I was just posting about how important art in prison truly is. Its a way to express themselves, pass time, be creative, and most importantly, gain a sense of confidence and accomplishment that few things in prison provide.
That being said, I have an idea!! I create these collages with magazine cutouts. I also make these lyric/quote collages that are really awesome and the only materials are the paper or cardboard to paste to, paper, scissors (which they can just tear it), and glue/water, which I think we can find a substitute for. They are allowed magazines right?
This would be something I would like to make my pp as a gift, but i doubt it could be sent unless it was small. SO... what if we sent the magazines, or even the magazine cutouts, printed quotes, lyrics, passages from books, etc. and sent directions on how to make these?
Would your pen pal like that or want to do the project?? Look at the ones I have done and let me know what you think!! I will put together step by step instructions and ideas for materials to send if you think this is something your PP might be interested in!!
Ania Wall - Murals and Design
*Check out the one that says "Heather." My sisters and I made this for my mom. We all picked words that described her with the definitions and her this collage!!
I have also done ones with pictures, positive quotes, funny movie quotes. They are really cool.
Here are my magazine examples
Ania Wall - Murals and Design
I don't know a lot about the do's and don'ts of prison. Is this a project we could facilitate for them, given approved materials??
Last post
I think that would be a fabulous idea! and I for one would like to send it to one of my guys, thank you!
I thought more people would think this is a good idea than just you and me, but lets do it! Do you know if there is a size regulation on the stuff you send? Like...you couldn't send them a poster or anything right? Can it even be bigger than 8'11 or now? I looked for a list of things you could or could not send, but all I found was these websites that you can send them packages. There were only certain times of the year you could send it... idk... it seemed weird. Anyway, do you think we could send blank paper? You can send magazines through amazon right?
Tell me more about your pen pal and Ill give you some good ideas on what to make him. Collages are fun because you never get sick of looking at them...there is so much going on!
Isn't it kind of sad I still don't have a pen pal yet? I mean...I wrote 3 people and I know it takes time :( Since I can't do all these cool things for my own pp yet, I want to help you!!
Its a thing id like to do but hes in Texas and they arent allowed anything there...in his letter today he was telling me about drawing and how he didnt know how to draw until he went to prison and practised said it took him ages to do.
How about macaroni and silver glitter handcuffs?
I do art with my pp. We're writing a piece of fiction together. It's a great story but even more important to me was how much he opened up, got stuff of his chest, and related. It was sooooo awesome. Writing is my art so that's what I've been sharing, but I can totally see visual arts (or tactile arts) being equally as important and great.
I have a good friend that teaches quilting in juvenile det. centers and women's prisons and she is AMAZED at how much it means to people "this square represents my sister" etc. Pieces of living art that can make connections to family and self where those connections have been broken.
I also just sent my pp a couple of prisoner writing publications (they publish prisoner's creative writing.)
*Can you contact the prison to ask about these ideas and how to send, etc?*
Your work is beautiful Ania. I'm going to mention it to MM, but if you have ever seen him DRAW, you know he doesn't have an artistic bone in his body and neither do I, lol. Let me rephrase - We TRY, we're just not successful, lol. We're downright AWFUL!!!!! But I do have a pal that sends me artwork from time to time.
As gooddog said the challenge might be them being allowed to have the tools required. But it's a GREAT idea.
OK Ok... I get it! Not everyone is in touch with their creative side.. But I promise you have it!! Take a look at the example of fonts, quotes, and words attached. If you guys provide the quotations, phrases, lyrics....whatever... I will reformat them and post. You can either use it in your letters, make a collage, or send it to your pp to make a collage with. I will put together some other ideas and instructions. Just post your ideas and I will put everyone's suggestions together post a pdf for you all to use.
[ATTACH]1379[/ATTACH][ATTACH]1379[/ATTACH]
Don't know if you already got this covered, but: one writing exercise offered to prisoners in Prisoners Express writing newsletter is that a theme is put out there for them to expound upon: incompletion, hope, family, for example. They would write creative essays on it. The same can be done in collage, no? (along with the lyric, quote etc. part)
Yeah for sure! Thats a really cool idea too!! I was thinking that since you are a creative writer, you would have something to share. Idk... it could be anything. I will put it all together and then everyone can cut out the things they want to use or their collage.