CCWF murals foster healing, changed attitudes

December 20, 2024

Healing Through Creative Practice, an arts-based educational program, is beautifying Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) through murals and changed attitudes.

“Various (community) artists have contributed to the (program),” said S. Baltazar, creative producer for the project.

Created in partnership with CDCR, Healing Through Creative Practice and their murals are in institutions across California.

“We presented it to all the teachers in a (video) call and one of the teachers (at CCWF) reached out to us,” artist E. Yoshi recalls. “We do everything from slow walking in the morning to sharing collective lunch (and) working on origami.”

Baltazar said five female mural artists are leading workshops for other artists incarcerated at the institution.

“We’re painting a nature mural. I feel when the community gets to walk by, and see nature, it’s just uplifting,” said Yoshi. “To be able to do this here is a real honor.”

Watch the video (story continues below):

Taking pride in being creative at CCWF

Melinda, one of the incarcerated artists, said she’s proud of the work they are doing at the institution.

“When I (walk by), I can be like, ‘Wow, I actually participated in that,” she said. “It’s an experience I’m grateful to have.”

Elizabeth, an incarcerated artist, said the project is helping teach them how to work with others to achieve a common goal.

“You think with so many people working together it’s going to be hard, but we work around each other,” she said.

Another artist, who has been incarcerated for 15 years, said looking at gray walls is depressing.

“All I see are these walls,” said Belinda. “Any chance I get, I’ll paint (or) draw something and stick it on my wall just to see it. (It helps with) the depression (and) anxiety. A lot of people here are like (me,) with mental health problems. Looking at something beautiful and colorful, just takes us out of it.”

Healing Through Creative Practice is one more way art is contributing to rehabilitation.

Video by Chris Medina, TV Director (Specialist)
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications