Episode 84
Henry Frank 2.0: Further Adventures of a Free Artist
In Episode 34 Henry Frank shared the story of his long trek from San Quentin as a lifer, to finding both freedom and a community eager to learn from him as an artist, teacher, and healer. Here are three amazing new chapters that that Henry shared about his continuing journey.
Bio
I am a descendant of the great nations of the Yurok and Pomo Tribes. I am a returning resident, former Arts In Corrections participant/clerk, and currently working for the William James Association as the Communications Administrator and Teaching Artist at California Medical Facility (CMF), High Desert State Prison (HDSP), and California Correctional Center (CCC). I use my art to amplify the voices of people of color (specifically Native Americans), people who are currently experiencing incarceration, and returning residents (aka formerly incarcerated) to expose the mistreatment, dehumanization, and desolation. These people have voices, my contribution is to make sure it is heard beyond the reservations and prison walls. My connection and coexistence within the natural world, my heritage, my culture, and incarceration experience inspire and shapes my artistic expression. I draw from my childhood, my spiritual practice, my memories/treatment from my incarceration and living as a Native American in a colonized based society. Art has freed and expanded my scope of humanity and myself, it has been a tool for introspection, connection, and expression.
"Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It has let me express things within me that I could not ever put into words. It has given me healing, strength, insight, and patience. If it was not for artistic expression...I would not be the human being that I am today."
Notable Mentions
Red Tail Art: This is Henry Frank's artist website. Here is how he describes his practice: I enjoy bringing art into existence, I love the entire process, creating the backgrounds, finding the perfect image that fits the background, choosing the right colors to bring it to life, picking up the paintbrushes and mixing the colors and finally putting brush to canvas. It is very calming and relaxing, I go into a meditative state when I am the zone.
The Museum of the American Indian: “Located in Marin County and situated on a site of an actual Miwok Village, the Museum is dedicated to providing the people of Northern California with programs and exhibits that deepen understanding and appreciation of Native American cultures.”
Yurok People: “The mission of the Yurok Tribe is to exercise the aboriginal and sovereign rights of the Yurok People to continue forever our Tribal traditions of self-governance, cultural and spiritual preservation, stewardship of Yurok lands, waters and other natural endowments, balanced social and economic development, peace and reciprocity, and respect for the dignity and individual rights of all persons living within the jurisdiction of the Yurok Tribe, while honoring our Creator, our ancestors and our descendants.”
Pomo People: “The Pomo are an indigenous people of California. The historical Pomo territory in Northern California was large, bordered by the Pacific Coast to the west, extending inland to Clear Lake, and mainly between Cleone and Duncans Point. One small group, the Northeastern Pomo of the Stonyford vicinity of Colusa County, was separated from the core Pomo area by lands inhabited by Yuki and Wintuan speakers. “ Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomo
William James Association: “The William James Association promotes work service in the arts, environment, education, and community development. Our work has been primarily centered around transformative arts experiences in nontraditional settings, serving men and women in and after prison and high-risk youth. Acting on the conviction that the fine arts enrich, heal and unite communities, the William James Association has brought exceptional artists into prisons throughout California and other states since 1977.”
Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, “Napoleon Hill: Oliver Napoleon Hill (October 26, 1883 – November 8, 1970) was an American self-help author. He is best known for his book Think and Grow Rich (1937), which is among the 10 best-selling self-help books of all time.[1][2] Hill's works insisted that fervid expectations are essential to improving one's life.[3][4] Most of his books were promoted as expounding principles to achieve "success". Wilkipedia
AKTA Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, Pine Ridge: "The land that makes up Pine Ridge Reservation is an integral part of the Lakota culture and the economic base of the reservation. The reservation is situated in southwestern South Dakota on the Nebraska state line, about 50 miles east of the Wyoming border. The area includes over 11,000 square miles contained in seven counties; Bennett, Custer, Fall River, Jackson and Oglala counties in South Dakota."
First Peoples Fund: “We believe art and culture are essential to life. Art embodies Native peoples’ culture, our understanding of who we are and where we come from. Artists and culture bearers give us the power to connect with our past and chart our future. We center the inherent rights and freedom of native peoples. We recognize that Native communities know what they need best to flourish. Native peoples are not defined by colonization or genocide, but by the strength and beauty of our own identities, cultures, and leadership.”Yurok Language Revitalization: “When the language revitalization effort began the use of old records helped new language learners. However, it was through hearing fluent speakers that many young learners fluency level increased. When the Yurok Tribe began to operate as a formal tribal government a language program was created.”
Graton Rancheria: “The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria,[1] formerly known as the Federated Coast Miwok, is a federally recognized American Indian tribe of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians.[2] The tribe was officially restored to federal recognition in 2000 by the U.S. government pursuant to the Graton Rancheria Restoration Act[3][4] “
Transcript
Henry Frank 2.0: Further Adventures of a Free Artist
[:During the pandemic, there were times when I figuratively, and literally lost sight of my personal horizon line which not only left me feeling adrift but in some cases really scared. Since then I find myself increasingly obsessed by the need for perspective, which, of course is the first thing to go when that fog obscures the horizon. I have have also concluded that some of that fog had nothing to do with the pandemic and everything to do the perspective adverse nature of our three-second headline dominated digital world.
As I have mentioned in the past, ne of the things that is vexing about the podcast universe is that each story, each conversation is just a snapshot in time. “Here's the story and a little historic perspective up to this point, but who knows what will come of it.” Which can be frustrating to a nosey, curious researcher like me who likes to keep track of stuff.
So, since I don't have a working time machine, I've decided that the only remedy here is to treat these podcast episodes as chapters in a continuing story which I have an obligation to catch up to and report on from time to time. So, About a month, ago in Episode 80, we shared the first of these revisitations with a fascinating update from poet, provocateur Alice Lovelace. Its been said that we are traveling in an increasingly change constant landscape and that certianly proved to be the case with Alice who had moved more than her share of mountains since we last spoke.
rank. Now, back in October of:Needless to say, this was a saga of change. And as we discovered in our recent visit, a story whose impact has continued to unfold in both powerful and surprising ways over the past two years. Here are three amazing new chapters that that Henry shared about that unfolding.
Part 1: Smiley
The first of these concerns a bear. More specifically a 60-year old golden grizzly bear pelt that was gifted to Henry by a close friend who had become aware of his strong interest in the bear centered healing traditions of his people.
[:And then we would do an awakening ceremony in the spring. And did that for four or five years. And then... my spiritual leader from San Quentin came over because I needed some red tailed hawk feathers to finish my drum, but he showed up on the day when we were doing the sleeping ceremony and I said, “Hey, you want to come in and put my bear to sleep?"
He said, “What? I said, “You want to come in? We're doing a sleeping ceremony”. He's like, “You got a bear? I say, “Yeah. And he's like, “I knew it. I knew you were a bear.” I'm like, “Yeah.” So he came in. We did our whole thing. And during that time, he's like,” I knew it. I'm going to get you into the bear clan. I'm going to get you to the bear chief I knew it, Hank. I knew it.” And with Hector, he runs on Indian time, so it could happen the next day or it could happen 10 years from now, but it'll happen.
And then nothing else, just a year later, he calls up and says, “Hey Hank, I talked to Bear Chief. He wants to meet you, so have your bear and let me know if I can pick you up on, Saturday.” And so I was just like, “Okay.” And I'm just like, the Impostor Syndrome, “Am I Indian enough? Am I strong enough? Do I have the endurance? Is my bear good enough?” so I said, “I don't know.” So I didn't call them back.
And, Me and my wife had been going to Yosemite for about, say about five years, I and we always go and look for bears. We never came across a bear, So this time we go up, to Tuolumne Meadows and we got out and we were walking, my wife says, “I think I see a bear.” I’m like, “No way.” So we come back and it was a mama bear with a cub and she was teaching them, how to the tear the bark off for the termites and grub hunting. And we sat with her for about. two or three hours and then she came all the way, I mean I got within 40 feet of her. I got fantastic photos and of her baby, but I'd know not to get in between those two so I was always aware of where everybody was, and then she walked off and, that was it.
So I said, alright, let's go. So we drive down to, where the meadows are. And there's another bear in the middle of the field, like a big one. I said, “Oh my God,” so before we even stopped, I was already down the hill with my camera and walking up to him. And, just take a picture.
And then we went on. So that's three bears already. And then as we were leaving, there was a fourth bear blocking the way on the exit. So I jumped out and get on that side, take a picture as he goes up the hill, and I jumped back in the car.
And we're driving down now from Yosemite, and I was like, “Holy cow, I can't believe we just saw four bears after five years, all in one day.” And then it hit me, the bear dance. And I just started crying. it just started. And I was like, “Oh my goodness,” I said, “It's a sign, Honey.” She said, “I know.”
And so once I got down to, Merced as soon as I got a cell phone, I called Hector. I said, “Hey Hector, I'm ready to go,” which was, three days later. And he's like,” I'll be there at 10 o'clock in the morning.” And so he came and put my bear in the back, jumped in with him and his boys and we went up there and I met the the lead, bear there.
And, he said, “Hector's been telling me about you.” I said, “Yeah.” He said, “You have a bear?” I said, “I do.” “Where is it?” I said, “She's in the car.” “Let me see her.” So I come out. He said, “Oh my god, is that a grizzly?” I said, “Yeah”. So I told him the story. Told him what's been going on. I said, “Everybody can tell that she was well taken care of because we did the ceremonies and all that stuff and smudged her down.
And he said, “All right, we just asked you to come up, just to meet. can't sweat.” and this and that. And as we're talking, he's like, “You know what? He's like, “You want to sweat with us?” I'm like, “Yeah, I'll sweat with you. Yeah.” He's like. He's like, “No. If you sweat with this, you're a bear because you're gonna have to put your hide up on that lodge over there. That's a life commitment. there's no violence, there's no disrespecting your women, there's no, drugs, alcohol, stuff like this.” I said, “I can do that. Because that's what I'm doing now.”
And he said, “Hector, you're his wingman.” he, smudged me down. And my bear, her name's Smiley. So I prayed with Smiley, put her up on a lodge, sweated, and then I danced that night. And it was for like four and a half hours, And in the middle of it, I was like really feeling Smiley on me, And one of the brothers stopped and he said, “That bear looks a little heavy. Is she heavy?” And I said,”Yeah.” And he said, “Is that because, you got to pack her around?” And I'm like, “Yeah.” He's like, “That's where you're messing up.” He said, “You're not packing that bear, that bear is carrying you. you understand that, you won't even feel that bear on you.” And that's what happened. I let go of all the, “Oh, this is too heavy. How much longer?" All that stuff. Got out of that. And got into the spirit realm and the prayers And finished out the night.
And, and I knew I was home. That was where I was supposed to be. That's where I belong. And the dance is a healing ceremony for the community members. So the people that come, they come to get, help. get some medicine. And if it's us or if it's them just, seeing this barrier or is it creator or all of it all together.But people get healed there from, all kinds of stuff. And that's what I do, and, I'm just blessed that, Creator let me do this,
BC: What an honor. [:HF: This bear came to me. You gotta think about it, like in the great scheme of life, that this bear was killed like 60 years ago to meet me when I met her to get her second life. in that arbor.
Part Two: Legoland
In July of:[00:09:32] BC: So I was invited to the marking time symposium, and I'm just in a panel, being, formerly incarcerated. So I have the lived experience. And and plus being an artist and, understanding how that art really helped guide me through those troubled waters while I was inside. And I brought a little reel, PowerPoint with some of my, diverse work, acrylics, printing, and then my Lego prisons. I've been just working in Legos. And I did a full prison with three tiers, a yard, and all that stuff, plus a visiting room and a transport bus. And they all go together.
[:And then an email comes through talking about, “Hey, I want all the dimensions for your Legos and how much do they weigh?” And so I gave her all the information. And she said, “I can't get it in now, but the next one.” And that was the Brown University and she wanted the visiting room and the transport bus. And I said, cool. And so she said, “How do you want to do it?” I said, “Probably just mail it.”
And then she said, “No, Henry, you can either mail it in, or we can fly you out to Brown University, and you can install it into the gallery yourself. So what would you like?” I said, “I'd like to install it myself.” “Okay then, we'll set that up.” and I was like, “I have an assistant.” And they're like, “Bring her too. And, just so happens she's my wife, cause I've had this stuff with my shoulder so she does a lot of the installing work, from the beginning.
They brought us out, put us out there and we got to get, stay for the opening reception And, I mean, we were treated really good. And then, it was a hit, And, along with all the other great artists in there. So, it was an honor to be amongst them, and, man, that really changed my world, because this is her traveling exhibit and so, now I'm a part of it. And now I'm in Harlem, up there and they flew us out. They flew me out for the opening of that and that was just amazing.
Afterwards I got nominated for a Art for Justice grant, and you only can apply if, you've been invited. I was invited, by Nicole. So, once you get nominated, you know, it's up to you to get yourself in there and they're like,” Oh, you only can do five pages and that's it.” And the closest thing I can relate that to that process. It was like going to parole board. It was like, instead of like, how did I get to a criminal mindset and then how did I get out and how am I going to maintain that mindset? It was about how did you start your art? Where is your art now? Where do you want your art to go? And, how does it affect the people that see it?
I'm like, holy cow. like, I'm not a, academically trained artist. I'm just an artist. And so I was like, dang, this is, I mean, I don't know how hard it is to write, a dissertation, but I think this was damn near close to it. I mean, I put about 35 days into it to just doing it over and over, trimming fat, this and that. And then I had a couple, people look it over. And... And when I got done with that, man, I felt like I was in front of that board again waiting to see if I get parole or not.
And I sent it and I figured if I don't get this, I am not ever going to write another grant proposal again because I don't know what else I could do more. And it's about, I think six months went by and I get this phone call. And this, lady was on the phone and she was so excited. She says, “I'm with the Art for Justice Fund” and this and that, “And I just want the call to let you know that we have, granted you your grant.
And, I was like, “What?” She's like, “Oh my God.” And then like I start crying. I'm on speaker. My wife started crying. and I'm just like, “Whoa.” And… and not only they, give me what I requested, they gave me the full amount, so it was like.. and she's like, “Ae need your art out there.” I said, “Oh my God.” I said, “You don't know what it means to me.” And she said, “Henry, no.” And she was crying. She's like, “You don't know what it means to us. You don't know what it means, to the world.” And I'm just like, wow, this is so crazy. And she's like, “I just want to give you our deepest congratulations and good luck. And we can't wait to see what you do. And do you have any questions” ? I said, no, “I'm good.”
ng the, I got funded for the J:In Episode 34 during our first conversation with Henry, he described his early days as an artist in prison as instilling a hunger that made him want to learn more and keep creating. Its clear that that hunger has only grown in the eight years since his release as he describes the long and intense journey he has taken with his Lego prison which was originally inspired by the animated film series Despicable Me, which among other things is a story of transformation and redemption.
[:brought it home. Like, I couldn't take it apart. I just couldn't. I'm like, I can't store it forever either. Like, who's gonna, wanna see this? And so it sat up on my little shelf here for probably about eight months and then. One day, I think I was working or something, and I look over and I started hearing the noises of prison.
lier this year from, so from,:It took that long to create it, but it ended up being that with the perimeter fence with three gun towers, a, a gate for the bus to go in, which opens and a bus can go through it, which I already did, and it has the front sign gate who tells you who the warden is. And, you can't bring in this.
It's illegal to bring in guns, tobacco, all that stuff. So I got all of that in there. But at the end of the first one, I was just thinking about it, and my wife Hun's like, how does it feel? I'm like, it feels good. So he's like, yeah, I think it's been therapeutic for you, because you have, you've had a shift. And I'm like, huh, I didn't really think about it, but now I know, it's like, I don't know if I so much like trapped that energy in that piece, but I, put it into it, and so I can see it, on some of the stories that go along with it.
And then the next piece, like the visiting room. My dad used to, visit me anytime he could, by driving up here, sleeping in his car to save money so we could actually eat in the visiting room and stuff like that. And then the transport bus. That was my least favorite part. Being a big guy, and all that stuff, and being chained up and they just talk to you horrible on that bus. I think that was the place where I felt less of a human being than anywhere else in that place.
[:[00:17:23] HF: I created that, and I did get peace from that. And now I'm going to create five more pieces, with the grant, and I'm going to start that probably at the end of this month, because my ceremony season's down, and I'm an exhibiting artists as well. So, that's slowing down for right now, and I already got exhibits lined up for next year, at least three as of right now.
[:this is so true of a lot of the art that I encounter in my work, is that this art needed to manifest in the world, and you are the one that brought it into being, and you needed it to.
[:[00:18:23] BC: It's not just a thing to come and look at, and there's some energy there what a powerful thing, Henry, really,
[:[00:18:45] BC: And we're at a time now where the story that we're living in, is filled with, pretense, and illusion, and distortion, and the art world is one of those places where that can happen. But, the opposite can happen, the authentic, roots of life can manifest right there. When I first saw… you, you showed me, pictures of those Lego pieces it. I, it just took my breath away.
Yeah, and I think people, need to understand and see and hear and feel, that our, our prison system —- It's not a pretend thing. it's the real thing. I knew that, if people started to see it, they would go, Oh, okay, this needs to be out there. So congratulations.
[:Part Three: What made you stop?
Anybody who gets to know Henry Frank will recognize natures patterns and cycles are a persistent feature of his worldview. As such reciprocation and accountability figure strongly in his way of working. In this third set of stories Henry reflects on the-grateful-giving-back part of his journey.
[:[00:19:55] HF: Yep, I'm in the California Medical Facility right now. It took me a year and a half to get in there, but, I stuck with it. there was a point where I was like, “Nope, F-all this. There was some, like, barriers from, the custody staff inside. but, I waited the six months after my denial and reapplied, and had a new custody officer in place. And he was very supportive, and he just said, “No guarantees, if it you get denied f you can apply again in six months” I got approved and now I've been going in for the last four months.
I've got a couple more months before I can get a brown card and all that stuff to start going in by myself. But I work along with Sam Tubiolo at the site. He's the site coordinator. And he is just, a great mentor and a great role model. Uh, from what I've seen with his interaction with staff, with his interaction with other, colleagues and his interaction with his students it’s all the same. And, just… I really respect that.
And one thing that stuck out in my mind, the first day we went in, and we went into the hospice, and most people are, bedridden, or in wheelchairs, or whatever it may be. Um, we were going through, and he went into each room, talking about, “We're doing the art program. We got some pens anytime you want that or some colored pencils. You can let me know and I'll give it to you, all right, because that's what we're about, creating art so you guys can do something.”
He was just letting them know that there are people here for them, outside of the custody. Like people just come in and, we're checking in with them, letting them know if they want something that we can provide it for them. If they have that outlet, because who knows, maybe they have that desire to draw and that will help, spiritually get that hand going so they can draw.
I got my own style, since I'm formerly incarcerated, and been through the Board and stuff, so I can talk to some of the guys about that when it comes up, I'm teaching acrylics, drawing, and there's, watercolor, and on the hospice yard, doing murals, we're doing it old school. Like, Leonardo da Vinci did where, you would grid it out, and then you would poke holes, and they put it on the wall, and then you rub the charcoal in, and then you draw your line. It's 90 foot by, I think, 25 feet, 90 foot long.
So we took this little picture that was probably about 16 inches long, and then threw it on that wall. And then, putting down base coats and then, giving it that shading. And so it's just been amazing. And just working with the guys, So it is fantastic.
[:[00:22:44] HF: One of the people that's helping us, before we got there, they said all he did was just lay in bed and watch TV. And since we've been there, every Wednesday, he's out there already getting ready to, paint on the mural And he went rogue a little bit in a corner. And, it was a shock at first. but you know what, we gotta let his creativity, I mean, he lives there. know. But, you know, the head doctor's like, what, can I see this, the schematic again? Because I don't remember this.
But Sam is awesome. Let him know the story. And it's like, we can leave that little piece there, and we can just paint around it. You know But I really enjoyed that Sam, spoke up for them, spoke up for him, because it's different. And that's what it's about, you know, giving the people that have voice and just amplify it so it can be heard. So I was just really enjoying that.
[:This was certainly the case In July of 2020, when he was part of a panel at conference organized by well-known writer, filmmaker, and returned resident Troy Williams called Alcatraz and Mass Incarceration. Williams, who is also founder of justice oriented film organization Restorative Media, created the event to explore how the history of incarceration at Alcatraz informs us about the state of incarceration today.
[:But at the end when everything was clearing up, and this little kid runs up, and he kept looking at me. He said, “Excuse me for one second.” I said, “How can I help you, my little man?” And he said, “Can I ask you a question?” I said, “Sure.” He's like, “What is it that made you stop doing bad things?” I'm like, “What?” He's like, “What is it that made you stop doing bad things?” I was like, “Wow, that's a very complex, complicated question. do I want to, talk to him like he would… understand it.” I mean, what do I say to this little guy? And I stopped and I thought just for a second and I looked at him. I said, “I found the value in my life.” I said, “Once I found the value in my life, I could see the value in other people's lives. And even if I can't see it like physically or what they're doing, I know it's there because I know mine's here and that's what made me stop doing bad things.” He's like, “Thank you.” And he just ran off and went back to his mom. And I'm just like, ”Whoa. that was intense.” I said, "I wonder what was going on in that little man's life, you know, to ask that question.” Who knows? But I was just like, “Man, he like put me on the spot.”
[:[00:26:13] HF: True.
[00:2:32] BC: Recently, the California Medical Facility at Vacaville, California, which is a prison, presented a unique event called Prison Palooza. The gathering brought together staff, community members, and the incarcerated population in what might best be described as an all day community music food festival. The event garnered a lot of attention and a few questions for Henry at a UC Santa Cruz panel on prison reform.
[:CMF had a Prison Palooza, which, was out on the yard, and there were booths, there was the AIC booth, there was a parole booth where you could come up and ask questions, food on the yard, a concert, it was really, cool thing I can say, it was like a, art, wine, and music festival without the wine. It was just really cool and the warden, all of the administrators were, pretty much on the yard and talking to people. They were dancing to the music just like everybody else. I mean, it was just really phenomenal, something I would not ever think I would see in my lifetime.
And so, somebody asked like, “What's the point of it? Why would you do that for people inside?”
I said, “It's a sign that the culture is shifting in there, and it's a sign that gives people hope, that are in there. And why does that matter to you? Because you don't want somebody coming out with no hope. You want people to come out with, the, the desire to stay out here. The desire to connect with other people like he connected with people on that yard”
And I said, “Why do I come here and talk to university students, I mean... What really could I give you from my life experience? you're on the right track. You're doing the right thing. You're going to get a degree. You're going to get a career, But maybe you'll end up, in Sacramento, you might end up in Washington. You might be a politician. You might be a judge. You might be a law enforcer. You might even be a correctional officer and maybe not seeing people as animals these monsters. You're going to remember me sitting here. 10 years out after a life sentence, and here I am taking my time out so I can share my life with you just in case you're on the wrong course and maybe you can course correct so you don't have to go through what I went through.
And then I said, “Most importantly, I am going to assume most of you are going to be parents one day, and what is it you're going to teach your children about people inside a prison? And I hope with us, not just me, but all four of us up here sharing our story that you can share a humanistic way of explaining what incarceration is to your child. So that's what I'm hoping. Thank And that's where they ended it.
And Henry, I think that a good place for us to end. Are you ready to come in for a landing.
I'm good.
Thanks so much for coming back and giving us an update on whats been happening for you and your community. And thanks for sharing your Red Tail Medicine song, that we heard throughout.
[:And if you are totally obsessed with what we're up to, you can explore our entire archive based on your specific interests, like youth arts, cultural organizing prison, arts, change-making media, and nine other categories in our change, the story collection, which you can find in our show notes and at. www.artandcommunity.com under the podcast dropdown.
Change the Story / Change the World, is a production of the Center for the Study of Art and Community, our theme and soundscape spring forth from the head, heart and hands of the Maestro. Judy Munsen, our text editing is by Andre Nnebe, our effects come from free sound.org, and our inspiration rises up from the ever present spirit of UKE. 235.
