Sponsored message
Karen Bass vs. Nithya Raman: Follow live results in LA's mayoral election
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
 — 
See All Episodes
Subscribe

Hey, LA listener!

Download our app for the optimal streaming experience

Apple Store logo Google play logo
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
Take Two

Effort emerging to bring arts back to California prisons

By Take Two Staff
Published Jan 6, 2014
Inmate Rudy Sigala paints pandas for his three children. The class is Sigala's first time painting, but he has drawn before.
Inmate Rudy Sigala paints pandas for his three children. The class is Sigala's first time painting, but he has drawn before.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Inmate Ollie Broussard, 38, paints a color wheel, one of the class assignments. The color wheel helps students understand color blending and complimentary colors. Broussard said the class has taught him to have patience. Broussard has served time at multiple facilities.
Inmate Ollie Broussard, 38, paints a color wheel, one of the class assignments. The color wheel helps students understand color blending and complimentary colors. Broussard said the class has taught him to have patience. Broussard has served time at multiple facilities.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Norco inmate Larry Ainsworth paints singer Erikah Badu from a drawing he did in 1999. Ainsworth has kept the drawing since then. Badu reminds him of his wife. "But she can't sing like her," he jokes. Ainsworth has been in prison for 15 years and has four months to go.
Norco inmate Larry Ainsworth paints singer Erikah Badu from a drawing he did in 1999. Ainsworth has kept the drawing since then. Badu reminds him of his wife. "But she can't sing like her," he jokes. Ainsworth has been in prison for 15 years and has four months to go.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
State prison inmates Earl Stewart, left, Ricardo Castillo and Jesus Ledesma take part in a painting class on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Norco's California Rehabilitation Center.
State prison inmates Earl Stewart, left, Ricardo Castillo and Jesus Ledesma take part in a painting class on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Norco's California Rehabilitation Center.
(
Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

Get LA News Updates Daily

We brief you on what you need to know about L.A. today.
Listen 5:07
Effort emerging to bring arts back to California prisons

Art and Prisons. It may seem strange, but the two have a long history together in California. Back in the 1940s, prisoners at San Quentin participated in everything from radio to music to drawing programs.

RELATED: See more photos on KPCC's AudioVision blog.

More recently, California had a program known as Arts in Corrections. It was operating across the state until it was cut just a few years ago. KPCC's education reporter Mary Plummer caught up with one of the last remaining prison arts teachers in the state. She brings you this audio postcard.