An article in the local paper which deals with the idea that jewelry
is created by the desire for ornamentation, and the avalibility of
material resources.
Robb
Trash turned to treasures: Inmates create jewelry by using discarded
items
By: Lynn Larowe - Texarkana Gazette
Published: 07/15/2007
An inmate at Miller County Jail shows off his ring and necklace
made from food wrappers and paper. Hispanic prisoners brought
the craft into the jail and have taught many of the others how
to make the woven wears.Discardeditems like candy wrappers,
potato chip bags and grocery sacks are commonly used by inmates
to create jail house jewelry. Pieces of a grocery sack are tied
to something in the prisoner’s cell and stretched. The stick
from a corny dog is tied to the other end and the stretched
plastic is twisted and twisted until it becomes a strong enough
strand to braid, knot and weave. Brightly hued bits of packaging
from sweets and junk food purchased in the jail commissary are
interwoven to add flash and color. For some, it brings to mind
the old adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” The
quality of the creation depends largely on the skill of the
artist. Some have more time to spend on their designs than
others. “I use square knots on mine,” said one inmate who sat
waiting in court for a hearing. “Mine are kinda crude but some
of these guys can really do amazing things. They spend hours on
them.” Time is something inmates at the Miller County
Correctional Facility often have plenty of. “They have made me
flowers,” said Sheriff Linda Rambo. "I’ve gotten a ring, too."
Rambo says the inmate who presented her with the flowers
fashioned them from trash and gave them their color by
meticulously scraping the lead from colored pencils to use as
dye. A man in street clothes sitting in court last week had two
crosses hanging from his neck. He said they were given to him
during a brief stay behind bars. “People are always asking me
about them,” said the man, who mentioned the crosses bear
special significance because they were created by hand and are
one-of-a-kind. Rambo says the crafting of the religious symbols
and other items by inmates makes them feel productive in a
setting where depression can overcome the mind.
“What else have they got to do,” she said. “I can’t let them wea=
r metal crosses because of security issues.” Many inmates say
they “find God” while incarcerated. Feelings of loss, isolation
and a need for redemption are likely at the root of the jail
residents’ increased spirituality, according to many Websites
addressing the subject. “This is going to be so hard on my
family, especially my daughter,” said the square-knot
cross-wearing inmate. “I just got five years but I’m still
positive because of the Lord.”