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Ericka Scott is part of the Public Participation Fellows Cohort 2019-20. Beauty Behind Bars responds to the question, “How do we uplift and mobilize our public participation?”

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Ericka Scott
Beauty Behind Bars, 2020

 

Beauty Behind Bars is a collection of art created by individuals who are currently incarcerated. This project was curated by Ericka Scott who’s husband Pride has been locked up for 20 years and in and out institutions practically his entire life. Despite meeting in 1990, their lives took very different paths yet they reconnected after 15 years. The two married in 2014 at Solano State Prison. The photographer, also an inmate, captured the 24 year history of the couple in a photograph that was later sketched by another inmate with a single pencil in 20 minutes.

Inspired by this experience, Ericka wanted to share the beauty of the image with the world and to show a different side of what people envision regarding ‘prisoners.’ She visualized hosting an artist showcase and with the help of her husband, they gathered artists and families who were equally ready to share their work with the world.

Portrait of Ericka Scott with her husband Pride by Yusuf Nichols, 70 years old. Incarcerated for 29 years in California.

Created by Jonathon, incarcerated at Pontiac Correctional Center in Pontiac, Illinois and submitted by his fiancé, Lea. Lea states with the submission, “During this stressful COVID lockdown and seeing the Black Lives Matter movement transpire, leaving them feeling helpless yet inspired, he and his neighbors created some truly beautiful works of art that they hope to share with the world.”

Created by Jonathon, incarcerated at Pontiac Correctional Center in Pontiac, Illinois and submitted by his fiancé, Lea.

Created by Jonathon, incarcerated at Pontiac Correctional Center in Pontiac, Illinois and submitted by his fiancé, Lea.

Created by Jonathon, incarcerated at Pontiac Correctional Center in Pontiac, Illinois and submitted by his fiancé, Lea.

Joesph “Lil Man” Valencia, currently incarcerated in California.

Shards of History, created by Greg Freeman. Sun hangings made from glass dating back to the 1800s; all glass is from California, mostly from San Francisco.

Created by Eric Christo Martinez in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He had previously served at the federal penitentiary in Pennsylvania.

Created by Eric Christo Martinez in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He had previously served at the federal penitentiary in Pennsylvania.