Creativity and Healing Through Art at Solano State Prison

Editor’s note:

Ms. Shirley joined our participatory defense meetings at the beginning of 2025 in support of her grandson Rodrigo, who is currently serving a life without parole sentence at Solano State Prison. Ms. Shirley and her daughter in law have been in full support of Rodrigo throughout his incarceration and through them, we have learned that Rodrigo found healing and a way to express himself through art. He started by sending drawings to his young daughter and a friend inside Solano offered to help him develop his skills. Now, Rodrigo makes all kinds of custom handcrafted art on cards, clocks, shoes, handbags, candles, cups and even a skateboard, which he plans to auction to support youth. His art is featured throughout this article, along with some words from him and his grandma - we are honored to share them with our De-Bug and Participatory Defense family! If you would like to support Rodrigo and purchase any of the art featured, please reach out to his grandma at slmontano17@gmail.com.

Ms. Shirley

Participatory Defense helps our family because it gives us more of an understanding of what the criminal system is like and how other families and loved ones navigate it together. We built our social biography packet with De-Bug and now that I'm retired, I want to continue supporting Rodrigo as much as I can. 

I was really glad to hear about Rodrigo’s commitment to his art. His great grandmother was very artistic, and so was his aunt. It’s in our family. Being in this situation, life without parole, art gives his mind a rest, to think about other things and lets his creativity flourish. He started by sending us cards, ones he would make from scratch. He would send them to his daughter, make her birthday & Christmas cards. He’d send us cards as well. Rodrigo has missed countless birthdays, holidays, family celebrations. He’s told me that his art serves as a bridge between families and their loved one behind the walls, so that no one feels forgotten on their special day. 

Rodrigo

Since the beginning of my incarceration I would draw and send my daughter cards and pictures. Of course they were stick figures at first (lol.) Eventually I taught myself how to actually draw and shade the right way. I was sitting in the dayroom here in Solano one day and I was drawing a character. My friend here came up to me and seen I was struggling with the eyes on the character and offered me some help. My friend is a great artist himself, he saw I was eager to become better at drawing. I started sitting with him every other day and we would draw. One day he told me I would enjoy painting and asked if I wanted to learn. He became my mentor, showing me how to paint and create backgrounds. We signed up for a mural painting class here and we worked with a known artist named Rachel Wolf. This was my first big project, we painted a sports theme mural in our gym. 

I never had a favorite artist and really didn't take the time to study the history of art. Until one day another friend of mine came up to me and was like “Hey that’s a cool piece of art work, looks like a Jackson Pollock.” I didn't know what he meant by that, but thanked him anyway. I went back to my room and looked up Jackon Pollock on my tablet. He was the first artist to fling, splatter, and throw paint on a canvas. So I would say I’m inspired by Jackson Pollock.

I consider myself a handcrafted artist. I like to use the jackson pollock background with all types of different colors and customizing items with someones favorite character or memories such as photos of them and their loved ones during a special event or holiday. I have done projects for people that have had a loved one pass away and they wanted their memories to be placed on a jewelry box. So ill gather all their personal photos and decorate the whole box and make it a one of a kind box that they can cherish for the many years to come. I try to stay away from sport themes when it comes to selling my art work due to logo and copyright infringement. I do create sport theme gifts for my family and yes we are big Raider fans. I'm a loyal fan and will never give up on them. I also like the Athletics and the Lakers. I was born and raised into these fan bases and I love every game I watch. However I try to focus more on personal memorable customized items as for selling things.

Here in Solano, I'm part of a hobby craft program where I'm able to purchase paint, glue, glitter, canvas, plain jewelry boxes,  and blank clock surfaces. When I start a project I usually wait for someone to request a specific item but if not ill make customized items that I know the community in here like. Im also in the Delancey street honors unit where I’m housed as a delancey street resident. We donate artwork to non profit organizations such V.E.S.T (victims of domestic violence.)

When I got incarcerated at the age of 22 I didn't have any skills or interest in art. I was 26 when I was given a life without parole sentence. At that time in my life I lost all hope of ever getting out. Dealing with stress and feeling hopeless I was eventually introduced to art by a good friend of mine here at Solano prison. This was a life changing gift that someone could ever give to me. Art has become a form of therapy for me. I have been able to block out all the negative thoughts and have become less stressed and more optimistic about my future. I now see my vision for a new life.

This piece of art I donated to the "fresno skateboard salvage program " where I was given the opportunity to give back to the community and help out unhoused / troubled youth. This skateboard is retired will be auctioned off as a piece of art and with the funds generated from the sale the program will buy a brand new fully functional skateboard for the youth that are unfortunate. I chose to make a joker and Harley Quinn because they were my favorite characters growing up.