Insights from Outside Prison: DB

Posted by Anna Debenham, December 4, 2018

I had a sweet encounter this week with one or our program participants who released from prison this year. He’s been doing well, despite having one of those Parole Officer’s who keeps a closer that usual eye, who won’t lift his curfew even though it’s months since his release. The PO is also suspicious that DB is doing so well, that he stays calm and polite whatever she throws at him. Still, he’s working his day job but also doing some really cool stuff on the side.

He’s an incredible artist and when he was locked up he was wondering how he was going to be able to do what he loves – pursue his art and still make money to live??

A couple months ago DB was with a friend on her birthday.  He gave her a drawing he made, carved on a piece of scrap wood he found. Next to the drawing he burned a poem her daughter had written. DB’s friend loved it. She showed it to a friend of hers who runs a social action organization. They had been looking for an artist to do a series of portraits for an event. They had all but given up looking and were about to drop the idea when DB’s little piece of art landed on her lap. The friend who ran the organization loved it and asked if he does other art. Which of course he does. So they commissioned DB to do these portraits for the event and they couldn’t be happier. DB was following his nose and engaging in life and now has commissions well into the new year. And gets to do what he loves.

Recently he got an amazing opportunity, receiving a scholarship from ADX (an artist / maker collective in Portland). He will now has access to all the tools, art supplies, welding equipment, woodworking equipment and classes he could dream of. He’s even getting to sell his art at ‘Sweater Weather’ – an event for local makers and artists to sell their wares this Thursday at ADX. DB is creating a cool flyer for us for the event which he hand burned on a piece of scrap leather!  He added an artist note….

“When you experience adversity you may find out what sustains you…

Two things that have had a profound affect in my life are:

The insight into how I am feeling my thinking all of the time, and the practice of art.

For me art is….

Meditation, self expression, and a new learning experience in every piece.

For me Insight is….

Letting go of thoughts, realising when things have nothing to do with me, and being present in the moment.”

If you’re in Portland on Thursday come find us at Sweater Weather at ADX 6-10pm!