Transformation: Photo to Mural to Prison to Out
March 8, 2014 4:41 AM Subscribe
Artist Jesse Krimes created a 39 panel allegorical mural while incarcerated in a federal prison in Butner, NC. The multi media piece is made primarily from prison bedsheets and photos from the NY Times. A little more about Krimes.
Beautiful, and amazing that he was able to not only make it but ship it out of the prison.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:33 AM on March 8, 2014
posted by Dip Flash at 5:33 AM on March 8, 2014
Incredible. I wonder if I've mailed this guy books before.
posted by oceanjesse at 5:33 AM on March 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by oceanjesse at 5:33 AM on March 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
The prison industrial complex have evolved to the point that it now hosts the artists class.
posted by tofupup at 5:41 AM on March 8, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by tofupup at 5:41 AM on March 8, 2014 [6 favorites]
It really is amazing how far people will go when driven to create. This was a terrible (and unjust, it sounds like) situation for him, but it really inspired some great ingenuity and art from him.
posted by nevercalm at 6:01 AM on March 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by nevercalm at 6:01 AM on March 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's curious that several of his pre-prison motifs feature the entrapment of living beings: Fishtallation - Coercion - Infestation - Entropy
posted by drlith at 6:05 AM on March 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by drlith at 6:05 AM on March 8, 2014 [2 favorites]
And now he returns to prison for copyright infringement.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:54 AM on March 8, 2014
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:54 AM on March 8, 2014
I got to know an ex-con artist, and was surprised to hear about his experiences inside. It probably helped that his paintings, while well executed, leaned toward buxom fantastic ladies in the black velvet vein.
He said that the guards and administration gave him tremendous respect and special treatment, with a large private cell, tables, easels, supplies, etc.
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:20 AM on March 8, 2014
He said that the guards and administration gave him tremendous respect and special treatment, with a large private cell, tables, easels, supplies, etc.
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:20 AM on March 8, 2014
He said that the guards and administration gave him tremendous respect and special treatment, with a large private cell, tables, easels, supplies, etc.
Raquel Welch poster, rock hammer...
posted by localroger at 7:53 AM on March 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
Raquel Welch poster, rock hammer...
posted by localroger at 7:53 AM on March 8, 2014 [1 favorite]
Cool artwork and it's awesome he used his time well but
he was charged with possession of 15 to 50 kilos of cocaine
That's a whole lotta blow.
Yeah, he earned some cinderblock wall time with that much.
posted by codswallop at 8:01 AM on March 8, 2014
he was charged with possession of 15 to 50 kilos of cocaine
That's a whole lotta blow.
Yeah, he earned some cinderblock wall time with that much.
posted by codswallop at 8:01 AM on March 8, 2014
If you read the article you will see he was caught with less than 150g but was charged as if he had a much larger amount. Not that I would agree with a 70 month sentence or any incarceration at all for a non-violent drug charge.
posted by cilantro at 8:12 AM on March 8, 2014 [4 favorites]
posted by cilantro at 8:12 AM on March 8, 2014 [4 favorites]
That's a whole lotta blow.
According to TFA he was caught with 140 grams, which is .14 kilos. Still a lot to be sure, but far less than what he was charged with.
posted by nevercalm at 8:15 AM on March 8, 2014 [5 favorites]
According to TFA he was caught with 140 grams, which is .14 kilos. Still a lot to be sure, but far less than what he was charged with.
posted by nevercalm at 8:15 AM on March 8, 2014 [5 favorites]
The prison industrial complex have evolved to the point that it now hosts the artists class.
residencies always available.
posted by philip-random at 11:06 AM on March 8, 2014
residencies always available.
posted by philip-random at 11:06 AM on March 8, 2014
I did read the article but missed that. My bad.
Still, 140g isn't for personal use. That's dealing.
posted by codswallop at 11:07 AM on March 8, 2014
Still, 140g isn't for personal use. That's dealing.
posted by codswallop at 11:07 AM on March 8, 2014
Still, 140g isn't for personal use. That's dealing.
Which is still a bullshit "crime".
Amazing mural. I'm not a really deep thinker about Art, and a definitely of the opinion that once an artist releases it to the world it needs to stand on its own...but you cannot remove the artist and the circumstances of creation from a work without losing something. Something I ponder when viewing art when I have no knowledge of the context.
posted by maxwelton at 11:58 AM on March 8, 2014
Which is still a bullshit "crime".
Amazing mural. I'm not a really deep thinker about Art, and a definitely of the opinion that once an artist releases it to the world it needs to stand on its own...but you cannot remove the artist and the circumstances of creation from a work without losing something. Something I ponder when viewing art when I have no knowledge of the context.
posted by maxwelton at 11:58 AM on March 8, 2014
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posted by Renoroc at 5:04 AM on March 8, 2014 [1 favorite]