Prison Murals and Transgender Activism
Elizabeth Nguyen was a student in AMS311s
My painting takes place in a prison that incorporates the Arts-in-Corrections program, and the specific scene is the mural photography center. This is depicted by the 2 murals, a table with paint equipment, a camera, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reference. The painting I produced relates to transgender activism and the art of the incarcerated. I created a painting because I was interested in applying my own interpretation of what a prison mural could look like. This form of art resonates with me because painting offers me an escape from reality which can be a helpful coping mechanism at times. Paintings can also embody a variety of different meanings which allows individuals to relate to the piece in their own personal way. In addition, viewing a painting can cause us to forget for a moment the background of the painter and appreciate their art. Viewing a painting or painting may provide the feeling of escape for the incarcerated by allowing them to feel and imagine the mural’s image as their current environment for some time.
In some prisons, the incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to create art, like painting wall murals. These murals are used as a photography backdrop for group and individual photos. The images cost approximately $2.00-$3.00 each. In addition, the prison photographer position is rotated amongst the incarcerated (Fleetwood 492). Some prison murals reference iconic landmarks however, the majority of the murals do not specify a location because the focus is on painting a place that has a light, is ungoverned, and has a few boundaries. It is also common to not see symbols that represent human life or a built environment. However, if these symbols are present, it’s typically depicted as a lighthouse or farmhouse. A reason for the vague mural paintings is to increase the difficulty of hiding gang signs (496-497). I incorporated a lighthouse in my painting to represent the built environment, a sunset to symbolize light, and a beach landscape to reflect a place with few borders.
A partnership between the CDCR and the California Arts Council led to the creation of the Arts-in-Corrections program which focuses on introducing the incarcerated to different forms of art such as painting, dancing, and music to inspire change and creativity and prevent recidivism. This program reduced institutional violence and improved self-discipline in the San Quentin State Prison (Linn). The Trans People Exist in the Future is a composition of selected visual images and poems from the Trans Day of Resilience art project (“Trans People Exist in the Future” 1). Butterflies were a common theme in 2 of the images (8, 24). A butterfly represents the transformation of a transgender individual. A caterpillar transitions into a butterfly and the individual transitions into a gender identity that differs from their sex at birth. In my painting, butterflies are escaping from an open mason jar which reflects an individual embracing their desired gender identity with the world.
There are prisons that are not in solidarity with and do not respect an incarcerated individual’s LGBTQ+ identity. This can cause the individual to live in a violent and mistreated living environment which can create a “painful void”(O’Donnell). There has also been an overwhelmingly large number of incarcerated transgender women being transferred into men's prisons or solitary confinement. Although the United Nations (UN) considers solitary confinement for more than 15 consecutive days as torture, many transgender individuals stay past this standard. These individuals even those without nonviolent offenses are often housed in solitary confinement for their own “protection”. In solitary confinement, they are deprived of accessing rehab, early release programs, warm living conditions, educational opportunities, and more (Ophelian). Therefore, it is important for incarcerated transgender individuals to understand that they are not alone in fighting for humane treatment and visibility. This can be achieved by conversing with the incarcerated individuals about shared experiences and offering support (O’Donnell). This act of showing support for the incarcerated, especially the transgender individuals, is present in the mural depicting Miss Major, with a backdrop of the transgender, and an inspiring quote. Miss Major is a trans woman activist and has been advocating for transgender women of color rights for more than 40 years. She is viewed as a mother, father, and grandparent by many and has been described as a safety net along with being a sage individual. She served as the first executive director of the Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP) which offers legal services for formerly or currently incarcerated transgender individuals (Ophelian). Miss Major was also incarcerated for four years. When Miss Major was asked about the advice she would share with the transgender individuals, she responded, “You have to keep the faith and keep going...” (Diavolo). The quote emphasizes perseverance and having it be said by a person who was formerly incarcerated and who still remains committed to helping the incarcerated transgender individuals makes the connection between her and the incarcerated more meaningful. Painting this specific mural was my way of conversing with and expressing my faith in the incarcerated transgender individuals.
Works Cited
Diavolo, Lucy. “Miss Major Griffin-Gracy Is Still Here and Wants Young Activists to
“Keep on Fighting”.” Teen Vogue, Condé Nast, 17 Jun. 2020, https://www.teenvogue.com/story/miss-major-griffin-gracy-still-here-young-activists-keep-fighting. Accessed 4 July 2022.
Fleetwood, Nicole R. “Posing in Prison: Family Photographs, Emotional Labor, and Carceral Intimacy.” Public Culture, vol 27, no. 3 (77), 1 Sept. 2015, pp. 487–511. https://doi.org/10.1215/08992363-2896195. Accessed 4 July 2022.
Linn, Sarah. “Arts-in-Corrections: California's Creative Response to a Broken Prison System.” KCET, Public Media Group of Southern California, 12 Aug. 2016, https://www.kcet.org/shows/artbound/arts-in-corrections-californias-creative-response-to-a-broke n-prison-system. Accessed 4 July 2022.
Major! Directed by Annalise Ophelian, performance by Miss Major Griffin Gracy, Floating Ophelia Productions, 2015. Accessed 4 July 2022.
O’Donnell, Kimberley. “The radical importance of writing letters to trans people in prison.” DAZED, 12 Feb. 2019, https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/43209/1/trans-lgbtq-people-prison-writing-lette rs-volunteer-activism. Accessed 4 July 2022.
“Trans People Exist In The Future.” Trans Day of Resilience, Forward Together, Nov. 2020, tdor.co/art/trans-people-exist-in-the-future-zine. Accessed 4 July 2022.