A new mural in the works at Solano State Prison
At CSP Solano, our participants have been working with a group of incarcerated mural artists to co-design a mural for our garden space. When participants were asked what they wanted the mural to depict, the same images kept surfacing: freedom, forests, rivers, plants to represent the people in the program, breaking through walls. One of the mural artists, Victor Tapia, had only been joining the group for a few weeks when he wrote the piece below. He had never encountered our curriculum. But somewhere in the process of listening, designing, and imagining something new alongside Land Together participants, he found his way to the same place we always seem to land: that what we grow together matters more than what any of us grows alone.
We are grateful to Victor for letting us share his words.
It's not about Me, it's about "US"
It's not about My, it's about "OURS"...
The Universe has given us a gift.
We have been given the opportunity
to revolutionize a garden and a wall
through bad ass visual art and design.
Take in this moment, close your eyes, visualize and imagine with your heart,
and don't forget to breathe...
Most of us in prison can agree that we came from the dark bottom.
However, today, here and now, we have the ability and creativeness
to accomplish the extraordinary,
all the while staying away from the ordinary.
We can perhaps also agree that where we came from
doesn't determine who we are today or where we will go tomorrow.
With grace, and by grace, let's honor our victims.
Let's together look at this moment from a transformative perspective,
helping one another to step out of our comfort zones,
through commitment, discipline, compassion, and positivity for one another.
What is the Universe saying to "us"?
Pay attention to "our" beautiful green earth, bad ass artwork, but most importantly,
look at the faces of the amazing people around you.
Inspiration is the breath of God.
So let us inspire.
Together let's elevate one another and step into a new form of prosperity, as a team.
There is no impossible.
There is no such thing as "I won't."
There is no such thing as "I can't."
One seed at a time, let's create a masterpiece, one brush at a time...