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Lives and works in San Quentin Prison.

Fabian Debora was born in El Paso, Texas and began his career in 1995 as a member of the East Los Angeles Streetscapers. He was mentored by many Chicano artists and muralists, and was introduced to creative expressions of all forms, from graffiti and murals to sketching and fine art painting. Fabian served as a counselor and the Director of Substance Abuses Services & Programming as well as a mentor at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles for a decade. He then moved on to worked as Community Connection Director at Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network, He is also a teaching artist for ACTA Alliance of traditional Arts, bringing arts to adult correctional facilities. He also works in collaboration with Latino Producers Action Network (LPAN) as the Art Director, and is an instructor for community artists and students throughout Boyle Heights, He has now returned to Homeboy Industries as the Executive Director of Homeboy art Academy perusing and developing his vision to continue to serve greater Los Angeles area, and abroad.

While serving a 7 to life prison sentencing, Gary learned how to do block printing, pointillism and collages. I enjoy doing art. I changed my mindset, so I continued to do more and began to love it and get better at it.  This is the reason why I create ART.  

I am originally from Humboldt County and Currently live in Marin County. I use my art to make the Native American and currently/formally incarcerated visible. Specifically visible as a human being and contributing member of society. My connection and coexistence within the natural world, my heritage, my culture and experience inspires and shapes my artistic expression. I draw from my childhood, my spiritual practice, my incarceration, living as a Native American in today’s society. Art has been my therapist, my freedom, my connection with my heritage and a tool for introspection.

Care Coordinator, St.John's RISE (Re-entry with Integrated Services, Engagement and Empowerment) Program

Jack Morris served 40 years in prison, more than 35 of which were spent in solitary confinement. Since his release in September 2017, he has been contributing to the community through his work as a care coordinator at St. John's Well Child and Family Center. Jack works with individuals re-entering society after justice involvement. He is a published author of two books, an artist and an advocate for social justice. 

Jack Morris, born & raised in Norwalk, Ca. Jack's interest in art began while incarcerated. While his body was isolated, art allowed the freedom to explore to the very depths of the universe. 

Jason Perry grew up in Compton, California as the youngest of five children raised by a single mother. Confused by his surroundings at a very young age, he realized that he could use his art to escape from his reality. He started to create art, entirely self taught. His work is inspired by those in his community and their great strength and resilience in face of adversity.

Jason Perry is now living and working in Riverside, California.

I am a community artist and social justice activist working with incarcerated artists and youth in Marin County, CA. My next mural collaboration is always in progress. I teach printmaking at San Quentin State Prison. I grew up in Germany, Afghanistan and Washington, D.C., where I graduated from public school. I believe strongly that art is a universal human need that marks our humanity. Natural curiosities inspire me. My personal art practice is where I can articulate questions and search for answers.

COVID -19 has had a profound affect on unveiling many different things that are happening with the human condition. One of them is, when you lock someone in a room their true self is going to come out. Two in terms of creating, it has had created the ability, at least for me, to really do some deep reflection on all these things that are starting to arise in our society. Institutional racism, we are starting to see it manifest strongly out there [outside prison] and in here. The rocket pieces are about prison and what the moment felt like, watching those that have the ability to leave, leave prison during COVID-19. What they leave behind is this surreal looking world that is in a state of chaos.

It can take some time to come up with an original idea to draw. I like to make carvings out of this prison soap called “barz”. Making art takes time off my hands. Prison can be very very boring. Some days are harder than others. I prepare the soap by softening it with water. I have a popsicle stick which I made into a sculpting tool.

The fire within me to draw is burning again. I like to work with black ink pen – old school - making a variety of marks, smudging and shading. I focus on birds, and some animals, with Aztec stone carving imagery in the background. I take so much pleasure making art out of a blank piece of paper that will bring a big smile on people’s faces. God knows we all need that.