San Quentin resident and artist Virgil Woods titled his artistic ways “From sticky fingers to God-gifted hands.”

Prior to incarceration, the artist was a moviegoer who loved to watch Batman and felt that the Joker character does not get the credit he deserved for giving Batman hell. 

“Everything that the Joker touches is a work of art,” said Woods. “I noticed that every time that they come out with another movie they bring out new Joker, but it will never be as good the original Joker.” 

Woods said he related to the Joker’s unsettled situation and asked why the Joker could never have a happy ending. Woods said he has always kept looking for a happy ending in his life, an ending in which he would have his children who would look at his work and would feel proud of their father. The 60-year-old acknowledged that he wasted his life behind prison bars as a repeat offender.

Woods used his creativity to express his appreciation toward all the women who had played a part in his life. In A Toast to Our Love, the artist showed a tropical heart with two champagne glasses and two roses to signify women as one of God’s greatest blessings. 

Woods said he has always felt that the world under-appreciated women, which motivated him to feature them in his art. 

“History has shown that most women are the backbone of a man,” Woods said. “Not only a ride-or-die chick [a reliable woman] providing love, nurture, and wisdom. If I fall they’re there to pick me up.”

Woods’ art also referenced the past versus the present by depicting historic aspects of San Francisco back in the 1800s. “Union Street and Market Street were there, but now we have stores, buildings, and bus stops and yet the streets are the same.”

Much has changed since San Franciscans used horses as the main form of transportation, the artist said. He added that if the owner whistled to the horse, it would come; they were able to bond.

“Now, the world has disconnected because of all the new technology. Now we use vehicles if you don’t take care your car and buy gas, it will run out. The train took the place of horses. 

In 1800s, people used to ask, ‘When is the next train?’ The response was tomorrow at 2:00 o’clock,” said Woods. “Now we have a train every fifteen minutes this is why it is important appreciate history and  art.”