California Prison Industry Authority (CAL-PIA) sheets are made by prisoners for prisoners. Many will hang their sheet across the bunk, to create makeshift curtains and provide the illusion of privacy in their personal space. It's common practice to paint and decorate bedding. Some will pay heavily for artists to create designs.
I painted a letter to my bed on a new CAL-PIA sheet. I used a paperclip end for fine lines, and a tiny paint brush for larger lines. A hair dryer was used to "heat set" the paint so that the sheet can be washed without bleeding or fading. I painted the sun and moon using Zentangle art to symbolize how I use my sheet for both sleeping at night and privacy in the day. The tree with few leaves shows how this place can destroy us, and those who are well grounded with good roots can survive.
This artwork was commissioned for the Empowerment Avenue exhibition The Only Door I Can Open: Women Exposing Prison Through Art and Poetry