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James “Big Jim” Brensinger

On August 5, 2019August 13, 2019 By theprisonartscoalition

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Julie Spencer

Jonathan Jacob Nurse

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PO Box 8261
Silver Spring, MD 20907

info@thejusticeartscoalition.org

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Community, opportunities, and resources for artists working in and around the US criminal legal system. Contact wendy@thejusticeartscoalition.org

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#Repost @theoregonian ・・・
The inmates’ idea was far-fetched: install a Japanese garden in the shadow of a massive cellblock at the Oregon State Penitentiary.

For one, prison officials wondered, who would pay for it? Who would do the work? Would the elegant elements of a Japanese garden run afoul of the Byzantine rules intended to keep the maximum-security prison safe?

The men persisted.

They became adept at grant-writing, securing nearly $500,000 to fund their idea. They made presentations to corrections staff, potential donors and others, transforming themselves into polished public speakers in the process. They recruited laborers from their own ranks – nearly 180 inmates in all – who worked during the summer to plant trees, move boulders and install elaborate water features.

This week, five years after floating the idea, the men – and the prison officials who signed off on the project – unveiled something extraordinary deep within the grounds of Oregon’s oldest penitentiary: the largest prison garden of its kind in the country.

Click on the link in @theoregonian bio to read the full story. 📸 by @BethNakamura

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“Deep Thought” and “Water” — new works by our good friend Gary Harrell, which he created for last weekend’s Psychologists for Social Responsibility conference in Berkeley. Gary just wrote us to make sure that we didn’t miss the @earhustlesq episode that features his solo harmonica recording that was played at the @the_met_museum_of_art. His linocut, “Restore Justice” was in the recent special issue of @washingtonpostmag, which was completely written, illustrated, and photographed by folks who are or have been incarcerated. Like so many people in prison, Gary’s a man of many talents, and we’re so thrilled to see him in the spotlight.

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Pastel - Tomás. Words - Alexander Den Heijer.
#communitynotcages
#artconnectsus #artforliberation #artforjustice

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We’re at #FightingForJustice with @vanjones68 tonight, sitting with friends @oneinfourpodcast and @unchainedmediacollective. In the 2nd panel of the evening, @dwaynebetts, @_marcus_bullock, @mikael__mendoza discuss the state violence perpetrated through the prison system and the power of empathy in our fight to dismantle it. Thank you @cut50, @motherjonesmag, @benandjerrys for sparking important dialogue about changes that need to happen in order for our #justicesystem to be worthy of its name.

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#Repost @washingtonpost ・・・
Via @washingtonpostmag: America incarcerates more people than any other nation. As a result, the stark realities of jails and prisons have a far-reaching impact on society. With this special issue of The Washington Post Magazine — written, illustrated and photographed by people who have been or are currently incarcerated — the goal is to help readers learn about the experience of imprisonment, something that is poorly understood by Americans who are untouched by the system. At a time when the subject of prison reform is receiving more attention than it has in decades, this special issue seeks to inform the conversation by focusing on American prisons and the lives of the people inside them. 🙌🏿🙌🏾🙌🏽🙌🏼🙌🏻
Check out the full issue, which features pieces by artists in JAC’s network: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/lifestyle/prisons-incarceration-in-us/

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Thank you to our good friends at @oneinfourpodcast. We’ll be tuning in to this important episode dedicated to @freemindsbookclub family member Joshua. ❤️
Perhaps in the future we can talk about the role #creativeexpression plays for many people in prison, helping them to maintain a sense of identity, a connection to others, and a sense of meaning, and the power the arts hold for addressing the trauma of #incarceration (both within and after prison) and for exposing just how unjust and inhumane the carceral system truly is. Indeed, the arts can even play a leading role in our development of more and more community-based responses to harm and conflict that promote safety, inclusion, connection, collaboration, healing, and accountability.
・・・
From @oneinfourpodcast:
Tomorrow we will release our 7th episode, which focuses on #mentalhealthawareness and #reentry. Our Senior Advisor Dave will share his personal experience of #trauma and his work with young men of color in order to disrupt the #schooltoprisonpipeline - We know that we are just scratching the surface of this important topic but we hope you will be inspired to learn more & to understand the cruelty of a justice system that regularly uses #solitaryconfinement & the impact this practice has on far too many people across our nation. #mentalhealth services are needed for those who reenter society in order to address and overcome #trauma. Download the episode tomorrow on your favorite #podcast app and please share it widely through your social platforms!
#artforliberation #artheals #transformativejustice #endmassincarceration #traumahealing

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“We are in the early stages of planning the campus for Macedon, but what we can say is that we are very excited to contribute a space for creatives by creatives...It is important to the Dean Collection that artists be supported in their disruption of the status quo. This space will be a platform to nurture this further.” The new site for the Dean Collection will “train artists and musicians on the business side of their industries” and is “venture to level the playing field for marginalized artists.” @therealswizzz @aliciakeys how can we work together to make sure system-involved artists have full access to the opportunities that the @thedeancollection Music and Art Campus will offer? 🎨🎤🎼✊🏽🔥
#artforjustice #artforliberation #artconnectsus #endmassincarceration

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“One must find beauty any way you can.” - Brian Hindson 🎨Thank you, Open Doors: Art in Action, for giving artists in our network this opportunity to touch so many hearts. It’s an honor to partner with you. We’ll make sure the artists featured in this @azdailysun story get their own copy. Visit our online galleries for more work by these amazing artists! Link in bio.
Full article ➡️ https://azdailysun.com/flaglive/cover_story/second-chances-art-in-action-s-locked-up-pain-and/article_97086efc-dcd4-5e34-8e07-240f1069ef2d.html
#artforliberation #artforjustice #artconnectsus

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Enjoying the smooth, deep vibes of @thebaylorproject at the #justiceaidconcert along with friends from @freemindsbookclub and @oneinfourpodcast. So grateful to @justiceaid for the invitation and for their support of orgs doing vital social justice work. #artconnectsus #musicmatters #artforjustice

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Our first letter writing booth was well-received at the @downinthereeds festival on Saturday. Lots of feedback and encouragement will soon be distributed at mail call in prisons all over the country. 🎨✊🏽✍🏽
#artconnectsus #community #incarceratedartists #buildingbridges #artforjustice

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In 2013, a group of civil rights advocates and music lovers founded @justiceaid to use music and the arts to raise money to support powerful tipping point organizations fighting injustice and inequality. We’re excited to attend our first #JusticeAidConcert on Tuesday. Join us! 🎷🎤🎟⚖️✊🏽

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Our friend and advisor @carole.alden.94 is featured on her home state’s Heritage and Arts department website today. Carole’s Fish House, which she created while incarcerated, won best in show last year in the annual exhibition sponsored by the Utah Division of Arts & Museums, and is now part of the state’s permanent collection. Her Prison Fish sculpture is here in DC with JAC, and has been on display at at @rhizome_dc and @fiasfabfinds, along with a number of her illustrations. We’re looking for more opportunities to show Carole’s work, and also for permanent homes for it. Please contact Carole or JAC if you’re interested in exhibiting or purchasing it! Full story https://heritageandarts.utah.gov/meet-the-utah-artist-who-is-crocheting-her-way-to-a-new-life/.
#fiberart #sculpture #crochet #fishart #dcartscene #dcgalleries #artindc #artforjustice @the_avam @publicwelfare @nicolefleetwood @dcartscenter @dcartallnight @watergategallery @warholfoundation @artistsforpeace @artforjusticepodcast

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1. “James Dean. When I first watched ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ I knew I wanted to be him. He’s a badass and I felt like I had to add my own touch to this portrait. I absolutely love this picture.” 2. “This drawing is an every day reflection of life here in prison and I’ve had my day’s where I’ve felt so burned that there was no way out. I loved drawing this picture and as simple as it is it is deep and means so much for me.” - Chad Wesley Merrill

Visit our online galleries to see more of Chad’s dramatic portraits, including depictions of Alfred Hitchcock, Salvador Dali, and Al Pacino.
#portraits #artist #artforliberation #jamesdean #prison #incarceratedartists #justiceartscoalition #endmassincarceration 🎨💯🔥✊🏽

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These wonderful postcards are going out to artists in JAC’s network, thanks to the creative #artbeyondbars volunteers at @nonameartgroup. We’re grateful for their partnership and desire to bring a little bit of joy and connection to our incarcerated friends. 🎨🙏💕
#artconnectsus #endmassincarceration #communityarts

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From photographer @petermerts ・・・
This is a classical guitar student at Sierra Conservation Center, near Jamestown, California. The design on his guitar was engraved using a prison tattoo machine.
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Instruction by the William James Association. Photo by me, courtesy of the California Arts Council. #artsinprison #incarceratedartists #prison #prisonart #prisonphotography

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