Peter Merts, photographer
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Prison Art
*** Some of my favorite prison art photos ***
Jerry Welsh holds his acrylic painting, at Sierra Conservation Center. 2016
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Portrait session in the art studio at San Quentin State Prison. 2006
Carving a linoleum block for printing, in the art studio at San Quentin State Prison. 2008
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Solano SP
Afro-Caribbean drumming at Salinas Valley SP. 2015
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San Quentin
Student with his painting reproduction, in the art studio at San Quentin State Prison. 2015
drawing by Juan Vega
Theater students, wearing Commedia dell'arte masks, perform for thier classmates at Pelican Bay State Prison. 2016
Painting students in the Catholic chapel at Sierra Conservation Center. 2016
A student rehearses for a dance/spoken word performance, in the Protestant chapel at San Quentin State Prison. 2016
Movement + spoken word students and their instructor work on choreography, in the Protestant chapel at San Quentin State Prison. 2016
Artistic Ensemble at San Quentin, 2016
Students practice hip-hop dance moves in the gym at Ironwood State Prison. 2016
Creating a mandala with flower petals, at California Institution for Women. 2016
Valley SP
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A dance student leaps in a visiting room, at Central California Women's Facility. 2017
An origami student holds his work, in the art studio at San Quentin State Prison. 2017
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A guitar student watches his instructor, at North Kern State Prison.
A songwriting student tries a melody, in a bare warehouse space at CCI Tehachapi. 2018
Theater students and their instructor modify the script during rehearsal, in a visiting room at California Medical Center. 2018
Theater students begin their weekly class in the old stone chapel, at Folsom State Prison. 2018
CA Correctional Center
An art student holds a textbook, in a classroom at Calipatria State Prison. 2018
A music student at CTF Soledad.
A student considers his work-in-progress, during a theatrical mask-making class at High Dessert State Prison.
A student wearing theatrical makeup emotes during class at Ironwood State Prison. 2018
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A sculpture student with his work, at Lancaster State Prison - 2019
A student stops to inspect his painting in window light, in a gym at Pleasant Valley State Prison. 2019
Portrait of a pet, at California Institution for Women - 2019
Folsom
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With seed pod rattles and an eagle feather, a student practices a traditional Aztec dance at Substance Abuse Treatment Facility. 2019
A theater student applies his makeup with a mirror, at California State Prison Sacramento. 2019
The main gate of San Quentin State Prison.
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View from the art studio at San Quentin State Prison.
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A vocal improvisation workshop, in the Protestant chapel at San Quentin State Prison.
Sailboat; Bruce Fowler; acrylic panel; 24x18 inches; 2012.
Origami class, San Quentin State Prison, 2017
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