Today the US has incarcerated more of its citizens than any other country in the world, 2.3 million men and women- each a father, mother, sister, brother, daughter, son. The system of incarceration impacts generations of families and entire communities. It is well established that mass incarceration is not just about individual acts of criminality or individual responsibility, but rather that it is a much larger problem, the roots of which are racism, poverty and institutional inequity.
The Artistic Ensemble presented Waterline on Nov. 5th, 2014. It was our first performance for invited outside guests and other men incarcerated in San Quentin Prison. The performance was a compilation of our stories, images, and movements shaped by our experiences navigating systemic oppression.
Waterline is the line where the hull of the ship meets the surface of the water. It is the legal limit to which a ship may be loaded for specific water types and temperatures in order to safely maintain buoyancy, particularly with regard to the hazard of waves that may arise.
Photos by San Quentin TV.
