Voices from the Inside

An Arts in Corrections Poetry Reading

This event invites community members, families, advocates, artists, and anyone interested in restorative, human-centered arts practices to gather and witness creative work produced inside the Mariposa Jail. Admission is free and open to the public.

Teaching artists Clay River and Andra Kovacs will read from the newly published chapbook created in this program. They will be joined by graduated participants reading their poetry, as well as recordings of poetry written and read from inside of the jail. Chapbooks will be on sale at the event, with all proceeds going towards art materials for the Mariposa Jail library.

The Arts Council has worked throughout this program to bring light to what is often dark, and equalize spaces as creative classrooms. At this event, the community will be invited to hear stories of how, through poetry circles and drawing tables, participants explored storytelling, self-reflection, and creative expression—often discovering that the page was the only place they could breathe. 

The pieces from this program reflect moments of vulnerability, humor, accountability, and resilience. As the participants have shared: art doesn’t fix everything—but it gives us better moments and records. In the quiet grit of shading, they found pieces of themselves. In a poem, they could say: I am more than my worst moment.

Come hear us. Come listen and see what happens when a pencil becomes a wand.
Some days, freedom looks shady.
Connection is power—even from the other side of the wall.

For more information, please contact Andra at kovacs@mariposaartscouncil.org