“We Will Have Our Spring”: Art exhibit explores environmental toxicity in the Illinois prison system

There are nearly 29,000 people incarcerated in Illinois state prisons. 

Marshall Stewart and Luis Trevino are just two of several people who are incarcerated advocating for prison abolishment through mixed media artwork. 

Earlier this month,  Stewart, Trevino and other incarcerated artists showcased drawings, paintings, poems and photographs at the community art center in East Garfield Park, Walls Turned Sideways, which advocates for prison abolishment. 

The new exhibit, “We Will Have Our Spring,” is curated by Gabrielle Christiansen and has been a year in the making. The inspiration behind the gallery stems from conversations with Christiansen’s family members who are incarcerated in the Midwest. Her work with artists and scholars at the Stateville Correctional Facility through the Prison and Neighborhood Arts/Education Project also serves as inspiration, she said. 

The death of Michael Broadway, who died of overheating due to the building’s poor ventilation, contributed to the work that Christiansen does, she said. 

“I hope this show directs people to support the many important campaigns across the U.S. that are working to reduce the scale of the U.S.’ toxic prison system and to support those who are … within the system through advocacy for better air conditioning systems and clean water supply,” Christiansen said. 

Artists were asked to create pieces in response to the prompt, “What does environmental justice look like for you?”. 

For Stewart, sentenced to 57 years at the Illinois River Correctional Facility, environmental justice intersects with racial identity. His artwork, ‘Peace Treaties 2 Prison Community,’ demonstrates his identity as Mexican and a Native American tribe member. 

During his incarceration, he earned two college degrees while advocating for his innocence of the crimes he was charged with. In his piece, Stewart connects his Indigenous heritage to the land prisons are built on. He said none of the carceral facilities he has “been held captive in” acknowledge their land is built upon “stolen land” from Native American tribal members. 

“Nevertheless, I will stand tall, even if alone,” he said. 

Trevino’s painting, ‘My Interpretation of a Sky in a World Without Prisons’ is an introspective piece illustrating his time spent thinking about the idea of “freedom” as he serves a life sentence without parole at the Stateville Correctional Facility. 

Visitor Mike Galdamez observes artwork on display at a new exhibit called “We Will Have Our Spring” at Walls Turned Sideways on Feb. 15. The exhibit showcases mixed media pieces from Illinois state inmates and community members. (Photo by Aubreonna Chamberlain)

“I often look up into the sky in search of mental clarity,” Trevino said. “With this project, I was able to let go and prolong my sense of freedom, abolishing the feeling of imprisonment. If this institution had not been built, the environment and landscape would be in better condition. Until there are no more prisons, humanity will be doing an environmental injustice.”

Poetry from inmates Erika Ray and Lakeisha Murph detail two sides of environmentalism – imagery detailing the uncleanliness of prisons and dream-like recollections of Earth’s natural wonders.  Murph’s poem describes, “pollution, grime, mildew, mold and the water carrying billions upon billions of toxins that should not exist.” 

Lines from Ray’s untitled poem read, “… moon-lit fields resetting foundations so the Earth might one day give us rest – with indigo scented soil and sacredly kept moss recycling life and Earth for those who wonder…”

Ray has served 15 years of a 42-year sentence at the Logan Correctional Center and Murph has served 18 years of her 23-year sentence at the same center. 

The exhibit also features work from artists who aren’t incarcerated. Mixed media artist Maria Gaspar’s artwork serves as the exhibit’s opening piece. 

Upon entering, viewers are met with a large canvas depicting a bus in front of the Cook County Correctional Facility, though the building is painted over in white. 

Gaspar, who grew up in front of the jail, has been working on projects related to the prison for 12 years, including collaborations with inmates. 

Ernesto Valle, an incarcerated person in Illinois, displays art (top left and bottom right) depicting unsanitary conditions at prisons on Feb. 15 at the community art center Walls Turned Sideways as part of a new exhibit, “We Will Have Our Spring.” Artist Luis Trevino’s work (top right) advocates for prison abolishment. (Photo by Aubreonna Chamberlain)

“I wanted to create something with my hands that was about clouding out this place of incarceration, not clouding out the people,” she said. “It was about clouding out that facility, but also revealing the life that exists around the facility.” 

Visitor Mike Galdamez said he saw the exhibit as a diverse catalyst for delivering social messages that are up for interpretation. From zines to framed soil samples, “We Will Have Our Spring” incorporates numerous avenues of art to explore environmentalism in the carceral system. 

“Each (art piece) offers a different kind of route for someone else to understand and connect to it,” he said. “Looking at a sad painting makes you sit and think, ‘everything’s gone’… it feels like a further dehumanization of people in the carceral system… you’re forced under non-human conditions and you can’t even trust the water you drink.” 

Although the exhibit” has officially opened, Christiansen said her work is ongoing and that she is always searching for new artists and inmates to include. 

“I hope the show directs people to throw their support behind the many important campaigns across the U.S. that are working to reduce the scale of the U.S.’ toxic prison system,” Christiansen said. “To support those bound within the system through advocacy for better air conditioning systems and clean water supply.” 

“We Will Have Our Spring” is currently open at Walls Turned Sideways, located at 2717 W. Madison St. 

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