{"id":1245394,"date":"2026-02-23T12:03:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T17:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.washingtoninformer.com\/?p=1245394"},"modified":"2026-03-04T12:39:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:39:02","slug":"lorton-prison-photography-exhibition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.washingtoninformer.com\/lorton-prison-photography-exhibition\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Out: A View of Hope from Incarceration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Life on the inside at Lorton Reformatory, a federal prison in Virginia, was dark and bleak, but an innovative photography program during the 1980s offered fleeting moments of light and freedom for men who were incarcerated in prison. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, modern audiences can view moments captured four decades ago through \u201cInside Out: Dignity and the Art of Seeing,” an engaging exhibition where black and white photos, taken by men at Lorton, show the day-to-day life behind bars. Running until March 5 at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities \u2014 located at Eye Street Gallery, 200 I St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 \u2014 the exhibition invites audiences to enter the environment for incarcerated men at Lorton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cI want to thank the artists whose works fill this space,\u201d said Aaron Myers, executive director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. \u201cThis exhibition forces us to see people, not as labels, not as systems, not as statistics, but as whole human beings.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Started by documentary photographer and educator Karen Ruckman and funded by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities<\/a>, the Lorton Prison photography program lasted from 1980 until 1989. The photography workshops for the incarcerated men included taking on specific photo assignments, maintaining the equipment, and building a darkroom to process photos.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
\u201cPinnacle of Love\u201d is 1985 compilation, where Michael Moses El displays his love in a mural of his wife, Desi Moses El, who visited him every day while he was incarcerated at Lorton. The piece is featured in \u201cInside Out: Dignity and the Art of Seeing” until Mar. 5 at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, located at Eye Street Gallery in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy of Patrick Realiza\/CAH)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a very powerful experience teaching at Lorton and building a community,\u201d said Ruckman about her role during a recent panel discussion at the Eye Street Gallery. \u201cPlus, I gave the men tools so they could be in control of their own narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 45 years after its inception, the exhibition captures the intent of this unique creative outlet for men incarcerated at Lorton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWashington, D.C. is a city of second chances, where people come to reinvent themselves,\u201d said Myers, \u201cWe believe deeply that access to the arts, especially for those who have been marginalized, silenced, or overlooked, is one of the most powerful ways to make those Second Chances a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teaching Photography, Changing Lives <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When she started the program in 1980, Ruckman approached teaching the 20-30 men at Lorton each week,  just as she did when teaching high school or college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had an assistant photographer working with me where we taught camera controls, discussed shooting with intention, then reviewed their results,\u201d said Ruckman. \u201cI had journalists and guest photography teachers come to the class. They actually became advocates for the program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
The late NBC Washington anchor Jim Vance (second from right), with former Lorton Correctional Complex residents Michael Moses El from Lorton, James Queen from Lorton, and Reginald Young Bey, during a photo exhibition at the DC International Center. The exhibit was produced through Lorton Reformatory and hosted by Vance and Effie Barry, the former wife of Mayor Marion Barry.. \u201cInside Out: Dignity and the Art of Seeing” until Mar. 5 at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, located at Eye Street Gallery in Washington, D.C., features work from the 1983 exhibition. (Courtesy of Karen Ruckman)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In addition, participants gained hands-on experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe cameras and other equipment were paid for under the grant,\u201d she explained. \u201cAlso, Kodak donated printing paper and film.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many participants, the program was not only an outlet but also allowed for a connection to the outside world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the exhibition opening, Desi Moses El, wife of Lorton Photography Program participant Michael Moses El, excitedly showcased photos that her husband \u2014 who she is no longer with today \u2014 captured of her while he was incarcerated.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI visited him every day,\u201d she said lovingly, pointing to the photo of him looking at his mural display of his wife above his prison bunk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the program gained recognition, participants\u2019 pieces were exhibited throughout the District, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and official mayoral gallery, under former Mayor Marion Barry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, Effi Barry, who was then first lady of D.C., and Jim Vance, the late news anchor at NBC Washington, hosted a small exhibition of the Lorton photography program at the D.C. International Club in 1983. The program was also featured on \u201cGood Morning America.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the visibility provided perks, such as allowing some incarcerated photographers to step outside the prison to be congratulated for their newfound talent, the program offered lifelong lessons overall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey were very respectful of the program, the equipment, and their role in being caretakers of the program,\u201d said Ruckman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program inspired the men to think about a life outside of prison, vs. what brought them to Lorton.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Formerly incarcerated Bernard Seaborn views his photo \u201cKelso,\u201d with Karen Ruckman, who started the Lorton Prison photography program. Seaborn\u2019s work is now featured in the \u201cInside Out: Dignity and the Art of Seeing” until Mar. 5 at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, located at Eye Street Gallery in Washington, D.C. (Brenda C. Siler\/The Washington Informer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThere was never an incident with this program,\u201d said panelist and former Lorton Photography Program participant photographer Bernard Seaborn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now a filmmaker living in New York City, Seaborn has worked as an editor, director of photography, and performed stunt work. A martial artist, film credits include \u201cThe Empty Hands\u201d (2011), \u201cLove Sex & Kung Fu\u201d (2015), and \u201cBlood Mix\u201d (2025). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His experiences with the photography program put him in a position to move around inside the prison walls, which translated to how he works in the film industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn Lorton, I became a moderator because you can talk to everybody. Everybody wants their picture taken,\u201d said Seaborn. \u201cWhen I showed a guy a picture I took, then the next week, he wanted his picture taken. It\u2019s using photos in a way that brings people to a moment of: \u2018it\u2019s OK.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How ‘Inside Out’ Furthers the Program Nearly 40 Years Later<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Lorton Reformatory closed in 2001 and the photography program concluded 12 years before that, the stories of Lorton Reformatory \u2014 from the eyes of former residents \u2014 continue, with \u201cInside Out: Dignity and the Art of Seeing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although a museum stands on the portion of the original prison site in Virginia, the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities is emphasizing to District audiences the enduring power of visual storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArt allows us to see the world from perspectives other than our own,\u201d said Myers. \u201cAs an agency, it is also a reminder of why public investment in the arts is so critical, because when we support artists, we support truth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While \u201cInside Out\u201d features photographs from nearly four decades ago, the exhibit offers a view of how the Lorton Reformatory resident navigated life behind bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe built a community at Lorton with other people from the outside, like photographers and guest lecturers,\u201d said Ruckman. \u201cIt was a very gratifying experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information on \u201cInside Out: Dignity and the Art of Seeing,\u201d go to <\/em>dcarts.dc.gov.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Lorton Prison photography program, which ran from 1980 to 1989, offered incarcerated men a creative outlet to express themselves and connect to the outside world, and now their photos are being showcased in the exhibition “Inside Out: Dignity and the Art of Seeing” at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2369,"featured_media":1245395,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_primary_brand":0,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","nota_seo_page_title":"Lorton prison photography program's legacy in new exhibit","nota_seo_page_description":"Discover the powerful photography program at Lorton Reformatory that gave incarcerated men a voice through the lens. 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