CorrespondARTS: We Belong Here (2021)

We Belong Here: Reclaiming Our Space Through Art is an exhibition held at RhizomeDC featuring the work of incarcerated artists who are members of our local community.

Featuring over 50 works, We Belong Here explores themes of community, space, and identity. Because individuals sentenced in DC are sent to any one of the over 100 federal prisons across the country, many of our neighbors are now far away from home, severed from their communities and families. Others remain close by but are hidden behind the walls of our state prisons and county jails. With this exhibition, Justice Arts Coalition (JAC) hopes to reconnect these artists with our local community by engaging us with their unique talents, creativity, and vision.

This is JAC’s second exhibition in partnership with RhizomeDC, a non profit community art space dedicated to promoting creativity as a force for personal empowerment and community engagement. The exhibition will open on October 24th and run through November 20th.

At the opening event on October 24th, creative work produced by CorrespondARTS participants will be performed by Voices Unbarred, an organization amplifying the voices of those impacted by incarceration through theatrical tools that inspire them to direct their own narratives and affect change for themselves and their communities.

Cover Artist: Shaka Free Bird (Blue Jay) Watercolor on Strathmore toned gray mixed media #400 series 2021

ARTISTS

Theresa Collins

Corron Asia “Baby Doll” Cutler Deiadrea Douglas L. Jacobs Clyde Johnson Aizeah Q’Nique Se7en Steven Schopfer Shaka Tycheika (Lady Bug) and several who chose to remain Anonymous

I would like to say how much I love CorrespondARTS issues. They inspire me so much but I struggle with creating because I get in my head with doubts. I want so much to be free with expressing myself and to grow as an artist but for some reason I stunt my growth with thinking I’m not good enough. This painting was fun when I started it though, and I felt like a kid again. I never used this paper with watercolor before and I really enjoyed how the watercolor medium lay on the page. I also feel creating more now with the medium. Thank you CorrespondARTS instructors for your positive words and exercises. It has built my confidence to produce art and putting the weight on my shoulder aside.

“FREE BIRD” (BLUE JAY )

I Remember

I remember cold blistering nights outside in an oh so careless world. Face beat red, clothes too tight trying to find a place to rest. Feet hurting from walking in the dirty streets of Baltimore. Can’t even remember where my last meal came from or when I had it. The fake hair and make up to make me a twelve year old girl look at least eighteen. I remember no one even caring if I was that age. Lonely and abandoned by the ones who are suppose to love you the most. Tragedy and heartache coming from every turn you make. Broken and beaten most of the time, blood oozing down my face curling under my chin. I remember the ache of it ALL!

DEIADREA DOUGLAS

Raised Hands

Stop the Violence! Keep the peace!

Don’t you see?

My people are Black, Bold & Beautiful Stop the Violence! Keep the peace!

My two sons who are black bold & beautiful!

Open your mouth

Raise your voice and sing

The Gospel Music of our people

Your ancestors who were once enslaved to violence & sleepless nights used this gospel music to send a message nationwide Stop the Violence! Keep the peace!

TYCHEIKA (LADY BUG)

Man, why everybody always tryna step on me. I try to wait to come out my hiding spot when the humans turn their lights off and go to bed. But I get so carried away when I’m munching on those dry a** chips, then I gotta make my way to the sink or through the dishes that’s still wet for a drink of water. I try to put my cousins on, but then they gotta bring they girlfriend, kids, and their kids’ friends. They get out of line cause they want to go upstairs in these people house and crawl on the kids. Then all hell break out! The adults wake up and find some of my friends in the bed with their children and go crazy smashing up my friends. While I’m downstairs trying to finish my meal, I’m hearing the massacre going on upstairs. I just shake my antennas and keep it moving. So, while I’m back in the walls, I hear some conversing going on and like a hundred more of homeboys is ready to go out and do a drive by on the adults that smashed our friends.

So I say, “Man, let’s hide in the motor of the refrigerator and when they come down in the morning we’ll jump out and crawl on them and their food, yo!” LOL

I am

I am strong. I am changing, evolving. I am getting better. I am loyal. I am a fun mother. I am sad in my heart a lot. I am homesick. I am fatherless. I am okay. I am fat. I am pretty. I am somebody’s wife. I am somebody who loves. I am my mother’s twin. I am born on my mother’s birthday. I am bold. I am respectful. I am a good listener. I am a poet. I am an author. I am Black Lives Matter. I am loved. I am worth it. I am looked up to. I am lovely. I am not perfect. I am not forgotten. I am not a monster. I am mistaken. I am in prison. I am not imprisoned. I am not enslaved. I am sassy & classy. I am a story. I am going to tell it.

I am loving myself more!

“We don’t die, we multiply”

IQUE

I Remember I remember sleepovers at my Uncle Darryl’s house.

I remember crawling underneath my Grandfather’s bed every weekend we’d stay over, popping quarters out if the coin collector’s books to go to the ice cream truck.

I remember my Aunt Rosa making me Cream of Wheat and it becoming my favorite breakfast meal.

I remember long rides and cold fried chicken on our trips to Atlantic City.

I remember the high rise apartments Rachael lived in and their swimming pool.

I remember sucking my toes underneath the table by the sink when I was in Head Start.

I remember the day I stopped liking dandelions because a bug came out the stem and scared me so bad I started crying at recess.

I remember John walking me to school in the snow because he’d gotten suspended, and I met up with Olivia and we all had a snowball fight in the middle of the street. Making snow angels, snowmen, and laughing until our sides hurt.

I remember the camping trip we went on with Mr. Brady’s church.

I remember Sesame Place on 06/09/2007, the day Gianni was born.

I remember skating at the rink on Fridays at 7 pm with all my school friends.

I remember learning “Lean on Me” to sing at our 6th grade graduation in Mr. Barber’s music class.

I remember the green carpet that covered Ma’s porch and the front steps of her house.

I remember the city “Tea Party” I got invited to, and getting all dressed up to ride the bus and train to get there because my mother had to work and Ma (who took me) didn’t drive.

I remember knocking on Uncle Richard’s door to his room, that was always closed, and running away, giggling.

I Am

I am sitting in this prison waiting. Always waiting for something, yard, meals, count. Waiting to hear back from case management, parole, even letters from home. In the end we’re all waiting to go home, waiting for the day we see our family again. That’s all there is to do in prison is wait. Ultimately that’s what life is all about. We all wait for something, wait for a better life than wait for death. Patience is needed when waiting, that’s something you learn in life, you’re not born with it. Just be patient and all the things you wait for will come on time.

I Remember

I remember the first dream I can remember.

I remember being young and happy.

I remember when she packed us up and leaving early in the morning.

I remember my whole little world changed.

I remember growing up fast.

I remember when he killed himself.

I remember thinking all was lost.

I remember being on the run, lost with nowhere to go.

I remember finding an escape from all my troubles.

I remember all the pain and hurt I caused.

I remember crying out for help for the first time.

I remember feeling everything was going to be ok.

I remember when I first saw her.

I remember the day he was born.

I remember my whole world changed.

I remember throwing it all away.

SE7

EN

I Remember

I remember my 4 closest friends Kenny, Tommy, Tyrone, Calvin

I remember pushing the merry go round as fast as we could

I remember chasing each other around the park with toy guns

I remember the smell of honey suckle (at the park)

I remember dares and the feeling of bravery

I remember the feel of wind on my face racing my bike

I remember quarter waters jammed into the back wheel to make motorcycle noises

I remember hot summer days where adventure never stopped

I remember the feeling of freedom you only really know in childhood

I remember limitless imagination being able to visualize whatever scenario came up

I remember being a pirate, a cop, a soldier, a bionic kid, a superhero

I remember the shock of jumping in the pool for the first time

I remember Marco Polo and sharks + minnows

I remember crushes and coming up with ways to say I like you

I remember talking trash to the older kids and the thrill of getting away

I remember having to be home but not wanting the day to end

I remember thinking it’s not all the way dark yet

I remember racing home because somehow it did all the way dark

I remember every day being worth it

I remember not being able to wait to do it all over again

There is a tree, you’ve never seen the likes of it.

It is watered by the river of life with…… beautiful bark, fragrant as the essence of the orient, like spices, cinnamon, chamomile, so pleasant.

Sturdy branches, stretching forth to its admirers. They describe it as the fulfilment of their desires.

Under its shade you are guaranteed a lovely sleep.

It bears a different fruit for every month every one all sweet.

Only the worthy partake of it. They each endured great hardship.

Its leaves can heal all sickness.

By it the nations are blessed.

That is the tree there is none like it.

But I believe it exists, that is how I’m writing this.

CLYDE JOHNSON

Life is way too real right now to be confused and unfocused. It’s time to set goals and execute. We are all Gods, it’s on you to align with the higher power to give you the confidence to achieve ANYTHING. YOUR REALITY is totally up to you. First you have to take full responsibility for what happens in your life. As long as YOU keep blaming others for YOUR mishaps YOU are not in control of YOUR life. For example everybody is born with 2 eyes, it’s on you what YOU choose to focus on. 2 ears, listening instead of just hearing, make a big difference. 2 hands, don’t just hold on, grasp life and take control. 2 legs, it’s totally up to you where YOU end up. I don’t know about you but the only thing stopping ME from succeeding is ME! Set goals for the next five years and don’t let NOTHING or NOBODY distract you.

I am not a perfect person, every saint has a past & every sinner has a future. I made a lot of mistakes. But I really appreciate those people who stay knowing how I really am. Family isn’t defined by last names or by blood. It’s defined by commitment & by love. It means showing up when people need it the most. It means having each other’s back. Pay attention to what holds you down & who holds you back! Real chemistry is rare. Real support is rare. Real friendship is rare. Real is real.

If you find it keep it. I’m very careful who I call my friends because I’ve seen friends do what enemies do. Sometimes you gotta fall back & just observe. People who can’t communicate think everything is an argument. Never put your time into the hands of the ungrateful & stop being the go to person for people you can’t go to. God isolates you so can get yourself together. It may seem like you lost friendships & relationships but a better you is worth more. The strongest hearts have the most scars. Time doesn’t heal anything. It just teaches you how to deal with the pain. It will all ow worry to come in. It pushes out peace. I don’t have room for both, positive vibes only!

I Remember

I remember my grandmother’s kitchen.

I remember the vinyl tablecloth on the chrome leg table.

I remember the smell of Marlboro Lights and the big glass ashtray that sat at her place always.

I remember how happy Grandma was to see me each and every time I visited. I knew I was welcome.

I remember the tiny silver tinsel Christmas tree that she would put on top of the big console TV every year, a small ceramic manger scene at its base.

I remember getting so excited when it was time for my grandfather, who I called Pap pap, to get home from his railroad job. He would enter through the basement and take off his dirty uniform before bursting into the kitchen to hug me.

I remember that Grandma would stand at the old electric waffle iron making waffles until both Pap pap and me were stuffed full.

I remember playing gin rummy around the table and how grown up that made me feel even though I’m pretty sure they let me win.

I remember that “60 minutes” would come on the small black and white TV on the kitchen counter, the ticking of the clock at the show’s opening, and we knew that my father would soon appear to pick me up.

I remember that I would watch every story, interested and sad at the same time because I really wanted was to stay in that kitchen.

Box

I am a box I sit here all day

People just use me In any old way They don’t care They don’t ask

When I get tired I just collapse My purpose served Without a care Get a new box If you dare

Poem

If there’s a time someone leaves, remember them in your heart and they’ll always be there.

Every cloud has its own form.

When I look at a person, I see life and love.

When I go dark, I try to go to sleep to wake up different.

When I think about my mom, I wonder was she ready?

I Am I am big, I am small, I am tiny, I am large, I’m over here, I’m over there, I’m everywhere, I am a soul, a person lost in the world, or am I. I am something, but what, I am the one the only, I am one of a kind, I am a dot in a big hole trying to climb out, I am stuck like chuck, I am here, I am strong, I am powerful, I am what I am.

I Remember

I remember my first grade teacher screaming when I wrote in cursive. I remember hating every day in school. And daycare. And summer camp. I remember getting my own house key. Unlocking silence. I remember waiting for the day to end. And the next. And the one after that. I remember my Nonna saying “This too shall pass.” She lied.

I remember thinking I was in love. Getting married too young. I remember when he made me quit school to fix cars. And houses. And trucks. I still remember how to fix everything. But us.

I can’t remember falling asleep wanting to wake up again. I remember waking up on the floor because he didn’t choke me long enough. Hiding my left eye for a month when it hit the railing. I remember being forbidden to talk to my friends. Then my family. I remember not being allowed out alone. Or uncovered. I remember when work was my hiding place. Then he found me.

I don’t remember anyone trying to stop him. I remember being blamed when I couldn’t stop him either. I remember the day he couldn’t hurt me anymore. Your state picked up where he left off.

I remember looking around. Seeing the other women hurt, scared, discarded. Realizing I wasn’t alone. Realizing together we could win.

Now I’m sitting, watching the tape slowly reeling to the right. I am patiently, patiently waiting to flip it over and play the B side.

L. JACOBS

CorrespondARTS is JAC’s multidisciplinary, distance learning arts program, which launched in November, 2020. Through the CorrespondARTS pilot, participants at Maryland Correctional Institution for Women receive themed packets of prompts and activities in creative writing, poetry, theatre, and visual art every two weeks for six months. Now, CorrespondARTS includes participants at three Maryland prisons: Dorsey Run CF, Central Maryland CF, and Baltimore City CF. Participants can send their responses back to the CorrespondARTS team for feedback and reflections. JAC has pulled together an amazing group of local teaching artists, each with experience facilitating programs in carceral settings, to lead this project: Lori Pitts, Carien Quiroga, Schai Schairer and Leslie Bumstead. This project is made possible by support from: