Alejandro Suniga

Alejandro Suniga Alejandro Suniga is currently incarcerated in Texas State Prison, having served three years of an eight year sentence. In Alejandro’s own words: I’ve just started drawing a year ago and let me tell you, I've improved. I'm not where I'd like to be but I'm a work in progress. You'll see my work as I started and improved as I went. I've always wanted to be able to draw since I was young but I started late so new is better than never. I'd like to say I was inspired by the (Titanic) where Jack draws Rose, just something I wanted to get good at so that when I find “the one,” I can impress her with my “mad skills.” I am 28 years young. I grew up in a small country town in South Texas. I have a little brother and little sister that are not so little anymore, except to me. I started out pretty bad. Let’s just say I’ve had experiences. But I did start working young with my dad; I learned a lot of random and useful skills that have helped me in life. I played sports since I was young: baseball, football, track, cross country, powerlifting, and bull riding. I am very competitive. I love to hunt, fish, bow fish, tree dive, spear fish, kayak, hike, travel, workout, read, and sky dive. Oh, and take naps! I graduated high school and went and joined the Marine Corps, “Oorah.” Didn’t end as I wanted. Young and dumb I was. Alejandro Suniga 02481630 Texas State Prison, Dolphe Bricoe Unit 1459 West Highway 85 Dilly, TX 78017

Jasper H Stollings

Marvin Sides

Marvin Sides Marvin Sides has been out of prison for 8 months after being granted clemency and serving 30 years. Art was one of the ways Marvin made meaning during his years inside. Working with whatever materials he could access - acrylic paints, clay, foam, cardboard, even toilet paper and glue - he created paintings and sculptures that carried the imprint of effort, resilience, and transformation. In Marvin’s own words: My name is Marvin Sides. In 1995 I was charged and convicted of 1st degree murder. I was given a 640 month sentence (53 1/2 yrs). As a child my parents severely abused me in every manner of horror you could think of and for some that’s hard to imagine. At 8, I was removed and they were incarcerated for their crimes. Parental rights terminated and the foster system became my next journey. Early on I found art. Painting was surprisingly a place of sanctuary but short-lived as I was moved often. As most kids did, I doodled on paper, my first piece of art was sunflowers and a barn. In 2nd grade, I won my first award for a drawing of a hawk. I always found creative outlets even in the darkest times. At 14, I was placed in my final home and the abuse was equal to that of my childhood. I took his life and ended up with a life of imprisonment. Immediately I turned to art as my comfort. Inside, I taught art to anyone who wanted to learn while at the same time learning. In around 2010 I was given an opportunity to start doing art for Uganda fundraising from someone I would now consider my chosen mom. This brought me so much joy and I applied my talent to helping others in a very real way. Doors started to open to make new connections within the prison system that allowed me to teach art to individuals in a class setting. Unconditional Freedom gave me the final tool to bring it all together in forgiveness. To forgive each person who harmed me in a very real way and to forgive myself. My heart broke wide open and flooded with love and I couldn’t believe how this unlocked every door for me. Creating art programs within the prison system with other like minded individuals, the prison now flourishes with art. April 4, 2025 I was given clemency by our governor. It has been a true honor to share this journey with so many and I’m so grateful for the 30 years I spent in prison as it opened me to something remarkable. Thank you for your time and may you have a blessed life with deep love. Marvin Sides DOC #747654 Walla Walla State Penitentiary & Stafford Creek Correction Center WA. State Currently living in Walla Walla Washington 99362 Email: Mesides4425@gmail.com

Nicholas Smith

Nicholas Smith found The Art of Soulmaking in 2021 and held an in-person study group with members of his unit at AL Dept of Correction, Holman Unit, Death Row. His group was so popular two corrections officers also joined them. A Buddhist practitioner, Nick is in the process of starting up a new AOS group.

Nicholas Suiter

Reynaldo Figueroa Sanabria

Reynaldo Figueroa Sanabria is currently incarcerated on death row at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida. Reynaldo's red elephant, a centerpiece of the exhibition, was made in part from materials gifted to him by Charles Finney. It sat half finished until Unconditional Freedom offered a donation of materials needed to complete it. In Reynaldo’s own words: My name is Reynaldo Figueroa Sanabria, born and raised in Puerto Rico. I'm 52 years old. I was born with this gift to know how to draw and I like it. I'm incarcerated on death row in the State of Florida; I just got here 4 years ago. I'm an open minded person, I like good conversation. I have been through a lot. I know a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I'm not a saint but not a bad person. If people want to have a good friend, my doors are open; you will not regret knowing me. This is death row. We are not in general population; we only get 3 hours out of our cell for showers and using the phone. Drawing and making crafts is my meditation and how I get my mind out of these walls. I met Charles Finney one time when I got back from court. They put me in the cell next to him and I noticed he had a few crafts in the making. I told him I know how to draw and make crafts. I told him I could help him finish some of his work. When inmates throw something out, I look and see if I could use it to make something. It is always in my mind; I visualize what I could create. Reynaldo Figueroa Sanabria D46851 Union Correctional Institute P.O. Box 1000 Raiford, FL 32083

Zachary Salinas