Studio B exhibit shines light on prison life and art
Most of the pencil drawings were done by inmate art students who had no prior art instruction or experience
Studio B Fine Art Gallery in Boyertown opened the “PrisonArt and Experience,” a discussion and art exhibit in the studio’s Grey Gallery.
“The event was an impassioned request of the incarcerated curator, Richard Guy,” said Susan Biebuyck, Studio B’s Gallery Director. “It’s an attempt to educate people about the prison experience and to display the ways people find a path of expression using art.Attendees would derive that from the art. Given the amount of sales we had, it was greatly understood.” The prisoner art show and experience, represented by inmate Richard A. Guy, has as its central point the Pencil Drawing Art Class offered to prisoners.
“The class objective enabled eachprisoner to overcome the restrictive prison environment to see the world in a new perspective and express themselves through visual arts,” said Guy in a statement.
Guy, serving a life sentence at the State Correctional Institution at Fayette, launched the first exhibit of The Prism Project, “Inside Artists Reaching Out” showcasing art by inmates at theBraddock’s Carnegie Library in 2014.
For the Studio B exhibit, all of the drawings predate the pandemic lock-down status. All 3-Dart was done in-cell during COVID. The majority of pencil drawings were done by students who had no prior art instruction or experience. Also, most of the drawings were of traditional art, landscapes, still life and portraits.
“I personally hope that folks would recognize the talents of men and women who are incarcerated and how art can provide a valuable therapeutic experience, recognize the humanity of prisoners and their desire to be offered asecond chance through their rehabilitation to re-enter society, recognize the need for services and people to assist their re-entry,” said Jane Stahl, Director of Community Relations at Studio B.
“Non-violent offenders in prison for life without parole seems a waste of life and resources,” added Stahl.
Exhibit opening
Patrons attended the exhibit opening in person Oct. 29 as well as at home virtually via Facebook Live. The exhibit, an adjunct to the studio’s “Abstract, Impressionism, and Realty” exhibit will run through Nov. 28.
“The exhibit offers a look at how the prison experience has changed in recent years, how current events and politics affects the prison experience, and
some suggestions regarding re-entry, as well as a suggestion to consider the goal of the prison experience as rehabilitation versus lifelong punishment,” said Stahl.
Artist statements and profiles accompany the artwork. To communicate the prison experience to patrons, a posting of the Department of Corrections documents and supporting references provide a perspective of rules, policies and procedures including permitted art materials, religious activities and housing unit rules.
“Showcasing the artistic talents and experiences of people who are often deemed‘ throwaways’ in spires empathy in those of us who — but for the grace of God in many cases — were dealt different and more fortunate life circumstances,” said Stahl.
Prison life and art
Beyond the exhibit, Studio B aimed to facilitate discussion to educate the community about prison life and the benefit of art for inmates.
“I learned a lot about the prison experience, the difficulties of those who are incarcerated and of those who are left unsupported following their release,” said Stahl. “I learned that the Pennsylvania prison system needs reform. The exhibit and the conversations I’ve had with those involved have been eye-opening and inspiring.”
Joe Romeri, former inmate, and Jody Guy (Richard A. Guy’s cousin), executive director and founders of Wilkinsburg’s Civic Center, visited Studio B on Oct. 24 to speak about theprison experience and the role that art plays in the life of a prisoner. Historian Bob Wood facilitated the discussion that was attended by about a dozen people.
“The purpose of the event was to provide background information about the artists whose work is on exhibit and to provide some details and understanding about prison life and how the artists were able to create the work given the limitations in supplies and services,” said Stahl.
Romeri reflects on his own prison experience and the challenges of re-entry in the studio’s B Inspired podcast.
“I hope that they gained some insight of what prison life is actually like and that the reality that some people, unless things change, no matter what they do inside, they’ll never get out,” said Romeri. “(I hope) that they help educate others how the prison system works, that spending $1.5 billion a year to keep corrections going is such a waste.”
Talking about the benefit of art classes in prison, Romeri said people get involved and motivated.
“They feel good about themselves and that transcends to more things in prison,” he said. “Now, maybe you’re motivated to learn a skill and just doing well.”
For many decades, the goal of incarceration was for rehabilitation, said Romeri.
“But something changed along the way. Society changed. People became angrier. People became more vigilant. They just wanted people to be inside and to be punished.”
“Instead of having productive citizens coming out of the prisons, it’s generally the other way around,” he continued. “The people that come out and become productive citizens are a very few as opposed to those that come out and they struggle… and usually return to prison.”
For most, prison is a revolving door of inmates coming and going, but others change their lives inside prison; “It’s up to the individual to take advantage of it and really get something from it.”
Crediting his work ethic for his successful re-entry, he learned to be an electrician, earned a bachelor’s in information science and worked various jobs including carpentry, training dogs, teaching college Algebra and serving as a peer facilitator, as well as working as an electrician while in prison.
“When I went to prison (at age 16), I wanted to better myself. At some point, I didn’t think I’d leave but I just wanted to become a better person than what I was walking into it,” said Romeri who was granted parole 5 years ago. “That was something inside me that kept motivating me, kept pushing me… In the long run, it helped prepare myself more for release.”
Prison reform
Regarding the discussion event, Stahl said, “I think what happened at that event was that it inspired some kind of empathy for folks who are incarcerated. Many people see them as throwaways and to see you and listen to you speak, realize the humanity and what a waste of money and humanity in the way that we treat those in prison.”
In another B Inspired podcast, Stahl talked about prison reform with 2005 Boyertown alumna Sen. Amanda Cappelletti of the 17th Senatorial District in Montgomery and Delaware counties.
“People are just asking for support and resources to be able to change. I believe in giving people the grace to change,” Cappelletti said. “I believe that if this is supposed to be a rehabilitative system, which it is supposed to be, then sentencing someone to a life-without-parole, as we can here in Pennsylvania (there are many people who die within the prison system because of it), that doesn’t do what it is supposed to do.”
Talking about efforts in the Senate to address prison reform, Cappelletti said, “We’re working on some of these issues and we’re trying to make a change.”
“I hope that they gained some insight of what prison life is actually like and that the reality that some people, unless things change, no matter what they do inside, they’ll never get out.” — Former inmate Joe Romeri