Art & Writing from
People Incarcerated in Illinois
Each year, JHA receives hundreds of letters from people who are currently or were formerly incarcerated. Some of those letters contain poems, cartoons, or other pieces of art that incarcerated people wish to share with us. Incarcerated people also share other publications with us, including articles and magazines created for their peers. The items below are just a sample of the amazing work we receive. This section of our website is generously sponsored by The Di Lullo Family.
Cartoons by Arkee Chaney
Arkee Chaney is a formerly incarcerated artist and cartoonist who sent us many of his cartoons during his time in prison; you can find a handful below. To view some of his paintings and ceramics, visit www.arkeestudios.com. Arkee also spoke about his art during JHA’s Virtual Annual Event 2020; view the video here.
Art by Renaldo Hudson
Renaldo identifies as an artistic expressionist committed to ending mass incarceration. His art is reflective of the pain and the beauty of resisting the status quo. While on death row, Renaldo learned to express himself with oil and acrylic paints to escape the horrors of death row. Now that he is free, he makes art to expose the inhumanity of death by incarceration facing people with life sentences, also known as the other death penalty. Click here to see more of his work.
Art & Poems by Don Collins, Midwest Illinois
Mr. Collins has spent years in art and writing to combat time. Click here to see his poems and more artwork. More of his work can also be found at PrisonInmates.com. The artwork to the left is entitled “Projected Lifeline.”
Written Publications
Two Roads E-Zine - published by the men incarcerated at Kewanee Life Skills Reentry Center
Stateville Speaks - a newsletter written by and for incarcerated individuals, their families, those working in the correctional system, and other interested citizens.