New book from Daylight showcases the passion of incarcerated artists
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Thursday, December 12, 2024


New book from Daylight showcases the passion of incarcerated artists
Ex Crucible: The Passion of Incarcerated Artists by Peter Merts Captures Art Classes in All 36 California Adult State Prisons © Peter Merts.



NEW YORK, NY.- "In this time of great social reckoning, when more and more people recognize the deep impacts of structural racism, economic injustice, and mass incarceration, Merts’s body of work is both spotlight and lightning rod. His illuminating focus and dedication to making deeply personal and graciously compassionate images —of a creative practice that most people will never see or participate in—provides a window into a particular aspect of the prison experience." —Annie Buckley

Photographer Peter Merts spent over 15 years criss-crossing California and photographing various kinds of art classes in all 36 adult state prisons. His newest book, Ex Crucible: The Passion of Incarcerated Artists (Daylight Books, June 2022), is an immersive collection of these images, along with essays, a map, and an interview excerpt with Merts sharing more of the project origins and context. All this combines to provide a view into the complex layers that inhabit not only the project as a whole, but the prison system, and the people contained within.

It is an ever-present dichotomy throughout these photographs: humans creating and connecting expressively and openly with creative mediums; and the prison facility backdrop that symbolizes different messaging, and often stereotypes in ways that can be dehumanizing.

The viewer sees photographs of people rehearsing Macbeth. In one photo, an artist is angling his oil painting up to light streaming through a window to capture a different view. Some images are of people in-process creating art, while others are more portrait in nature with the artist alongside their completed piece. The book is full of photographs of a rich array of artistic endeavors: drawing, painting, singing, acting, sculpting, dancing, playing musical instruments, spoken word and movement. There is also the repeating blue of the prison uniform.

In an interview with Michael Kirchoff, Merts shares his objectives as a photographer. Consistent with many artists, he cites learning about himself through the process of art making. But Merts also sees his photography as a vehicle for advocacy. This includes for the programs providing arts programming that addresses rehabilitative and mental health issues, and also to show a 'human' side to the stereotypes around prisoners themselves. Simply but powerfully put he says, "My goal is to illuminate their humanity."

The book also includes essays by two incarcerated individuals who each speak to this aspect of Merts's project. Rahsaan “New York” Thomas shares, "Peter’s pictures show incarcerated people as they are today, post-traumatic influences, and give us an opportunity to be seen as much more than 'violent felons.' Now, when my sons type their dad’s name into Google, pictures come up with me wearing a big, bright smile, accompanying the positive accomplishments reframing my past."

Following the images from within the prison walls, is a subsection of photographs entitled "Prison Towns." The prison locations span the length and width of California, and they are often placed in rural or small communities. Merts shares he would sometimes overnight, or explore the local areas, and his landscapes are absent of people yet filled with their presence. The juxtaposition of prison placement in these isolated regions operates on a symbolic as well as documentary level, and Merts' inclusion of these images in this book reinforces this.

Of the book's title, Merts notes, "It refers to an immutable stone container—in this case, a prison—as a place where intense energy refines and purifies a precious substance. The energy I’m thinking of is the experience of trauma and incarceration; the precious substance is artistic passion."

Peter Merts is a photographer residing in the San Francisco area. For decades he has focused on documenting the work of several arts-based non-profit (NGO) organizations. He is co-author of Paths of Discovery: Art Practice and Its Impact in California Prisons (2nd edition).










Today's News

April 10, 2022

J.M.W. Turner: The Romantic turns Reformist

New MoMA PS1 director leans into social justice and reaches out to Long Island City

Rare Chinese vase created for the Qianlong Emperor discovered in a kitchen in England

Sweeping Basquiat show curated by his sisters offers intimate look at the artist

Alice Neel's exclusive West Coast presentation comes to the de Young Museum

Betty White's collection of scripts, furniture, jewelry, personal items and wardrobe to Shine at Julien's Auctions

Exhibition of new work by Jordan Nassar opens at James Cohan

Maradona's "The Hand of God" football shirt to be offered at auction with £4 million estimate

The Guggenheim Bilbao opens 'Motion: Autos, Art, Architecture'

Phillips announces highlights from the April Editions Auction

AstaGuru celebrates the 'Month of Masters' this April as a tribute to Indian modernists

India's rich textile heritage and enduring influence on global design is celebrated in new exhibition

Exhibition coincides with UN celebration of the International Year of Glass

NGV International opens 'Transforming Worlds: Change and Tradition in Contemporary India'

'Articulating Activism: Works from the Shelley and Donald Rubin Private Collection' on view at The 8th Floor

The Approach opens the UK debut solo exhibition of paintings by Pam Evelyn

Artcurial to offer pieces from the collection belonging to Isabelle and Hervé Poulain

Iranian-born, UK-based artist and former Paralympian Mohammad Barrangi opens new exhibition

Using film to tell a personal history of America and race

Eleanor Munro, who profiled women artists, dies at 94

In Mariupol's drama theater, a cry for 'Mama!' That offered brief relief

New book from Daylight showcases the passion of incarcerated artists

Ke Huy Quan: From short round to romantic lead in just four long decades

Contemporary art in greater demand than ever: Buyers seek quality from all price ranges

OSL Contemporary opens Emily Gernild 'SOIL' curated by Milena Høgsberg

Best Marketing Tools for Beauty Brands in 2022

How to Travel Safely While Touring European Art Galleries

Three ways brands can increase their Instagram engagement 2022




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys
Houston Dentist
Abogado de accidentes
สล็อต
สล็อตเว็บตรง
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful