MY FIRST TIME: An Open Letter To The Public, 1996

• My First Time: An Open Letter To The Public, 1996 
• Suave Gonzalez 
  
• Magazine ink, marker, coffee grounds, plastic
• Size: 30” x39”, Framed Under Glass

‘My First Time’ was the very first artwork ever created by Suave Gonzalez in prison – he was just 19 years old. The inspiration behind this powerful artwork was the cruel reality of solitary confinement. At the time this work was made, Suave had served 1.5 years of a 7 year solitary confinement stretch. When asked, how could you possibly survive such conditions  – you were so young, so alone? Suave’s answer:  “Creating art is what kept me alive.  I had to create with anything I could get my hands on – coffee beans, magazines, plastic spoons, plastic knives, paint chips from the cell wall. I had no traditional materials – I had to use whatever I could find.  For my glue?  I used toothpaste to cement everything together.  AND YET?  I still rise!”