The Prison Industrial Complex is a multi billion dollar industry. The State, represented by the CEO of PIA(Prison Industrial Authority), profits the most under the business name "California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation" (CDCr)—the industry that is 'supposed' to 'rehabilitate' the so-called 'offenders'. The little "r" represents the fact that there is no "rehabilitation" in CDCr. The incarcerated population works for the State through the Prison Industry Authority, manufacturing everything from essential items like soap bars and clothing to larger projects such as constructing buildings and sewing the American Flag. Contracts with external agencies yield billions of dollars in goods and services.
The bottom portion of the drawing illuminates how “The State” abuses the Suboxone program to dope up and exploit the incarcerated population, while simultaneously profiting from each prescription. The Suboxone line is longer than the regular Pill Call line—depicting the State’s approach to drugging us rather than offering mental health services.
The people without facial features or faces are "lost" on Suboxone. I purposely depicted the world inside prison using black-and-white to show the absence of life and color. While the CEO, watching over all his worker-ants, is depicted in color—free and greedy.
This artwork was commissioned for the Urban Arts Festival
