Gary Harrell is a JAC network artist, formerly incarcerated artist, and co-founder of Shower Works, a non-profit based in California which aims to bring free, warm showers to the unhoused community of Sacramento, CA. Recently, JAC got the chance to speak with Gary about his work, art, and life experience. Continue reading to learn more …

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Community. Creativity. Support. These were the three words most used by Justice Arts Coalition (JAC) team members when asked to describe JAC’s personality. And it was these three words which guided the process of redesigning JAC’s logo from start to finish. Many revisions were made throughout this process, but at the heart of each was …

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By Clare Walker, JAC Intern Recently, JAC had the opportunity to talk with JAC network artist Spoon Jackson and artist SaraMarie Bottaro. Over the past year, the two artists have formed a friendship and collaborative partnership despite the physical distance that exists between them. The following is an artist spotlight conducted in conversation with each …

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By Clare Walker, JAC Intern In February 2022 JAC had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Ravi Shankar, professor, author, and pushcart award winning poet, about his newly released book Correctional, A Memoir. Dr. Shankar discussed his experiences leading up to the release of his memoir, along with what inspired him to put pen to …

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By JAC Intern, Jesse DiMeglio “But like what do you do? Like what’s your actual job?”  This is the typical response I get when I talk to people about my work with JAC. I’ve been interning with JAC since October 2021. If I were to describe that time in one phrase, I would say it …

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By Clare Walker, JAC Intern Recently JAC had the chance to speak with Dr André de Quadros, human rights activist, music educator, artist, and ethnomusicologist, who has conducted and undertaken research in over forty countries. His professional work has taken him to the most diverse settings, spanning professional ensembles, and projects with prisons, psychosocial rehabilitation, …

Continue reading Teaching Artist Spotlight: André de Quadros

Guest Contributor: Dorothy Maraglino Hours Into Being a Refugee Due to Covid Hours into being an inmate refugee due to the mismanagement of Covid by CDCR. Around noon we were notified that we would need to relocate. To relocate we were given several clear trash bags to put all of our possessions in. Over the …

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By Clare Walker, JAC Intern Mike Tran has been dabbling in art and drawing his surroundings since childhood. At an early age he “cursed a dream that was imposed on [him].” His talent, he says, was acknowledged but never encouraged. As the years passed, school and work began to take priority and art was put …

Continue reading Artist Spotlight: Cuong Mike Tran