Ronnie Goodman, Self-Portrait, linocut, 2008

Ronnie Goodman: The Color of Hope
Linocuts, Drawings, & Paintings from San Quentin and Folsom State Prisons

December, 4 – 30, 2010 (Reception: Saturday, December 4th, from 7-11 pm)
Precita Eyes Mural Arts & Visitors Center – 2981 24th Street, San Francisco

I encourage you to come see Ronnie’s extraordinary work and support him as he transitions to life on the outside.
- Laurie Brooks, WJA Director

Ronnie Goodman has created a large body of artwork while doing time at San Quentin and Folsom State Prisons. It has only been a month since his release. Precita Eyes on 24th Street in San Francisco is exhibiting Goodman’s paintings, drawings and linocut prints throughout the month of December. Goodman will be present at Precita Eyes for an opening on Saturday, December 4th, from 7:00 – 11:00 pm.

For most artists in prison the tendency is to create work about life on the outside. But Ronnie Goodman is an exception to this. His work is about life in prison. Sometimes his work is about the beauty that an artistic eye can find in the day to day. Sometimes his work is about the struggles of life in a cage.

Even while in prison Ronnie Goodman was eager to reach out to his community of San Francisco. He remained in touch with Precita Eyes and the San Francisco Bay View newspaper. He also created artwork used by the Coalition on Homelessness and the Western Regional Advocacy Project.

Goodman made his artwork as part of the Arts in Corrections program, which was defunded by the State budget last February, but continues with private funding from individual donors matched by the Marin Community Foundation.  He studied with Katya McCulloch’s linocut class and Patrick Maloney’s painting and drawing class and guest printmaker Art Hazelwood at San Quentin in a program overseen by Steve Emrick. He studied with Bill Peterson at Folsom State Prison.

The Awards honor two individuals and two organizations who inspire collaboration; embrace experimentation, integrity, and evolution; and encourage civic and community exchange and engagement.

The William James Association has been chosen to receive this prestigious recognition!

The Awards will be presented at Intersection’s 45th Anniversary Gala in their new home in the San Francisco Chronicle Building.

We are thrilled to share this honor with you and I would like to encourage you to come join in this celebration of the work of the William James Association – for it is our artists and generous supporters who bring music, color, shape, form and inspiration to this amazing work of providing art to inmates, at-risk youth, parolees and others living on the edges.

Please let me know if you will join us – I’d love share this honor and celebrate with you!

(Also, I can see about  discounted tickets if that will help you to come!)

Get details about the event on June 12th, 7pm