalition celebrated the opening of Becoming Free, our first exhibition of works by incarcerated artists. We were joined by nearly 125 community members, each one helping to fill the space with warmth, care, and a …

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Reflections from JAC’s Founding Director in Response to Anti-Asian Violence

Black Lives Matter