Published in Issue 12 of Paper Chained in December 2023.
For this issue of Paper Chained, we reached out to Orlando Smith at San Quentin State Prison in California, who was kind enough to design us a custom artwork specifically for our cover. The following interview was done via mail.
You describe yourself as an artist who happens to be incarcerated. Were you an artist before you came to prison or has it been a skill you’ve developed in custody?
Actually, I call myself an ARTIVIST, but yes, “An artist who happens to be incarcerated”. No and yes; I was born an artist. Back in the middle 80’s I worked for Freeway Rick’s Auto Body Work and Paint Shop. First, doing air-brush t-shirts, and then mural work on custom show cars. I developed my skills as an illustrator on a level 4 [high security] yard out of boredom from long lockdowns in the 2000’s. Being an illustrative reporter was never my plan, it just happened.
Tell me about being an artist in prison. How do you feel when you’re creating something in your cell? Does making art offer any sense of freedom for you?
Like the Goodie Mob rap song goes, it’s ‘Cell Therapy’. Art helps me navigate challenges in prison. It gives me emotional agility, and plus, as an artist and comic book creator, I have crafted entire universes.
Do you only do drawings or do you also use other art mediums?
I only do illustrations. I was blessed by the Heavenly Father with spatial intelligence. I haven’t painted in two decades, and its been even longer since I did air-brush work or tattooing.
What struggles do you have creating art in prison? Are there any art supplies in particular that you do not have that you would like?
One of the struggles is getting my art out without it going missing. Using regular mail, shit disappears like Houdini. So I’m forced to use UPS (United Parcel Service), which costs a pretty penny, and even with that I have to keep my fingers crossed. Interruptions are another problem. Art supplies are a problem on level 4 yards, which is a higher-level prison, but here at San Quentin, there’s very little violence so I’m able to have more art supplies in my cell, plus I work in Arts-in-Corrections under the William James Association as part of the mural crew.
Can you describe a typical day for you in prison? How much time do you spend making art?
I’m up at 6:15am, with a cup of coffee in my life. I do one hundred push-ups. Roll up my mattress, set my drawing board on top and my art studio is open from 9:30am, then I’m off to Arts-in-Corrections to work, I get off at 3:pm, shower, eat, power nap till 6pm and it’s back to work till 8:30pm. I put in work, but it’s not for me, because I love what I do. I take what I do very seriously—it’s why I achieve so much. I’ve had like 18 exhibitions since 2020. I had my solo exhibition last year at the Manna gallery, as well as countless commissioned work and a bunch of publications and projects.
How many graphic novels have you made and where can people read them?
I have created over 65 graphic novels, with 17 titles and over 700 characters. Most are at my brother’s house and about 11 of ‘em are under my bunk in a box. I haven’t published as I have to be free to promote my work at Comic-Con. Running a business from prison is tricky. Here’s why: Under D.O 51080.5 “inmate civil rights”, incarcerated people have a right to sell their art and writing; however, under penal code 2601, CDCR may take away that right if they feel the intellectual property is being sold for a business purpose. According to title 15 (3024), a business purpose is any career or profession that generates revenue. This clause undermines incarcerated people’s rights and is arbitrary and nonsensical. This is why I limit myself to doing just commissioned work. Once I gain my freedom, then Skullthuggery comics will be in full swing.
We don’t have three-strikes laws in Australia. Can you tell us about your crime, your sentence, and how long you’ve been in custody?
Sure, the three-strike law is a racist slave law, and a bunch of justice organisations are trying to eradicate it. Here in America black people are deemed throw-away-people. Just look at its history, look at its laws. None of its laws have to do with justice. Why am I still in prison after all this time? I came to prison at 29 years old, I’m 57 years old now. I didn’t kill anyone; I didn’t rape a child or anything. What I did was bad, I robbed eight people at gunpoint to support my drug addiction. My criminal conduct in society was irresponsible, reckless, and very dangerous. My verdict was ‘just’, but my sentence of eight life sentences WAS NOT! On February 21st, I met and talked with Governor Newsom about this. On St Patrick’s Day Governor Newsom came back to San Quentin with an on-suite delegation, speaking about change, so we’ll see if I’m still here this time next year. Who knows?
Can you tell us about your campaign for freedom and how people can help?
It’s simple, you sign my petition: www.change.org/freeorlandosmithcomicbookcreator
You can also write to:
ATTN: Legal Affairs / Support of Clemency
Governor Gavin Newsom
State Capitol Sacramento
California, 95814 USA
And also:
George Gascon
District Attorney Office/Re-Sentencing Unit
320 West temple street
Los Angeles, California 90012 USA
How many art exhibitions have you had?
I’ve had 18 exhibitions including two for the University of Derby, in England. In fact, those two in Derby are permanently on display.
What advice do you have for other people in custody regarding using their time constructively?
Stay reading. Educate yourself, even if it isn’t in a classroom setting. More importantly, don’t put limits on yourself. Oh, also ... stay the fuck out of prison politics.
