It’s a start, but we’ve got a ways to go, still
by Kenneth E. Hartman As I sit in the audience of assembled artists and corrections officials, writers and performers, along with a smattering of fellow returned citizens, I reflect on the magical nature of my own journey to this meeting, provoked to reverie by a tale of emotional torture and abuse told by a gentle, …
Continue reading It’s a start, but we’ve got a ways to go, still
A Perspective on the Texas Arts for Justice Forum
About the guest contributor:
JOHNATHAN KANA is a freelance writer, musician, and Christian cultural critic who enjoys probing the intersection of faith, justice, and pop culture. As a restored citizen who once spent 25 months in prison, he believes in the transformative power of a meaningful second chance. He is a volunteer Justice Ambassador for Prison Fellowship and a contributing writer for their quarterly newspaper for prisoners, Inside Journal.
He is also co-author (with Dr. Mary L. Cohen and Iowa prisoner Richard Winemiller) of a forthcoming book chapter about the Oakdale Community Choir and the healing power of community music-making in correctional contexts (to be published by Wilfrid Laurier University Press in a volume provisionally titled Walking the Boundaries, Bridging the Gaps: How Community Music Engages Those in the Margins of Society).
Johnathan works in manufacturing and lives with his wife and two children in central Texas. He is an avid filmgoer, a passionate armchair theologian, and an aspiring kayaker.
Time Spent – Making Art in Prison
by Rebecca Kelly People can start with what seems like an ever-renewable supply anger and despair. This emotional energy is sometimes the initial fuel for the creative act. But that energy may also prove kindling for a different kind of renewable energy, a positive drive. Something fresh and wonderful can be created from the dark …
An Appeal for Art for Justice
About the guest contributor:
Melnee Dilworth McPherson, PhD, Dr. McPherson earned both her PhD in the Joint Sociology and Social Work Program in 2004 and her MSW in 1996 from the University of Michigan. Her dissertation entitled, “From a feminist perspective: An investigation of the relationship among dual diagnosis, intimate partner violence and parenting stress” formed the unifying theme of her research with a focus on domestic violence, mental illness, and substance misuse.
Dr. McPherson serves on several community initiatives including the Livingston-Washtenaw Substance Abuse Advisory Council and the Washtenaw Prisoner Re-entry Initiative. She is also a board member of The University of Michigan Substance Abuse Research Center. Dr. McPherson has taught courses at the University of Michigan- School Of Social Work and the Washtenaw Community College. She is also a consultant on a national project aimed at developing trauma-informed reentry programming for women. Dr. McPherson, a returned citizen, is also an advocate for supporting the grandmothers who take care of young people whose parent is incarcerated.
Climbing The Walls: Incarceration and Art
About the guest contributor: “Though I don’t like being labeled, or “summed up” by definitions, there are two tags I must live with. First, I am an artist… I have been my entire life. I dabble in different mediums and play with many forms of expression. I call myself an illustrator because the intent of all my work is to share a story. Places I’ve been. Things I’ve seen. Feelings I’ve dealt with. Second, I am a felon… I will be one for the rest of my life. I was released from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections custody in April, 2018. I was allowed to concentrate on my work, watch it mature, and see other’s talents grow. Through creative competition we became a collective.”
Sports or Arts?
by Treacy Ziegler About the guest contributor: Treacy Ziegler is a regular contributor to the PAC blog, and has been an exhibiting artist for the past 23 years. She studied painting and printmaking for four years at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. As a student she was awarded a J. Henry Scheidt Traveling Scholarship. Before …
“My body may be imprisoned, but nothing can keep my creative vision from reaching out beyond these walls.” – the unbounded heartwork of Carole Alden
“There are four drawings that incorporate mermaids with children or fish. These are simply joyful pieces.”
W.B. Livingston III Connects with Fellow Music Lovers through Gifts of Art
W.B. Livingston III (Will) is a musician and visual artist who is in prison in Oklahoma. Will creates originals and prints, and donates pieces to nonprofits for fundraisers. He also does commission work.
Artist Spotlights
- Angelica Marie Soto
- Will Livingston
- Gary Harrell
- Spoon Jackson and SaraMarie Bottaro
- Cuong Mike Tran
- Chris Schulze
- Harold Johnson
- Charles Finney
- Lex
- SNAPP
- Troy Glover
- Brian Hindson
- Nhut Vo
- Daniel Martinez
- Derrick Grantley
- Reginald Dwayne Betts
- Jeremiah Murphy
- William Brown
- O.G. Blue
- David Green
- Kenny Collins
- Gary Farlow
- Chad Merrill
- Izuo-Ere Digifa
- Marcus Pettiford
- Kenneth Reams
- Jordan (Jordy) and Joshua (Josh) Earls
- John Zenc
- Cedar Annenkov
- Amber Daniel
Teaching Artist / Program Spotlights
- Kirk Charlton
- Rachel Wallis
- Brian Daldorph
- André de Quadros
- Rowan Renee
- Ann Bracken
- Zoe Boekbinder: Prison Music Project
- Nate Fish: Brick of Gold
- A.B.O. Comix
- Joel Bergner
- Gabriel Ross
- Judy Dworin
- Annie Buckley
- William Head on Stage (WHoS)
- Anderson Smith
- Elia Cadilla
- Sarah Dahnke and Sarah Pope
- Lori Pitts
- Matt Malyon
- Peggy Rambach
- Hakim Bellamy
JAC Community Blogs
- JAC’s 2022 Wrapped
- Day in the Life of a JAC Intern: Jesse’s Monday
- JAC’s 2021 Wrapped
- Steve Davis and Chad Merrill pARTner Project Collaboration
- Day in the Life of a JAC Intern: Joslyn’s Monday
- Community Voices Blog: Staff Art Picks
- JAC’s 2020 Wrapped
- I am From…
- Coronavirus in Prison
- Collaborative Imaginings: the work of Lori Lovely and Kelly Pringle
Guest Blogs
- Leo Cardez – Mr. Crew Cut: An Angel Among Monsters
- Obie Weathers – Pieces
- Dorothy Maraglino – Hours Into Being a Refugee Due to Covid
- Marcus Pettiford – Captivity Without Sunlight
- Conor Broderick – The Challenges of Pursuing Higher Education in Prison
- Dorothy Maraglino –Prison Society
- Dorothy Maraglino – A New Approach to Crime Prevention
- Dorothy Maraglino – Homesick in Prison
- Dorothy Maraglino – A Day in My Box
- Joshua Earls
- Naomi Rachel: The Amazing Nash News
- Chris Trigg
- Annie Buckley: Lines Drawn and Erased
- Annie Buckley: Final Projects
- Annie Buckley: Art and Healing
- Annie Buckley: Oasis in the Desert
- John Zenc: The Boy Who Only Wanted to be Loved
- Chris Trigg: Creativity
- Denise Shumway: The Ohio Prison Arts Connection (OPAC)
- Jameelah Lewis
- Chris Trigg: The Other America
- Ronald McKeithen
- Marcus Pettiford
- R. Zumar: The Becomings of a Master: Canyon Run
- R. Zumar: The Becomings of A Master: Abstract
- Chris Trigg on the state of the arts in federal prisons
- Janie Paul: What we can learn about isolation from prison artists
- R. Zumar: The Becomings of A Master: The Portrait Series #3
- Carole Alden and Arlene Tucker: A Message from Translation is Dialogue
- R. Zumar: The Becomings of A Master: The Portrait Studies #1
- Annabel Manning: My Block.
- Spoon Jackson: To My Big Sis, Judith Tannenbaum, from Spoon Jackson
- Jeremy Sobek: Beginnings
- Guy La”Tron” Banks, a.k.a Tronee Threat
- Mark Andreason: Who is Mark Andreason?
- R. Zumar: The Becomings of a Master, Part 3: Hiatus
- Jennifer E. Tinker: A guest’s reflections on the Iron Cages exhibition
- Michelle Repiso: Oculus: Of A Place Unseen
- R. Zumar: The Becomings of a Master, Part 2: Bohemia
- Treacy Ziegler: Kindness, boundaries, and the border patrol
- Matt Malyon: The Stories We Save May Include Our Own
- Dr. Kevin Shorner-Johnson: Building Musical Imaginations
- R. Zumar: The Becomings of a Master
- Danny Ashton: Not a Prison Artist
- Cynthia Garcia: Hillside High Art Students reach out to incarcerated artist with Artist Trading Cards and motivational messages
- Caitlin Hamilton: Kudos For Memoir About Teaching the Arts in a California Men’s Prison
- John Whitman: copyright empowerment for incarcerated people
- Treacy Ziegler: The Slippery Slope of Kindness
- Tomás: Becoming Whole: the Joy of Creation
- Peggy Rambach: “We, the Unbound”
- Rosie Worster: Remember Me
- Treacy Zeigler: Kindness as Hostage
- Mardie Swartz: As the End Comes (a tribute to Alice Walker)
- Treacy Ziegler: The Incarceration of Kindness – Installment 1
- Mary Cohen: Communities of Caring through Choral Singing: an update from the Oakdale Prison Choir
- Page Dukes: Making Meaning: a caged bird sings
- Treacy Ziegler: Crossing the Border: An artist’s experience of a super-maximum security prison
Events, Exhibitions, and Publications
- Sean White’s The River is a Lake
- The Book of Judith
- “Correctional: A Memoir” by Ravi Shankar
- Inside & Out Exhibition Spotlight: Karim Shuquem, Lesley Rae Burdick, and Edee Allynnah
- Inside & Out Exhibition Spotlight: Sandra Miller and Cherie Hacker
- Inside & Out Exhibition Spotlight: David Potwin, Aimee Wissman, and Mary Anna Pomonis
- White Snake Projects: Virtual Opera
- Inside & Out Exhibition Spotlight: Michelle Repiso and Treacy Ziegler
- Celebrating PCAP’s 25th Annual Exhibition
- Inside & Out Musical Launch: Spotlight on Artists BL Shirelle and King Moosa
- Kenneth Reams: Workshop and Art Auction
- Mural Arts Philadelphia’s “Rendering Justice” Exhibition: Spotlight on Featured Artist Michelle Daniel Jones
- “The BOX” Virtual Performance: A Play About Solitary Confinement by Sarah Shourd
- Book Launch – Words After Dark: A Lyrics, Lit & Liquor Anthology
- Upcoming Exhibition: “Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration”
- Upcoming “Art Of Innocence” Event
- Virtual Event 6/27: Refueling for Justice feat. “Art as Release” JAC Artist Panel!
- Workshop Spotlight: A Conversation From Death Row with Kenneth Reams
- The Prison Story Project
- Create + Connect Online Workshop Series!
- Just Art Initiative
- Celebrating a successful opening night…and a video launch!
- Please join us in DC to celebrate the opening of our first exhibition!
- REDEMPTION SONGS: A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A COMMUNITY PRISON CHOIR – Book Release
- Conference Announcement: Reframing the Landscape of Justice
Announcements / Statements
- Introducing JAC’s New Logo
- Announcing JAC’s New Gallery of the Month Series
- JAC needs your support!
- Art Connects Us
- Announcing the launch of the JAC Community Survey!
- An important message from PAC’s manager — please read on!
Reflections from JAC’s Founding Director in Response to Anti-Asian Violence