Aztec dancers connect with culture, religion, identity, heritage
The culture of Aztecan Dance displays spiritual symbolism through dress and physical movement. The Nahua tribal warriors, called Aztecs, arrived in the valley of Mexico with only their cultural beliefs and idols. They left a heritage that has inspired generations with profound devotion. The tribal warrior dance appeases the gods and mediates … [Read More...]
Work behind the scenes takes community effort
San Quentin’s version of a red-carpet event, the 2025 San Quentin Film Festival, celebrated and highlighted the transformative power of film and filmmakers. Organizers dedicated the event to the memory of Marcus “Wali” Henderson, former editor-in-chief of San Quentin News and a member of the incarcerated team that put on last year’s film … [Read More...]
Images, inferiority, outlawed culture plague generations
As a result of the power of images, outlawed culture, and inferiority complexes, psychological trauma has plagued generations for centuries. People with a history of racial and cultural oppression in vulnerable communities are exposed to distress, according to Health A-Z. "Being systematically exploited, enduring repeated and continual … [Read More...]
El impacto cinematográfico dentro y fuera de las cárceles
Por el segundo año consecutivo la carpeta roja fue desplegada dentro las paredes del Centro de Rehabilitación de San Quentin. Evento en donde se resaltó al talentos de las personas que actualmente y anteriormente estuvieron encarceladas. Este evento duro dos días, en donde las personas encarceladas se entremezclaron personalidades tales como: … [Read More...]
Creative talents on display at San Quentin’s second film festival
The captive creativity and immense talent of San Quentin resident filmmakers shone through at the second annual San Quentin Film Festival Oct. 23-24. Residents mingled and networked with film directors, actors and producers, including Jesse Williams of “Grey’s Anatomy,” and Sheryl Lee Ralph, known for many roles on hit shows like “Moesha” and … [Read More...]
Expressive arts offer mental health reprieve
Over 200 San Quentin Rehabilitation Center residents packed Chapel B for expressive arts night, one of the many events in efforts to raise awareness during mental health week. SQRC Mental Health faculty greeted residents as they handed out toothbrushes, beef jerky, stress balls, and sticky labels with positive messages. Resident and Master of … [Read More...]
Thousands of hours dedicated to create replica coat of arms
A native of Mexico uses art to connect with his beloved state of Michoacán. For David Guerra, 39, who is serving a life sentence, art has become a beacon of hope inside these prison walls. He uses art to pass the time, to meet people, and to improve his communication skills. The artist created a replica of the coat of arms of … [Read More...]
Danza Azteca tradición prehispánica
Una tribu Nahua conocidos como “Aztecas”, llegaron al valle de México trayendo sus propias creencias, cultura, gastronomía, folklor y deidades, dejando una herencia que continua hasta el día de hoy inspirando a generaciones, sobre la importancia cultural y su expresión en danza; con un profundo significado de devoción a lo terrenal y divino. La … [Read More...]
Resident’s creativity reignites artistic fire despite setbacks
Keffier Savary is a man of many aptitudes: painter, sculptor, and musician. He is also a veteran. He hails from Kingston, Jamaica, but is known to friends as “Miami” after the city that raised him, and where his talents surfaced. While incarcerated at California Health Care Facility, he works as a peer support worker. “Art was always in me,” … [Read More...]
Jelly Roll brings hope for redemption
Despite setbacks on path to recovery Jelly Roll's story inspires residents Jelly Roll connected with the incarcerated at San Quentin in an epic performance that brought a sense hope and redemption for many of those who have spent years or decades behind bars. Inmate Twitter spread like wild fire: “Jelly Roll and Post Malone are coming … [Read More...]
Symposium highlights impact of low literacy on incarcerated
Low literacy impacts approximately 70% of incarcerated adults in the U.S. In California, a large portion of individuals in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation scored below a sixth grade reading level on their adult basic education test. San Quentin Peer Literacy Mentors is a program that provides … [Read More...]
Marin Shakespeare takes center stage
Residents of Shakespeare at San Quentin performed Love’s Labors Lost to an audience of nearly 80 people in Chapel B. Co-director Suraya Keating has been teaching at San Quentin since 2005. She said the program gives incarcerated individuals a chance to recognize violence and crime using artistic expression. She said she hopes performance arts … [Read More...]
Collaborative Arts in Corrections event draws energy, connection, inspiration
Student portraitists, ceramic artists, sculptors, muralists and pastel art designers gathered at San Quentin to celebrate an annual art event with incarcerated artists. Professor Siskin co-founded the art event with Arts In Corrections staff member Carol Newborg. Every year the event is open to all incarcerated residents. Newborg hosted the … [Read More...]
Semi-annual Children’s Book Fair a literary hit
Incarcerated build connection between society and prison through literacy Residents rushed into the small prison library 10 to 15 at a time where a dozen tables loaded with children’s books stood scattered during the Book Fair. Resident Saias Nuñez, who had been waiting in a line that stretched all the way from the library to the … [Read More...]
San Quentin Stitchers donate handmade regalia
In a small library lined with computer stations and a few square tables in the center of the room, over 70 residents moved to and from the counter gathering yarn, needles, and fabrics in the new Stitchers of San Quentin group. Resident Phillip Hernandez laid out a blanket that he had made with pineapple patterns running down the center. He … [Read More...]
Tragic and dark: The Brothers Karamazov
Reading translated literature originating from the pens of a variety of translators could mean reading radically different versions that might scarcely correspond to one another. For me, this has held especially true with Russian literature. Brat’ya Karamazovy by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, known to English-language readers as The Brothers Karamazov, … [Read More...]
Oscar voters join SkunkWorks behind walls
A few days before the Oscars, the chapel at San Quentin became a screening room for a film that hits close to home. Incarcerated people watched I Am Ready, Warden, a short film nominated for an Academy Award about a prisoner on Texas Death Row. The event was organized by San Quentin SkunkWorks. It marked the first time a film about justice and … [Read More...]
Documentary highlights America’s addiction epidemic
Which came first — the physical pain crisis or the opioid crisis? A film that corrected a misconception about conflicting causes showed at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center May 17. About 40 residents saw the documentary Tipping the Pain Scale, directed by Jeff Reilly in 2021, which drew attention to America’s addiction epidemic. Dr. E. Hollander … [Read More...]
Recognition ceremony highlights racial discrimination
The acknowledgment of racial discrimination against Asian American and Pacific Islander people came into view during a self-help recognition ceremony. Incarcerated people who participated in the self-help program R.O.O.T.S. (Restoring Our Original True Selves) brought awareness to the challenges of the AAPI community. “Racial injustice is a … [Read More...]
Resident’s art is his life story
Talented incarcerated artist depicted their art in difference forms individuals in exploring beyond ones reach which is the universe. Richard Sanders, a new SQ resident shares his art. “My art is my book and my life story,” Sanchez said. The artist loves to create abstract pieces, which he refers to as something that comes from his … [Read More...]
Film festival set to return in Fall ’25
The second San Quentin Film Festival is officially scheduled to return to San Quentin Rehabilitation Center later this year on October 23 and 24. This fall, for two days, film-industry insiders will once again converge on the 173-year-old San Quentin to connect with incarcerated filmmakers, a repeat performance of last year’s historic … [Read More...]
Artistic beauty created with discarded newspaper, rice, small rocks, paint
Through intricate crafts, San Quentin resident Santiago Valencia has been channeling his art into his rehabilitation. “I learned how to create figurines out of discarded newspapers,” said Valencia. “Being that I don’t have any financial help from family members or friends, I have been able to earn an honest living while incarcerated through my … [Read More...]
Fan of Disney constructs replicas of popular fictional characters
3-D style portrays character standing on his own Jack Anderwald, started drawing when he was 10. Now as an adult he decided to take it to a whole different level by incorporating his own 3-D style. The artist pointed out how he goes out of his way by carefully cutting out card stock into the shapes of every character that he creates. He wants … [Read More...]
SQ resident maintains family relations through art
For some incarcerated artists, art comes from a blood line. As a new resident to SQ, Daryl Harmon, have been going through prison culture shock. “When I first got here I wanted to watch this new cultural atmosphere and wait for the authenticity before I put myself out to this new movement,” Harmon said. The artist has been drawing … [Read More...]
Resident’s art makes connections
Meikel Cooper quickly assimilated into the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center’s culture of recovery by bridging the gap through artwork and communication. Cooper stated that art has helped make connections with residents, free staff educators, prison officials, and correctional officers by attending self-help groups. He said that art has … [Read More...]