of Prison Arts Touching Hearts
[P.A.T.H.]. “All of them, plus a
number of original poems, are the
visual ‘voices’ of inmate artists who
celebrate the history and the beauty
of the island and, from their own
perspective, understand the pain
of isolation, suffering, rejection
and solitude experienced by every
inmate.”
receiving the artwork in the mail,
Lakes says that she was “blown
away” by the sheer talent, and was
driven to address her appreciation
to the artist.
From befriending and mentoring
one incarcerated artist, through
P.A.T.H., Lakes now corresponds with
more than 80 artists, illustrators and
poets, almost all of whom are still
behind bars, and all with a sincere
desire to selflessly share their gifts
with the outside world.
Lakes feels that although their
bodies are locked behind bars, their
souls are still free, and that it is only
through their art that these gifted
and talented incarcerated artists get
to experience freedom.
An accomplished visual artist in
her own right, Lakes was originally
inspired to promote incarcerated
artists after attending the 5th
Annual Prisoner Art Show in New
York in 2005, sponsored by the
Fortune Society. After securing
the winning bid on one piece and
"Testament of Time" by Victor Garcia;
California (green pen on paper)
"Pelican Passage" by Omar Avila; California
(black pen on paper)
“P.A.T.H. is a labor of love born out
of my belief that art is a universal
language, regardless of race, class
or position in society,” says Lakes.
“It is a much needed platform
to showcase the work of many
extraordinarily talented artists who
"Al Capone" by Ely Legerdemain; Utah (mixed medium on paper)
MARIN ARTS & CULTURE 41