Wa Na Wari, an art and community space located in Seattle’s Central District, is currently hosting an exhibit titled “Voices From Inside,” featuring intricate artwork created by incarcerated members of the Black Prisoners Caucus (BPC) at the Monroe Correctional Complex.
The experience begins upon entering the gallery, where a distorted voice beckons visitors up the stairs into a pink room. This room, which resembles a children’s space, is starkly juxtaposed with the heavy themes presented in the exhibit. Here, a brown leather bench and a television dominate the room, the latter displaying a video that zooms through Google Earth, capturing the essence of Chicago’s bustling streets and the chilling confines of the Cook County Department of Corrections.
The audio accompanying the visuals consists of police dispatch conversations that describe individuals based on racial and clothing stereotypes, creating a dissonant atmosphere in this brightly colored room.
“Voices From Inside” is a collaborative effort between Wa Na Wari and the BPC, bringing together eight artists: Antaeus Laurent Clark, Heirius A. Howell, David Jackson, Tonelli Anderson, Jeremy Blaine, Handellah, Derik Maples, and Issac Carrasco. Co-founder of Wa Na Wari, Elisheba Johnson, shared that the curation process took over a year, emphasizing the unique nature of the project in comparison to the gallery’s usual collaborations with artists who typically have a formal art background.
Carrasco, one of the featured artists, articulated his multidimensional identity, noting how his upbringing in a diverse household shaped his perspective on race and the prison system. “I could not and I would not take part in the prison culture,” he stated, reflecting on his commitment to using art as a means of self-expression and resistance.
The exhibit presents a variety of mediums including hand-written poems, letters, beaded jewelry, and paintings, each piece narrating the artists’ lived experiences. The warm display of artworks on the walls evokes a home-like atmosphere, resonating with the essence of Wa Na Wari, which translates to “our home” in the Kalabari language.
Among the standout pieces is Tonelli Anderson’s beaded artwork, which portrays a pharaoh crafted from gold, white, and black beads. Johnson expressed her admiration for the piece, noting its popularity among visitors and acknowledging its cultural significance.
In a departure from their typical commission structure, artists receive 100% of the proceeds from their sold works, a decision made to empower the artists and emphasizes the importance of their voices in the conversation around incarceration,
“We haven’t sold this many pieces in a while, which is great,” Johnson remarked. “The reactions have been really good and powerful as visitors experience the multitudes within the exhibit — it’s not solely focused on incarceration but also explores themes of life, love, and personal growth.”
Among those who found inspiration at Wa Na Wari were visitors Lexxus Washington and Sensahra Hearn-Washington from Denver. Washington articulated a connection between the artwork and their own upbringing in Chicago, particularly the installation “Dreams of Confinement” by Christopher Harris.
The visceral nature of the video and its depiction of the police’s derogatory language provided a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by those in marginalized communities. “It’s nice that we can share what we go through with other people around the country,” Washington noted, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about systemic issues through art.
Hearn-Washington underscored the cultural gap in Denver by comparing the art scene in Chicago to that of their hometown. She lamented the lack of spaces that address themes like police brutality and the Black experience in Denver, asserting that the Denver art community does not confront these important issues as thoroughly.
Washington further elaborated on the responsibility artists hold when navigating such themes. “It’s a delicate balance,” they explained, highlighting the need to depict trauma authentically while ensuring the art serves as a source of inspiration and healing for the community.
Wa Na Wari’s “Voices From Inside” offers an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of the intersections between art, identity, and the complexities of the American prison system.
The exhibit not only provides a platform for underrepresented voices but also challenges visitors to confront their understanding of incarceration and its broader societal implications. As the exhibit continues, its impact resonates deeply within the community, fostering connections and conversations among individuals who may not otherwise engage with these narratives.
image source from：realchangenews
