Donny Johnson, a prisoner at Pelican Bay State Prison in CA, uses dye from M&M’s to paint abstract art on the backs of blank postcards. He puts one to five M&M’s in empty plastic jelly packets with water and fishes out the chocolate after the colorful shells melt away. The brush Johnson paints with is made from his own hair, foil, and plastic wrap. His work has been on display for several weeks in a gallery in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Twenty of his small paintings have been sold for $500 USD each. All proceeds from the gallery sales will be going towards the Pelican Bay Prison Project, a non-profit group.

However, Johnson is now in trouble with prison officials for “engaging in a business or profession without the warden’s permission”. According to the chief deputy warden at Pelican Bay, Johnson’s “unauthorized business dealings” might also extend his sentence. His privileges have already been restricted. Stephen A. Kurtz, founder and director of the Pelican Bay Prison Project said, “(Johnson) wasn’t doing business. He was simply making a donation. He didn’t make a penny off this.” The charity says it still intends to use the $10,000 dollar donation to help the children of prisoners, as Johnson had wished. It is still unclear as to whether prison officials will stop Johnson from making art. In a recent letter to his mother, he said he is no longer allowed to mail his paintings to anyone. Johnson’s lawyer is considering bringing a legal challenge.

source: Daily Breeze, A10, AUG 4th 06