On December 20th, 2024, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) published a story about murals created by incarcerated artists as part of efforts to beautify the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF).
These creative endeavors are run by the CDCR’s arts-based educational program, Healing Through Creative Practices. This project represents just one example among others in which incarcerated artists have contributed to the beautification of California facilities.
Creative Projects Promoted as Therapeutic
The CDCR promoted the murals at the Central California Women’s Facility on their official website. The project, run by the Healing Through Creative Practices arts-based educational program, was stated to have the dual purposes of therapeutic rehabilitation and beautification of CCWF facilities.
S. Baltazar, the creative producer for the project, was quoted as saying that various community artists “have contributed” to the program, hinting at the collaborative nature of these beautification efforts. Five female mural artists, themselves incarcerated individuals, have been leading workshops for other artists incarcerated at the institution.
E. Yoshi, one of the incarcerated artists who worked on the mural, made proud statements about its creation. “We’re painting a nature mural,” Yoshi stated. “I feel when the community gets to walk by, and see nature, it’s just uplifting.”
Elizabeth, another incarcerated artist, spoke on the collaborative nature of the project, stating, “You think with so many people working together it’s going to be hard, but we work around each other.”
Beyond the opportunity to collaborate on a project together, others have spoken about the impact the mural has had on beautifying the facilities. Belinda, an artist at CCWF who has been incarcerated for 15 years, described looking at “gray walls” as depressing. “Looking at something beautiful and colorful just takes us out of it,” she asserted.
A video posted to the CDCR webpage features the creation of one of the murals. Within it, artists use paint rollers with vivid colors to detail floral designs along a sky-blue backdrop.
Other Beautification Contributions by Incarcerated Artists
The murals at the Central California Women’s Facility are one example of several in which incarcerated artists have worked to beautify state facilities. In September 2024, the CDCR promoted on its official website the unveiling of the palliative care mural at Stockton’s California Health Care Facility (CHCF), which was created in collaboration with incarcerated artists.
The CHCF mural combined the efforts of four artists, Isaac Sinsun, Antonio Garcia, Loreto Arizpe, and Francisco Olivares. It took 81 days to complete, with about 2,268 hours of work. The designs for the mural combined ideas from the facility’s custody, medical staff, and the incarcerated population within the housing unit.
As with the murals at the CCWF, the designs for CHCF’s murals are nature-themed, featuring scenes such as serene woodlands and an underwater view of ocean life. Per Warden Gene Jones of the CHCF facility, the aim was to create a more appealing environment for both staff and the incarcerated population to enjoy.
Quality of Life Efforts for California’s Incarcerated Population
In May 2024, the CDCR posted its Spring 2024 Population Projections for incarcerated populations within the state of California. According to the report, the total number of institutionalized individuals and those on active parole has decreased in recent years, with a marked reduction of 17.4% in 2023.
These populations are predicted to continue decreasing throughout the remainder of 2024 and continue throughout 2025 and 2026. However, California’s total incarcerated population remains at a total of 96,033.
For these populations, projects such as Healing Through Creative Practices represent an opportunity for them to participate in and collaborate with their communities. Its success in transforming the walls of the CCWF could demonstrate a larger movement towards empowerment in rehabilitation.
