I really enjoyed your essay and responses. I've been concerned with the tragedy of our justice system for years and your essay hits the main problem right on target -- our justice system being controlled by an emotional, retributive spirit rather than a rational, community-minded one. For this, I blame politicians. Prisons are a big business and a big notch in the belt and wads in contributions for politicians; and politicians win and lead by stoking citizens' irrationally over-emotional responses. A no-nothing, can't-offer-you-anything politician can always whip up a lot of support by bearing his zero-tolerance, tough on crime stance. I know there are people trying to change this horrible system and they are working hard and I hope for you and the 2 million other Americans trapped in this broken system, that we will see these necessary reforms enacted. Thank you again for your insightful and beautifully written essay.
Thank you for writing your thoughtful and optimistic blog about the election. I must say that many of your thoughts echo my own, but your perspective on it and your tie to the Bible are a reminder that this power play has happened many times before and it has been overcome. Thanks for sharing this and your message of love for everyone. I know many people who are taking your message to heart and fighting for that love to be spread; that's the most important thing.
I’m reading your creations and I'm deeply moved by the beauty of your posts.
I always try to find the answer to "how do coincidences work?". Your creations make me think of a recent Contemporary Drawing course: the confinement or the notion of locking up (handicap...etc) and the way to pass this constraint. In particular one sentence: "to use a constraint to free oneself ...". It may be the driving force behind the creation of all beautiful things in the darkest moments or places in the world. I don't know if you have access to contemporary art books, but I would like to share something with you: -Rebecca Horn - Bleistiftmaske (1973 -Pensil mask) is a performance. She made this "mask" with several strips of fabric on which are fixed several pencils. She draws with her head, making movements from right to left (and vice versa) facing a wall. Depending on where the pencils are supported on the face, they undergo different pressures and the marks are more or less dark. Like a camisole, this mask is a handicap because she cannot use her hands and cannot draw with precision, we could then think this drawing would be a simple scribbling, but a face or a shadow appears slowly on the wall.
-Wandering Position, by Yukinori Yanagi. On a sheet of paper framed by a metal frame (like the walls of an arena with no escape) he lays a solitary and disoriented ant on the immense white surface, follows it and traces its path with a red pencil. The line is hesitant; we imagine the ant returns in its tracks and often walk along the frame. The work is about space, wandering, confinement and escape in a metaphorical way. During the exhibition, the sheet of paper is free; the frame is disassembled, maybe to evoke an artistic escape? Art (in all its forms) is the most beautiful and the most effective way to escape to our reality.
Many thanks to share your works. I wish you a lot of inspiration and apologies for my mistakes, my English is really poor.
That is really interesting! How are the "high profile" prisoners treated? Better or worse than regular inmates, would you say? Do they have friends? Thanks for writing. Zach
Thank you for writing this. I didn't know all of that about ad-seg, so I appreciate you sharing it. I hope things have gotten better since you wrote this (4 years ago), but I am doubtful. Still, I will be thinking of you and hoping for the best. Sincerely, Zach
Thank you all for sharing your creativity, your passion, and your power. I've only gotten a few pages in so far, but look forward to reading more. This is great artwork, and I'm happy to have found it.
To Byron and all the Poets, Rappers and Singers. Thank you for sharing your work with the world. Creating something to share with others is the most meaningful work a person can do and I am so glad that you have shared your work with me.
RSS
I really enjoyed your essay and responses. I've been concerned with the tragedy of our justice system for years and your essay hits the main problem right on target -- our justice system being controlled by an emotional, retributive spirit rather than a rational, community-minded one. For this, I blame politicians. Prisons are a big business and a big notch in the belt and wads in contributions for politicians; and politicians win and lead by stoking citizens' irrationally over-emotional responses. A no-nothing, can't-offer-you-anything politician can always whip up a lot of support by bearing his zero-tolerance, tough on crime stance. I know there are people trying to change this horrible system and they are working hard and I hope for you and the 2 million other Americans trapped in this broken system, that we will see these necessary reforms enacted. Thank you again for your insightful and beautifully written essay.
Susie
With love and gratitude,
Amanda
Thanks for your willingness to share and your generosity of spirit.
Sincerely,
rsw
Thank you for writing your thoughtful and optimistic blog about the election. I must say that many of your thoughts echo my own, but your perspective on it and your tie to the Bible are a reminder that this power play has happened many times before and it has been overcome. Thanks for sharing this and your message of love for everyone. I know many people who are taking your message to heart and fighting for that love to be spread; that's the most important thing.
All my best,
Rebecca
I always try to find the answer to "how do coincidences work?".
Your creations make me think of a recent Contemporary Drawing course: the confinement or the notion of locking up (handicap...etc) and the way to pass this constraint.
In particular one sentence: "to use a constraint to free oneself ...".
It may be the driving force behind the creation of all beautiful things in the darkest moments or places in the world.
I don't know if you have access to contemporary art books, but I would like to share something with you:
-Rebecca Horn - Bleistiftmaske (1973 -Pensil mask) is a performance.
She made this "mask" with several strips of fabric on which are fixed several pencils.
She draws with her head, making movements from right to left (and vice versa) facing a wall.
Depending on where the pencils are supported on the face, they undergo different pressures and the marks are more or less dark.
Like a camisole, this mask is a handicap because she cannot use her hands and cannot draw with precision, we could then think this drawing would be a simple scribbling, but a face or a shadow appears slowly on the wall.
-Wandering Position, by Yukinori Yanagi.
On a sheet of paper framed by a metal frame (like the walls of an arena with no escape) he lays a solitary and disoriented ant on the immense white surface, follows it and traces its path with a red pencil.
The line is hesitant; we imagine the ant returns in its tracks and often walk along the frame.
The work is about space, wandering, confinement and escape in a metaphorical way.
During the exhibition, the sheet of paper is free; the frame is disassembled, maybe to evoke an artistic escape?
Art (in all its forms) is the most beautiful and the most effective way to escape to our reality.
Many thanks to share your works.
I wish you a lot of inspiration and apologies for my mistakes, my English is really poor.
Take care!
Thanks for writing.
Zach
Sincerely,
Zach
With love,
Kara
In Peace,
Emilie