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Nature's Echoes (Triptych - Right)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2024.
This work of art is part of a triptych, acrylic on canvas, 20” by 90”.
The confinement of a 6’ by 8’ prison cell became a place for me to explore and travel back to the memories of being in nature with my mother. This piece was inspired by those memories and the forest sounds that still echo within me. These sounds and memories kept me free during my incarceration.
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Notas Musicales de tu Jardín
Hector Rodriguez
Title translated to, "Musical Notes from your Garden."
Created 2024.
This work of art is watercolor, permanent and acrylic markers on cold press watercolor paper.
This piece uplifts the spirit while recognizing the depths (heavy stuff) from/through which we have come. It reminds us that we come naked to Mother Earth’s altar, witnessed by the flora and fauna surrounding us, being transformed from the depths of agony and traumatic release.
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The Keeper of Wild Grace
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2024.
This work of art is mixed media: reclaimed wood, spray paint, acrylic on drawing board, 34.5” by 32”.
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There’s Hope in Our Heart
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2014/2024.
This work of art is acrylic on canvas, 20” by 30”.
A part of me once believed, perhaps naively, that having a child could keep hope alive between parents who had separated. Facing a 28-year-to-life prison sentence and barely able to see my son, I feared he would grow up not knowing me and might repeat the same patterns my parents did- having children with different partners. I didn’t want him to experience a revolving door of father figures. Instead, I held onto hope that his mother and I could find common ground in our love for him and do right by him. Those fears and hopes inspired this piece.
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Unnamed (2024)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2024.
This work of art is ink and permanent marker on mixed media paper.
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Why Did I Do That For? Toxic Masculinity, Incarceration, and the Arts
Hector Rodriguez
Throughout this paper, I will touch on culture, toxic masculinity, violence, the need to reduce the harm that is based on toxic masculinity, and the systems put in place to maintain all forms of gender-based violence that come from the different forms of hypermasculinity. With the high level of gender-based violence in our penal system, the exploration of art-based therapeutic programs emerges as a compelling avenue for fostering healing and resilience. This is an effective way to reduce recidivism and work towards ending gender-based violence in our penal system and provide the space where people can go and learn about their traumas and find positive ways to cope with them.
The creative expression in prison environments is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience amidst austere conditions. Through craft shops, intricate tattoos, and personalized gifts, incarcerated individuals demonstrate their artistic talents and reclaim elements of their humanity within the confines of correctional facilities. Not only does engaging in art elevate one’s status and foster connections among peers, but it also serves as a means of combating the dehumanizing aspects of the rigid prison system.
Through exploring toxic masculinity, I will compare my personal experiences to academic research highlighting the positive impact arts programs have on combating gender-based violence. Toxic masculinity is enhanced in carceral settings; prisons work as microcosms to exploit hypermasculinity, which denies men the opportunity to express their emotions. Arts-based programs can combat this by providing a safe space to express themselves and unlearn their internalized toxic masculinity.
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Aladdin Sanchez
Hector Rodriguez
Watch the story of Aladdin Sanchez, another justice impacted individual who is pursuing college in prison.
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If You Don't Like What You See Change It
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2022
This work of art is colored pencil and ink on mixed media paper.
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If You Don't Like What You See Change It (Left Half Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2022
This work of art is colored pencil and ink on mixed media paper.
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If You Don't Like What You See Change It (Right Half Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2022
This work of art is colored pencil and ink on mixed media paper.
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My Sorrows, in a Fucking Cage
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2020
This work of art is colored pencil on mixed media paper.
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What Goes Up Must Come Down
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2020
This work of art is colored pencil on mixed media paper, 18x24.
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What Goes Up Must Come Down (Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2020
This work of art is colored pencil on mixed media paper, 18x24.
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What Goes Up Must Come Down (Signature Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2020
This work of art is colored pencil on mixed media paper, 18x24.
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An Ideology That Hurts All
Hector Rodriguez
"In the fall of 2018, I started taking classes through the Bard Prison Initiative. By the following year, I’d read Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, works by Plato, James Baldwin, and Lois Tyson’s Critical Theory Today. These books opened my eyes to the foundations of society, how white supremacist ideologies are kept alive, and how they impact both people and the environment. I saw how these beliefs are passed down to boys and girls, shaping them to fill predefined social roles. But those who dare to challenge these oppressive systems often pay a price—they’re marginalized, broken down, and subjected to various forms of abuse.
In this piece, I have children witnessing the destruction of Mother Nature and being disrupted by the type of future that awaits them."
Created 2019
This work of art is done in colored pencil and ink on drawing paper.
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An Ideology That Hurts All (No Frame)
Hector Rodriguez
"In the fall of 2018, I started taking classes through the Bard Prison Initiative. By the following year, I’d read Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, works by Plato, James Baldwin, and Lois Tyson’s Critical Theory Today. These books opened my eyes to the foundations of society, how white supremacist ideologies are kept alive, and how they impact both people and the environment. I saw how these beliefs are passed down to boys and girls, shaping them to fill predefined social roles. But those who dare to challenge these oppressive systems often pay a price—they’re marginalized, broken down, and subjected to various forms of abuse.
In this piece, I have children witnessing the destruction of Mother Nature and being disrupted by the type of future that awaits them."
Created 2019
This work of art is done in colored pencil and ink on drawing paper.
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Curious
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2016.
This work of art is acrylic on bedsheet and board from drawing pad.
Made while incarcerated at Green Haven, C-block.
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Courtship
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2014.
This work of art is acrylic on canvas, 18” by 24".
One of the ironies of incarceration was the constant presence of feeling an overwhelming sense of isolation. After seven years of marriage, I divorced and found myself without an intimate partner, and my only faithful companions became my journals, art, and imagination. I used the canvas to express my emotions and desires when I craved love, connection, and understanding. I transformed the solitude that once haunted me into an opportunity for introspection, discovering how imagination could guide me through the depths of loneliness.
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I Woman (Keep Them)
Hector Rodriguez
"On one of my many trips to the prison library, I found several articles that struck me deeply. One covered the driving ban imposed on Saudi Arabian women. At the same time, another exposed the harsh reality of around 100 million girls who had undergone female genital mutilation, with millions more at risk across Africa and beyond. I tore these pages from the magazines, slipped them into my pockets, and returned them to my cell.
Reflecting on what I’d read, I began experimenting with the concept of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” This idea seemed to reinforce a grim truth: women were often expected not to feel, live, or choose but merely to look sexually attractive, bear children, and serve men.
These stories evoked a vivid memory from my childhood in Puerto Rico. I vividly recall a warm evening when my aunt—who held the dual role of my beloved guardian—joined a local Christian church. We stood expectantly outside our home and awaited the arrival of the church van.
When the van pulled up, my aunt raised me to sit on the seat, but the driver, a stern figure with an imposing presence, stopped her from stepping inside. His words pierced the evening's tranquility as he instructed her to go back home, change out of her pants for a long, modest skirt, and remove the makeup from her face. Her expression shifted from confusion to a forced acceptance, and I have never forgotten the look of shame on her face.
This tryptic is a window to a past that shouldn’t have a resounding echo today. Sadly, our recent presidential election serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles surrounding women’s rights globally, echoing the challenges that continue to shape our societal landscape."
Created 2014/2024
This work of art is acrylic on canvas and is a tryptic, 24” by 54”.
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I Woman (Mutilation)
Hector Rodriguez
"On one of my many trips to the prison library, I found several articles that struck me deeply. One covered the driving ban imposed on Saudi Arabian women. At the same time, another exposed the harsh reality of around 100 million girls who had undergone female genital mutilation, with millions more at risk across Africa and beyond. I tore these pages from the magazines, slipped them into my pockets, and returned them to my cell.
Reflecting on what I’d read, I began experimenting with the concept of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” This idea seemed to reinforce a grim truth: women were often expected not to feel, live, or choose but merely to look sexually attractive, bear children, and serve men.
These stories evoked a vivid memory from my childhood in Puerto Rico. I vividly recall a warm evening when my aunt—who held the dual role of my beloved guardian—joined a local Christian church. We stood expectantly outside our home and awaited the arrival of the church van.
When the van pulled up, my aunt raised me to sit on the seat, but the driver, a stern figure with an imposing presence, stopped her from stepping inside. His words pierced the evening's tranquility as he instructed her to go back home, change out of her pants for a long, modest skirt, and remove the makeup from her face. Her expression shifted from confusion to a forced acceptance, and I have never forgotten the look of shame on her face.
This tryptic is a window to a past that shouldn’t have a resounding echo today. Sadly, our recent presidential election serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles surrounding women’s rights globally, echoing the challenges that continue to shape our societal landscape."
Created 2014/2024
This work of art is acrylic on canvas and is a tryptic, 24” by 54”.
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I Woman (Take Away)
Hector Rodriguez
"On one of my many trips to the prison library, I found several articles that struck me deeply. One covered the driving ban imposed on Saudi Arabian women. At the same time, another exposed the harsh reality of around 100 million girls who had undergone female genital mutilation, with millions more at risk across Africa and beyond. I tore these pages from the magazines, slipped them into my pockets, and returned them to my cell.
Reflecting on what I’d read, I began experimenting with the concept of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” This idea seemed to reinforce a grim truth: women were often expected not to feel, live, or choose but merely to look sexually attractive, bear children, and serve men.
These stories evoked a vivid memory from my childhood in Puerto Rico. I vividly recall a warm evening when my aunt—who held the dual role of my beloved guardian—joined a local Christian church. We stood expectantly outside our home and awaited the arrival of the church van.
When the van pulled up, my aunt raised me to sit on the seat, but the driver, a stern figure with an imposing presence, stopped her from stepping inside. His words pierced the evening's tranquility as he instructed her to go back home, change out of her pants for a long, modest skirt, and remove the makeup from her face. Her expression shifted from confusion to a forced acceptance, and I have never forgotten the look of shame on her face.
This tryptic is a window to a past that shouldn’t have a resounding echo today. Sadly, our recent presidential election serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles surrounding women’s rights globally, echoing the challenges that continue to shape our societal landscape."
Created 2014/2024
This work of art is acrylic on canvas and is a tryptic, 24” by 54”.
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La Prisión I (Bottom Left Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2014
This work of art is acrylic on canvas, 18x24.
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La Prisión I (Bottom Right Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2014
This work of art is acrylic on canvas, 18x24.
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La Prisión I (Center Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2014
This work of art is acrylic on canvas, 18x24.
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