Guerrilla Spam's Prison Art Project Transforms Larino Detainees' Lives

From 2017 to 2019, the Guerrilla Spam collective ran 'Mani in alto!' at the Casa Circondariale di Larino, a maximum-security prison in Italy. The project involved about fifteen detainees, mostly aged 20-30, in drawing and painting workshops. They transformed the gray concrete of the exercise yard into fantastical natural landscapes, and created posters with thoughts and images that were displayed outside at Parco Dora in Turin, bridging inside and outside. The title references arrest but encourages initiative and hands-on action. The workshops, organized by Associazione Culturale Giordano (which runs the Premio di writing e Street Art in Santa Croce di Magliano) in collaboration with C.P.I.A. Campobasso sede di Termoli, focused on different techniques each year, fostering artistic, educational, and relational growth. Detainees also repainted internal courtyards with imaginary geographies and self-portraits exploring identity. The project aimed at future social reintegration, offering a chance for more serene moments. The collective plans to return to the prison when possible, viewing critical moments as opportunities for learning and improvement.