A report from the City of Philadelphia’s July 2024 Prison Population reveals that over 4,800 people are currently imprisoned in the city. Of them, ninety percent are people of color. The document adds that the re-arrest rate is 65% within three years of the individual’s release. These numbers are alarming. However, narrowing down the reasons that propel individuals to break the law is impossible in such circumstances. To shed light on the previous situation, the TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image has organized a new photography exhibition that showcases the extraordinary work of four formerly incarcerated artists of color. Through the powerful pictures, the showcase aims to highlight the profound impact of mass incarceration on individuals, families, and communities.
The lead image is by Akeil Robertson, courtesy of the TILT Institute for the Contemporary Image. All images are used with permission.
Titled Wherever There Is Light, this initiative began as a workshop in 2020 by photographer Larry W. Cook, who hoped to use photography to help people with past incarceration experiences. The new photography exhibition at TILT, which portrays the works of José Díaz, Don “Ike” Jones, Vernon Ray, and Akeil Robertson, has been curated by Cook and Dr. Melanee C. Harvey.
“We wanted Wherever There Is Light to be a platform that moved beyond the carceral experience and demonstrated how these artists are engaged in questions around design and how their vision can help us question and work towards a more equitable society,” says Harvey. “The photography allows viewers, especially those with differing life experiences, to see themselves in the community explored and consider how we can move toward a more equitable concept of freedom.”
José Díaz And His Exceptional Digital Collages
A Brooklyn-based photographer, José Díaz creates digital collages, which are a blend of portraits of formerly imprisoned individuals and their families. He also includes personal belongings such as IDs, school photos, family snapshots, baby photos, and more, which represent critical moments in these people’s lives. Thus, Díaz challenges the usual method of documentation of people and how identification can often not capture the essence of these individual’s personalities. In his collage, he aims to depict that the former incarcerated individuals are more than their past mistakes or former identities.
Akeil Robertson And The Narrative of The Blue Uniform
Akeil Robertson is a Philadelphia-based activist and multidisciplinary artist whose images for Wherever There Is Light highlight his deep fear of returning to prison. Currently on parole, Robertson utilizes the blue prison uniform, which is cleaned and stored inside a plastic dry-cleaning bag, as an emblem of his dread. This type of uniform is worn by inmates who violate their probation at the Philadelphia County jail. Robertson uses symbolism to emphasize how individuals remain restricted by regulations even after their release from prison. To create the series, the photographer made images of the uniform in various locations across the US.
Don O. Jones And The Daily Lives of His Friends
Having served time at the Graterford State Correctional Institution, Don O. Jones began photographing inmates and their families. For this photography exhibit, Jones focused on two of his friends whom he met 30 years ago. In the images, you see the individuals dressed in their best clothes, continuing to give their lives with dignity and grace. Through this work, Jones hopes to symbolize the notion of redemption. Once considered too dangerous to ever be released, these individuals now display the potential for change and success after serving time in prison. The images serve as a reminder that with perseverance and commitment, people can rebuild their lives and redefine their futures.
Vernon Ray And His Introspective Self-Portraits
A photographer with an interest in video, Vernon Ray chose to turn the camera towards himself. For this photography exhibition, Ray gives us a glimpse into his life after his prison release. Often seen at multiple locations and with a piece of chess in hand, Ray aims to depict the principles that helped him to come so far in his life. The piece is not just a representation of his strategy but also serves as an emblem of compassion, masculinity, and ability. The portraits illustrate how chess is often reflected in how an individual lives; every move is embedded with meaning. Similarly, his photographs hope to highlight his ability to reclaim his life.
Larry W. Cook And His Photographs of Prison Visits
Last but not least on the list is the project creator, Larry W. Cook, who will be displaying two bodies of work at the photography exhibition: Horizons and The Other Side of Landscape. The pictures were created during his decade-long visit to visiting rooms in prisons and serve as a critical archive of prison photography.
Wherever There Is Light is displayed in TILT’s Gallery from September 12 to December 31. For more information, visit TILT’s website.
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