Raymond Gurule, Death Row, California

The Afflicted Yard Blog has an interesting little piece regarding Death Row inmate art from a a collection organized by the CCADP. Not to make light of the death penalty, but I love this shit… I’ve long been a fan of “Bad Art” or lets be nice and call it “Outsider Art” because it’s sort of the hardest art to create and be earnest about. It’s totally stripped away of all the mechanics, ideologies & bullshit you pick up while in Art School. It is just bare ability (or lack there of), base emotion and personality; regardless of how trite or mundane they may be. There is something really natural, unencumbered and thoughtful about it all that I love. If this interests you, check out more of the death row inmates work at the Afflicted Yard site.

While we’re on the subject, I’d like to draw attention to my absolute favorite body of inmate art ever, the work of John Lee Malvo… remember him? Malvo was the 17 year old D.C. Sniper accomplice of John Allen Muhammad. When these guys were arrested and in the papers each day, the New York Post used to love running two page spreads of Malvo’s prison drawings. These things were so insanely awesome my jaw would drop in astonishment. Unfortunately it’s kinda hard to find some of the really good ones online these days. I’m talking about Muslim super soldiers striking down the infidels as drawn by a 17 year old kid who has seen way too many Van Damme movies. Awesome! Someone really needs to get them all published in a book; this kid is the next Henry Darger. Anyway, I did find this article from four years ago