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Papier Mache in penal institutions

#1 2012-10-01 17:45:33

Patraw
Member
From: Michigan, USA
Registered: 2008-09-10
Posts: 151
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Papier Mache in penal institutions

I don't know if any of you watch the television show "Lockup" on MSNBC (it's an ongoing documentary series on prison/jail life at various penal institutions around the U.S., and, occasionally, other countries), but, I always think its neat when they show some of the things that inmates are able to fashion out of paper.  I've seen typical PM models/sculptures (a rather disturbing-looking clown gripping two big knives in his fists that one inmate made as a gift for another immediately comes to mind), dice for gaming/gambling, etc.  So far as I can tell, they seem to make these items out of compressed toilet paper, which I assume they wet, to make it more malleable while they shape it, and then let air dry (I don't imagine they'd be allowed to have any kind of adhesive in their cells, although I could be wrong - I suppose one could probably use various food items/ingredients as a binding agent in a pinch.)  Of course, there's also a darker side to things, as some inmates will use paper to fashion crude weapons to use against one another or the guards [improvised spears/shivs formed from paper tightly rolled up and sharpened into a point, paper crossbows (with elastic from underwear/socks for the string), etc.] I've never been to prison, and, hopefully, never will, but, if such misfortune should ever befall me, I could see myself whiling away the years making an army of little toilet paper monsters in my cell . . .

It's not papier mache, but I also remember one other episode, in a women's jail, where one inmate was making improvised markers, out of tampons, for use in decorating the cards she was making for her mother and child.  When it comes to art, humans always find a way to express themselves!

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#2 2012-10-01 21:38:38

Jackie
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From: England
Registered: 2002-09-14
Posts: 389
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Re: Papier Mache in penal institutions

Very interesting Patraw. I have often thought along similar lines about people in prison and what I would do if I was in.

When I watch the news and see people fighting and knocking each other's blocks off, I always yell at the TV "Get a hobby! Do some papier mache"! smile


Jackie

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#3 2012-10-02 16:42:15

scyllac14
Member
Registered: 2007-09-23
Posts: 19

Re: Papier Mache in penal institutions

After reading your post I found a blogsite on "Outsider Art" that has a link to "prison art" (www.interestingthings.com). This included some papier mache, soap carving, etc. Amazing stuff. Thanks for the fascinating lead.

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#4 2012-10-05 03:46:06

bmaskmaker
Member
From: Takoma Park, MD
Registered: 2010-04-08
Posts: 93

Re: Papier Mache in penal institutions

Patraw, those kinds of shows freak me out, so thank you for watching and telling us about the papier mache  : ).  I wouldn't survive a minute in a prison, but if by some miracle I did, I'd definitely be making paper mache out of whatever I could find.

Scyllac, very cool ... but I think the URL you mean is
http://www.interestingideas.com/out/prison/prison.htm

Thanks.

-- b

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#5 2012-10-06 04:58:16

scyllac14
Member
Registered: 2007-09-23
Posts: 19

Re: Papier Mache in penal institutions

Hi Bmaskmaker. Thanks for catching my mis-address! Amazing the slips between mind and fingers (rueful smile).

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#6 2012-10-07 00:59:43

CatPerson
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From: Washington State, U.S.A.
Registered: 2006-01-09
Posts: 1314

Re: Papier Mache in penal institutions

Committing a crime so as to have more time to do papier mache.....

Hmmmmmmm.....

Sue

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#7 2012-10-08 15:39:55

Patraw
Member
From: Michigan, USA
Registered: 2008-09-10
Posts: 151
Website

Re: Papier Mache in penal institutions

That was a good article; interesting read and it actually answered some questions I was pondering.  I was surprised it mentioned the prison that's closest to where I am in Michigan (the facility is in the next city to the East of me) - it's good to hear that they have a robust art program.

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