Prison: A Fine Art School?

Prisoner's artwork causes scandal in Massachusetts.

by Alex Russel alex.russel@art-schools-search.com
Art Schools Search Columnist

It’s a controversy that we hope any fine art school can avoid. Should convicted criminals make money when selling their artwork?

In the 1980’s, the state of New York passed its famous “Son of Sam” law. Named after David Berkowitz, the infamous serial killer who terrorized New York in 1977, the law forces any convicted criminal to hand any revenue from artwork made in prison over to the victims of the crime. Since then, thirty states have passed similar laws.

Massachusetts is one state that did not, and once again the controversy has erupted. Recently, a prisoner advocate organization has put a drawing of Jesus by jailed serial killer Alfred Gaynor on auction on its website. Gaynor is serving four life sentences for torturing and killing four women.

Fine Art Criminals

The drawing was one of three hundred going on sale on the website. All the proceeds, says website operator The Fortune Society, will go to the artists, all of which are prisoners.

Family members of the Gaynor victims were predictably outraged and a sympathetic state legislator quickly introduced a new version of the “Son of Sam” law. But Massachusetts is historically more sensitive to free speech than other US States, and despite the understandable ire of the victims families, resistance to the law has emerged.

Prisoners Are Artists, Too

“It’s too narrow to say ‘it’s just this one guy and he’s a creep so he shouldn’t get any First Amendment rights.’ Whether it is a painting or other work produced, there is a social interest in making it available to view it or read it,” said Marjorie Heins, a fellow at the Brennan Centre for Justice at New York University. “Prisoners are not deprived of constitutional rights.”

Constitutionally that may be the case, but the “Son of Sam” laws have never been questioned or appealed because they are seldom invoked.

Murderabilia, Prison Art Collectors

But sometimes artwork by notorious criminals catches hefty sums. A Charles Manson drawing or John Wayne Gacy painting attracts the interest of so-called “murderabila” enthusiasts.

But hopefully, no one attending a fine art school will have to end up in prison or in the tabloids in order to make a living doing their art. Fine art school can prepare you for a life of making art without having to resort to a heinous crime.

Source

Reuters

About the Author

Alex Russel is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. He holds a dual bachelor’s degree in English and History.

Posted on May 3, 2007 at 11:48 AM

Share this article: