Casa Frela :: Incarcerated Art Revised

Incarcerated Art Revised

4 sub-albums and no images in this album

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Gallery: Casa Frela

Album: Archives

Album: CASA FRELA DREAM TEAM COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Represented in this exhibition are artworks created by 7 prisoners incarcerated in the following institutions in Texas, California and New York:
The Telfort Unit, New Boston, Texas
The Federal Med Center, Fort Worth, Texas
The OL Luther Unit, Navasota, Texas
New York City Department of Corrections
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
My original concept for the exhibition came from one person I know in prison. As I began to consider a wider, more geographically diverse concept, I contacted different prison facilities around the country. The responses were very caring and supportive of my idea to have a coast-to-coast exhibition of prisoner art.

My contact with inmate artists was a learning process for me. I am really glad that I took the time to know and understand these people. I felt that I could really do something helpful for inmate-artists on the “inside,” but I was surprised to learn that they had things to teach me on the “outside.” I hope that through the artworks presented, individual viewers will also learn something about the lives of these incarcerated people. Their collective story is not the letter of sad tales one might expect.

Based on my written contact with some of the artists/prisoners represented in the exhibition, I have learned that no place like “home “or “family” exists for many of them. Some of the inmates who wrote me are in very small cells no bigger than a telephone booth. I always associate phone booths with Clark Kent/ Superman. Whereas Clark Kent spent a few seconds in a telephone booth, an inmate may spend 20 hours a day. If I was locked up forever, I think I would like it if some one on the outside, would be kind enough to give me a #2 pencil and a piece of cardboard so I could draw.

I intentionally didn’t inquire about the particular crimes or offenses of individual artists/ prisoners. Whether right, wrong or indifferent, I hope my gallery can provide a little hope and a momentary release in these places where Hell does exist.

All sales from this exhibition will directly benefit the individual artists.

Lawrence Rodriguez, Curator

For additional information and images of selected artworks, Please contact Casa Frela Gallery at casafrela@runbox.com. You can also visit our website: www.casafrela.gourdom.com.