The day before inmates Thanh Tran, Eric “Maserati-E” Abercrombie, and Gregg “G” Sayers, created Reality Check — a song that describes the human condition—they sat in a small room in San Quentin to rehearse it for their first time on-stage performance as a group. As Sayers softly plucked his guitar, Maserati-E sang Reality Check’s hook. Tran chimed in with harmony. They made small corrections as they had only put the song together the day before, in a matter of hours. One of San Quentin’s radio producers, inmate Louis A. Scott, brought … [Read more...] about Breaking the cycle of incarceration with music from behind prison walls
Arts
Beso Negro performs in year’s final yard show at SQ
The Bay Area’s gypsy swing, band Beso Negro (Black Kiss) treated San Quentin prisoners to acoustic musical mastery at its Sept. 29 event, which was San Quentin’s final yard show of the year. Loud applause and whistles greeted the group, as lead singer/guitarist Adam Roach’s piercing vocals opened the 90-minute set. Bassist Cheyenne Young, guitarist Eli Carlton-Pearson and drummer Ethan Turner filled out the ensemble. “They were bad ass,” said inmate J. Esparza, who plays with the prison house band Continuum. “They were phenomenal. They … [Read more...] about Beso Negro performs in year’s final yard show at SQ
Rising operatic star mesmerizes SQ
Rising opera singer Sara LeMesh brought her musical talents to San Quentin State Prison, mesmerizing her captive audience with her singing and charm. In the prison’s Catholic chapel, LeMesh used the power of her soprano voice to entertain an audience of more than 100 as she ran through a set of 19 songs on a Sunday evening in August. The men appeared focused as LeMesh sang, relaxing them all into a contemplative mood. “I never thought I’d see this in prison,” Benito Sosa, 32, said. He arrived at San Quentin six months ago. “I think … [Read more...] about Rising operatic star mesmerizes SQ
San Quentin musical event showcases lyrical artists
Rap music has become heavily materialistic lately, but true “MC-ing” resurfaced on San Quentin’s Lower Yard, as visiting artist Kev Choice Ensemble and an array of young San Quentin lyricists moved crowd. At the August 24 yard show had a mosh pit of young prisoners “turned up,” as their generation calls it. They danced wildly, pumped their hands in the air and popped invisible collars on their state blue shirts, as they surrounded the makeshift stage. The multi-talented pianist and rapper Kev Choice was the definition of positive … [Read more...] about San Quentin musical event showcases lyrical artists
Long road to perform Shakespeare’s “King Lear”
It is a long road to a performance of Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” held on May 18, and “Comedy of Errors” on May 25. The cast has been rehearsing since last November. How a theater troupe creates the rollercoaster ride of emotions expected at a Shakespearean play is a mystery to most audiences. To appreciate the effort that goes into building that rollercoaster ride, you will have to go behind the actors’ curtain and see the real secrets of the theater troupe sponsored by the Marin Shakespeare Company at San Quentin. “Tragedy and how we … [Read more...] about Long road to perform Shakespeare’s “King Lear”
Using poetry to build bridges
A Colorado group called Words Beyond Bars is building bridges between prisoners and the public through poetry. Words Beyond Bars (WBB) hosts a poetry-reading event every other month at a public library in partnership with another organization, Unchained Voices. Community members listen to the thoughts and words of the prisoners and write responses to the compositions. The feedback is then given to the incarcerated poets. “We build connections that our current injustice system endeavors to disrupt,” Elie Zwiebel, a member of the Words … [Read more...] about Using poetry to build bridges
San Quentin Arts in Corrections At SFO
Don't miss "Flying Free" at SFO through October 24!! Accessible before security- Terminal 3 near United Baggage carousel Terminal 3 Arrivals-Level 1 - Pre-Security July 25, 2018 - October 24, 2018 https://www.flysfo.com/museum/exhibitions/san-quentin-arts-corrections-flying-free Carol Newborg, Program Manager San Quentin Arts in Corrections Carol@WilliamJamesAssociation.org WilliamJamesAssociation.org facebook.com/PrisonArtsProject … [Read more...] about San Quentin Arts in Corrections At SFO
Brothers in Pen anthology – “Pens Up, Don’t Shoot”
ANNOUNCEMENT The title of the latest anthology in the “Brothers in Pen” series, Pens Up, Don’t Shoot, arose from the phrase protestors rallied around after Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri in August 2014. So much has happened since then. This book’s first stories began to be compiled in 2015… but due to its editor’s molasses-like qualities, it was not finished until now. Please go to our blog, brothersinpen.wordpress. com to find out all about it! Please read it, pass this post along to announce its arrival, and if … [Read more...] about Brothers in Pen anthology – “Pens Up, Don’t Shoot”
The show goes on for SQ Shakespeareans
Drama therapy was in full display on May 18 as a nine-day quarantine ended at San Quentin for inmate performers in the Shakespeare play King Lear — a week later, the prison was on normal program for Comedy of Errors. “First, I was in shock,” said Jason Robinson about West Block getting off the quarantine. “But, Steve Emrick (Community Partnership Manager) said, ‘The show must go on.’ I was humbled that the administration made it happen, so outside people could see this play.” The King Lear Performance Robinson played Oswald, a servant to … [Read more...] about The show goes on for SQ Shakespeareans
SQ artists raise money for the fight against cancer
Artists incarcerated at San Quentin used their talent to raise money for cancer research at Cords Gallery during a First Friday art walk in Oakland. “I’ve been so inspired by the work of men inside who want to give back to their community and give back in creative ways, to not just support each other inside but to make an impact on the lives of folks in the greater community outside,” said Samantha Feld, a member of the San Quentin Compassionate Accountability Responsibly Expressed through Service (SQ CARES) committee that organized the … [Read more...] about SQ artists raise money for the fight against cancer