For anyone who has ever lamented their lack of access to work space or materials, here is a massive 39-panel mural made by artist Jesse Krimes over the course of his 70-month prison sentence. Not only did the artist accomplish this monumental feat by using only what materials were available to him, which consisted of bed sheets, New York Times newspapers, and colored pencils, but he had to innovate his own production process before smuggling them out of prison. By using hair gel as a medium, he discovered that he was able to transfer newspaper images onto bedsheets. The finished bedsheets were then sent to his girlfriend and sewn together into a vast mural.
Despite his imprisonment, Krimes created new art making opportunities and he has continued to pursue his artistic aspirations now that he has been released.
While incarcerated, Mr. Krimes established prison drawing, painting, and independent study studio art programs and worked collaboratively with his fellow inmates, in addition to maintaining an active independent studio practice.
[via Slate]
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