In this Visualizing Abolition event, held on November 16, 2021, two world renowned artists, Cassils and rafa esparza share their powerful collaboration focused on immigrant detention: In Plain Sight, 2020. In Plain Sight is an ongoing public initiative protests immigration detention centers and the US culture of incarceration.
On Tuesday, November 9th, celebrated Chicana photographer Delilah Montoya joined IAS for a Traction Art Talk moderated by graduate student researcher Madison Treece. Throughout the talk, Montoya shared images of her work and spoke in-depth about her evolving artistic practice, which has addressed the identity politics of being Chicanx, colonialism’s lasting violence, and the intersection of art and activism.
As part of our Visualizing Abolition speaker series, writer adrienne maree brown and filmmaker Gilda Sheppard joined us on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 to discuss Sheppard's recent documentary Since I Been Down and strategies of personal empowerment through education practiced by incarcerated individuals discussed in the film, as well as in prisons around the United States.
In our most recent call from Solitary Gardener Tim Young, who is currently incarcerated in San Quentin State Prison, Tim happily reported that he finally got his 1st COVID vaccine shot.
Episode 2 - The University and Awareness
In this episode, Zaarin speaks with Sesnon Gallery Intern, Edie Trautwein, on how she became involved with the Solitary Garden public art project and how students can resist inhibitive practices of the University through acts of care, awareness, and creativity.
Note that this conversation took place after the March 2 Visualizing Abolition event with Ashley Hunt and the Underground Scholars.
Budding from Dualities of Space: A Reflection on the Solitary Garden by Zaarin Mizan
gar·den \gär-dᵊn\ (n): a plot of cultivation; hall for public entertainment
Middle English gardyn < Anglo-French gardyn, gardeyn, jardin < Old French jart, gart "garden" < Old Low Franconian garda- "enclosure, fence" < Germanic *garđa-, whence Old Saxon gard "garden, dwelling, world," Old High German gart "enclosure," Old English geard "fence, enclosure
Episode 1 - The Solitary Garden
Welcome to the first episode of the Solitary Podcast. Today’s episode features Tim Young, the Solitary Gardener at UC Santa Cruz, speaking on the garden and its beginnings, struggle, and collaboration.
References:
Solitary Gardens
Revolutionary Greetings! (May 10, 2021)
We're looking for contributions for the Solitary Garden Plant Book (zine), a collaboration between Tim Young and his friends and supporters!
Prop 66 “Death Penalty Procedures Initiative” / "The Death Penalty Reforms and Savings Act”
