Prism/Prison uplifts the work of incarcerated artists

n general, maps aren’t allowed. Neither are annotations. Some prohibit coloring books or books with blank pages. Others ban anime or calendars or books on astrology. Several ban books that mention gender or sexuality or depict violence or nudity. These are just a few of the seemingly random mail restrictions at the prisons served by Chicago Books to Women in Prison (CBWP).

Founded in 2002 by a group of “book enthusiasts and archivists,” CBWP has always had the simple goal of sending books to incarcerated women in order to build solidarity between those inside and those outside. Over 20 years later, the mission of the volunteer-run organization has largely stayed the same, though now it also serves trans people in men’s prisons.

Prism/Prison Vol. 1: $15

An offshoot of this foundational work, CBWP’s latest project was planned in part as an answer to prisons’ onerous mail restrictions. Prism/Prison is a publication featuring illustrations by artists with Chicago connections and writing and artwork from incarcerated women. The magazine not only helps bring the work of incarcerated women to a larger audience—it also includes pages that can be used for journaling and coloring.

Prism/Prison editors Stephanie Clemson, Grace Ebert, and Colin Palombi—all CBWP volunteers—each had a different initial idea for the publication, which was funded by an Illinois Humanities Envisioning Justice grant. Palombi wanted to work with local artists. Ebert wanted to work with women on the inside and ensure all contributors were paid. And Clemson wanted to find a way to publish a journal that would meet most of the restrictions on mail. “Those three ideas came together in this publication, which I think is way more than the sum of its parts,” Clemson said.