Art from the Inside: Why We Need More Art By And About Incarcerated Women

On today's show, we look at how art can highlight the struggles of incarcerated women, build solidarity with them across prison walls, and fight against the erasure and censorship inherent to incarceration. 

First, we'll hear about a dance performance called _If I Give You My Sorrows _that's built around the complex ways that incarcerated women relate to their beds. Then, we'll learn about an art exhibition, _The Only Door I Can Open, _that's_ _curated and created by incarcerated artists, writers and poets inside Central California Women's Facility.

Featuring:

• Jo Kreiter, artistic director of Flyaway Productions and creative director of _If I Give You My Sorrows_
• Betty McKay, formerly incarcerated advocate and organizer
• Tomiekia Johnson, incarcerated writer and co-curator of _The Only Door I Can Open_
• Chantell-Jeannette Black, incarcerated artist and co-curator of _The Only Door I Can Open_
• Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, executive director of Empowerment Avenue

**Making Contact Team:**

• Episode Host: Lucy Kang
• Producers: Anita Johnson, Salima Hamirani, Amy Gastelum, and Lucy Kang
• Executive Director: Jina Chung
• Editor: Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong
• Engineer: [Jeff Emtman](http://www.jeffemtman.com/) 
• Digital Media Marketing: Lissa Deonarain
  

**Music credits: **

The music in this episode was excerpted from compositions for _If You Give Me Your Sorrows._

"Skewed"

• Carla Kihlstedt – voice, music box, field recordings
• Elijah Oberman – voice, synths
• Music/sound design – Carla Kihlstedt & Eli Oberman

"Where Betty Can Go Find Betty" 

• Pamela Z – voice, processing, MIDI instruments
• Vocal samples excerpted from an interview with Betty McKay
• Music by Pamela Z

"Closure"

• Cole Kamen-Greene – trumpet
• Carla Kihlstedt – voice, violin
• Devin Ray Hoff – bass
• Matthias Bossi – percussion
• Music by Carla Kihlstedt (with structural advice from Elijah Oberman)

"Prayer"

• Carla Kihlstedt – voice
• Music by Carla Kihlstedt

"Salve"

• Kalyn Harewood – spoken voice (excerpted from an interview with Tomiekia Johnson)
• Carla Kihlstedt – violin, nyckelharpa, marxophone, voice
• Elijah Oberman – violin, sound design
• Jeremy Flower – synth programming
• Jon Evans – bass, guitar
• Matthias Bossi – percussion
• Music by Carla Kihlstedt

 

Learn More: 

• Making Contact: 
  
• The Only Door I Can Open and, If I Give You My Sorrows_ presented by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in 2025
  
• The Only Door I Can Open_ virtual exhibition hosted by MoAD: 
  
• Empowerment Avenue website
  
• Flyaway Productions: 
  
• Museum of the African Diaspora: [www.moadsf.org](www.moadsf.org)
  
• The music featured in _If I Give You My Sorrows_ is available for purchase here: 
  
• Petition for Tomiekia Johnson's request for commutation:

Making Contact is an award-winning, nationally syndicated radio show and podcast featuring narrative storytelling and thought-provoking interviews. We cover the most urgent issues of our time and the people on the ground building a more just world.