The Only Way Out by Chontelle Shirk
Medium: Pen and color pencil
Size: 8.5″ X 11″
Artist statement: Art has always been a way for me to process emotions and abuse associated with my past. Since being incarcerated, I have learned that I may use drawing and writing to have a voice in the community. Through this journey of learning myself and the world around me, art has been a positive factor in my developing a voice. Ibhave been able to gain insight and process situations in a more beneficial way with the use of creative outlets. Discovering that art can be used as a tool not only to promote my own healing, but also as an advocate to inspire change in this world has made me feel excitement and enthusiasm. My drawings represent my entry into the world of incarceration, and the most important aspects of freedom to me, which are the freedom of thought and peace of mind. I can be locked behind walls of stone, steel, and razor wire, but my mind will always be free.
Image description: Pencil drawing with light and dark purple background/frame of the picture. In this frame, reads “Title:’The Only Way Out, Is Through’” on the bottom left-hand side. In the bottom, right-hand side of the purple frame reads: “By: Chontelle Shirk SCI-Muncy2023”. In the picture itself, encompassed by the purple frame, a person in a white button down and black knee-length skirt is falling upside down in what appears to be a gray cavern. The top of the area that they are falling is lighter with yellow highlights and the further down it becomes a darker blue. The person’s head is towards the bottom middle of the picture, their eyes are closed, they have dark lips, and their long, brown hair is going upwards with the rest of their body. They are wearing a black glove on their left hand that is reached out to one side of the cavern. Their other arm and hand is not pictured. From their feet extends a swirl that is purplish-blue and light red that appears ro be sparking and flowing outwards.
