The William James Association’s Poetic Justice Project Presents
“Terms of Confinement” A look at the pandemic in prison from people who lived through it.
View online HERE until March 30.
Upcoming Event – Director, Cast, and Crew Talkback (Live Online via Zoom)
Saturday, March 26, 3 pm, and Sunday, March 27, 3 pm. $20 (Suggested Donation).
Event proceeds support cast and crew honoraria and create more program opportunities!
Buy your tickets now!
Terms of Confinement was filmed during the pandemic and features formerly incarcerated actors and musicians; some of who were incarcerated during the pandemic. Written after a 12-week creative writing workshop facilitated by prison educator Deborah Tobola. Tobola created the play using the students’ writing. Each writer/actor performs his own work. The actors and musicians are part of the Poetic Justice Project, the country’s first theatre company created for people who have experienced incarceration. The event opens the William James Association’s Prison Arts Film Festival, scheduled for later in the year and part of its celebration of the 45th Anniversary of the Prison Arts Project.
Talkback Facilitators
Laurie Brooks
As Executive Director since 2001, Laurie Brooks led the growth and development of the WJA Prison Arts Project, WJA Community Youth Arts Project, the Arts in Youth Authority, Arts in Mental Health programs. She has been a strong collaborator with the California Arts Council, and for 15 years, helped the National Endowment for the Arts establish Artist-in-Residence programs within the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Laurie is currently overseeing WJA’s Prison Arts Project in 14 California state prisons. She has degrees in Economics and Community Studies from the University of California Santa Cruz. A ceramic artist, Laurie currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Arts Council Santa Cruz County and the steering committee of the national Justice Arts Coalition.
Henry Frank
​Henry Edward Frank, William James Association, is a member of the Pomo and Yurok Nations, an artist, a block printer, a creative writer, a poet, a photographer, and a returned citizen. At nineteen he was sentenced to 29 years to Life in the State of California prison system. He was paroled in 2013, at age thirty-nine. Art has always been in his life. During his incarceration, he participated in Arts in Corrections where he was first introduced to the William James Association and to block printing, bookbinding, creative writing, color theory, and more. He is currently a Teaching Artist and the Programs and Communications Assistant for the William James Association.
About the William James Association
The William James Association began in 1973 to promote work service in the arts, environment, education, and community development. Since 1977, WJA’s Prison Arts Project has brought exceptional artists into prisons throughout California. Acting on the conviction that the fine arts enrich, heal and bring communities together, we seek to provide the most meaningful arts experiences possible. It is based on over four decades of engagement with thousands of men, women, and youths in the justice system that we know art fosters hope & changes lives.
About Poetic Justice Project
The country’s first theatre company was created for people who have experienced incarceration. Poetic Justice Project is part of the William James Association.
Terminology
Returned Citizen/Resident
‘Returned citizen’ is an individual who has returned home after experiencing incarceration.