Artists get their inspiration from any facet of life. They might reference nature for landscapes, people for portraits, or ordinary objects for still life. With a plethora of supplies and colors available, the possibilities are endless. But what if the artist was confined to a small room with cement walls and no windows? What if the only materials they had access to were what they could find in their restrictive environment? Janie Paul explores these concepts and so much more in Making Art in Prison: Survival and Resistance. 

Paul’s late husband, Buzz Alexander, passionately and diligently started a program that provided and encouraged inmates in the Michigan incarceration system with the groundwork to create art in prison. The initiative, called the Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) at the University of Michigan, began as a way to enable inmates to express themselves, connect with the outside world however they can, and serve their time with some sort of dignity. Alexander believed that this process would help rehabilitate inmates by allowing them to create items of meaning and value. And each year, Paul and Alexander would travel throughout Michigan to meet the artists and select their work for The Annual Exhibitions of Artists in Michigan Prisons. 

Besides the artwork, readers also get insight as to the creative processes of each artist. The immensely positive impact that PCAP had on the participating inmates surprised me. Not only were they able to occupy their time in a productive way, but some even received commission requests from other inmates and were compensated for their work with money or other valuable items. More experienced artists would mentor and tutor novice inmates who were just starting out. It also allowed them to stay out of trouble and in good graces with correctional officers and each other.

Making Art in Prison was a pleasant surprise. I didn’t really know what to expect when I began. But as I continued reading about the artists, how they developed and improved their craft, and seeing images of their work, I began to see how truly unique yet important this project was. What fascinated me the most was the resourcefulness of the artists. Based on the security level of the inmates, they had limited supplies for their work. Have you ever tried to create a small sculpture using only toilet paper, glue, toothpicks, coffee, etc.? Some artists did more with less. All of it was simply remarkable.  

Paul and Alexander couldn’t bring any sort of recording equipment and had to manually write down conversations, quotes, etc. to include in the book. Yet they still somehow captured the personalities of each artist. Of course, and almost equally as important, the book includes facts relating to the incarceration system in the United States and what inmates can and will endure on any given day. Given their circumstances and the resilience demonstrated by their art, I am truly fascinated by what PCAP and the incarcerated artists have accomplished. 

Making Art in Prison is worth much more than its price tag. Artists, art lovers, sociologists/psychologists, lawyers, family members of the incarcerated, and everyone in between will undoubtedly enjoy what the book has to offer. The stories and art will make you think about your own circumstances and how you can make the most out of what you have. 

Making Art in Prison: Survival and Resistance is available now.