call process

Each week, artists only have one chance to speak to each other—at a one hour designated time when the inside artist will call our shared phone line. Since there are many logistical barriers on the inside, and no Internet or text messages to reschedule, many times these calls do not go through.

For example, some of these barriers include the following that have come up this year: there are no clocks in San Quentin, and some artists tell the time by looking at the televisions and having memorized what programs are on at what time. Lockdowns occur without warning for reasons such as a guard’s cell phone going missing. Quarantines, which confine incarcerated people to their cells, are implemented for weeks when there are flu outbreaks. The phone call area is far away from some artists, who have to walk over a mile to make their calls. Phone lines may unexpectedly break down.

However, when they do go through, these conversations become some of the most precious parts of the artistic collaboration. These are a few of the quotes Stanford artists have written down, spoken by San Quentin artists.

“I feel like we speak the same language.”

“I go by Mesro the Human Sun and my art is everything to me.” “A snowball starts at the top of the hill. A tiny snowball, as it rolls down the hill, it grows and grows.”

“...sometimes there are stories that don’t get put on the news.” "...being able to have that outlet , instills hope in people when they present their art and they know their message is getting seen and felt by people who care about their condition."

“Art does not rehabilitate. Not in itself. Everyone has the capacity of self-expression within them.”

“ God gave us memory so we could see roses in the winter” “a cracked nebula leaks trembling light all around cradles me softly, I rise yet higher my eyelids glow orange, shadows glide around a faceted chamber kaleidoscopic; I am not alone.” “That would bring us closer together as people, to be able to share our art, to share how we feel about it, to explore our similarities more than what sets us apart.” .

“Don’t bury your talents!”