Arts in Corrections NYS

Patrick Costello (00:00): Okay, I just hit record. Um, I'm Patrick Costello. I'm one of the instructors of the Arts in Corrections class here. Uh, we're at Sullivan County––or Sullivan Correctional Facility. And I, uh, and it is June––July 10th, 2023. And, I am here with Dyego Foddrell. And would you like to introduce yourself?

Dyego Foddrell (00:29): Yes. Thank you. Uh, my name is Dyego Foddrell, uh, currently residing in Sullivan Correctional Facility, and this is where I'm at.

Patrick Costello (00:40): Great. Um, my first question that I have for you today is, uh, it, it's a pretty basic one. Tell me about your time in this class.

Dyego Foddrell (00:53): Um, well, when I first signed up for the class, it was a posting on the blocks on the housing units for a, uh, graphic design class. And I said, "Why not?" So I, I signed up and then I came up and I started to realize that it, there were no computers in here––

Patrick Costello (01:18): (laughs)

Dyego Foddrell (01:19): ... and I didn't understand that very much. Uh, but it was interesting at the very beginning, it kind of felt more like, uh, art and therapy mixed together. So it was, it was... I'm, I'm no stranger to therapy. I, I've been, um, a part of mental health, uh, in my lifetime. So I, people, people know me, I have issues-

Patrick Costello (01:46): (laughs)

Dyego Foddrell (01:46): ... but, uh, I worked through 'em, so it's okay. But, you know, that's what I thought this class was gonna be about, was the graphic design and it wasn't that (laughs).

Patrick Costello (01:58): Right. Yeah. And I think it really, uh, I definitely saw it change shape as we started doing it. Um, uh, well, what, um, so that's something that maybe surprised you. Um, what do you think, um... Let's see. Well, it wasn't what you expected––

Dyego Foddrell (02:28): No.

Patrick Costello (02:28): ...but what do you think you would, what do you, was there something that you enjoyed or that you thought was, uh, particularly meaningful?

Dyego Foddrell (02:34): I enjoyed the entire class. Um, I think for the most part, I've been, over the last, pretty much since 2017, I've been on a, a, a self-reflective journey. So, uh, I'm a writer, so everything that I've been doing with my writing with just about everything has been preparing for my parole and release. Hopefully they let me go. Uh, and it's more of, I wanted to use this time in this space to be able to help express myself. So that's what I was trying to do. That was what I was trying to accomplish. Um, a lot of the things that I wrote about, a lot of things that I drew, uh, had personal meaning to me. Um, I want to thank you guys also because the, the reprints that you gave us were incredible.

(03:40): That was a very, very, uh, a very personal moment for me as far as what I wrote about and what I drew. Um, and I'm thinking my family's gonna enjoy it 'cause I'm definitely sending it home.

Patrick Costello (03:56): Cool. That's awesome. Uh, you, you were one of the people in the class who I feel like already, you know, you just said you identify as a writer, um, and that you've been on this kind of quest of self-discovery since 2017. What was the thing that led you down that path, and, and how do you think of yourself as an artist or as a writer?

Dyego Foddrell (04:20): Um, well, what led me down that path was the passing of my mother. Uh, she died in 20- in, uh, 2017. And my mother and I hadn't, hadn't spoken since 2003. Uh, me being incarcerated this time, murder in the second degree, it was, I always say that, for her it was an act of self-preservation. She had to put distance. Um, it hurt her too much to see me go through what I was going through and me making the decisions that I made with my life. Um, I missed out on a lot of opportunities. I could have been in the military. I've had interviews with multiple, uh, recording studios. Um, I used to work in a club right in Peekskill, uh, One Station Plaza. Shout out, One Station Plaza.

Patrick Costello (05:23): (laughs)

Dyego Foddrell (05:26): And, uh, and, uh, you know, the, the, the way that I was living my life, it caused her to say that she couldn't deal with me anymore. And I had always been of the mindset where she's my mom. So I knew we would have time at some point in time to reconcile. And she passed away suddenly. She just... No pain. There was no, and she wasn't, you know, uh, exorbitantly old, you know, she wasn't that far up in age. Um, she just went to bed and didn't wake up. And, um, when that happened, and I realized that that opportunity was lost, it made me reevaluate the way that I was living my life and the things that I was doing with my life.

(06:18):

And I, I just knew that I owed her that much to change, that I could no longer go down the path that I was going down and I could no longer allow myself to maintain a, a level of comfortability in my shortcomings. So because of that, I decided to start being honest with myself and start reflecting and trying to be more mindful of how my decisions every day, even the small ones, impact the people around me.

Patrick Costello (06:54): And do you think your practice of writing is a part of that?

Dyego Foddrell (06:58): Oh, absolutely. My, my writing has become, my therapy. My writing is the reason why I no longer take, uh, psych meds and, and, and speak to mental health staff. It's because I'm able, I found that outlet for myself. So I have, uh, multiple books written, uh, short stories. I just had a personal essay which spoke about, uh, the passing of my mother and how it affected me and, uh, about my, my current circumstance being in prison. Um, and that actually got published by Penn America. So that was, you know––

Patrick Costello (07:41): Congratulations. So cool.

Dyego Foddrell (07:45): ...that's, that's what it's been for me, is just writing has been at, my everything.

Patrick Costello (07:49): I love your writing. I'm a big fan and I also love your drawings. And I wonder how that factors in. Is that something that you do regularly or is that something you did more for this class?

Dyego Foddrell (08:01): I did that more for this class. I draw every now and then. I, I call, I call them doodles. People don't really agree with me.

Patrick Costello (08:09): (laughs)

Dyego Foddrell (08:10): They don't, they don't say I'm doodling. Um, uh, most of my artwork that I've drawn is more, uh, tattoo art, that type of art, skulls, cross bones, things like that. Um, and then, uh, for the most part, most of it is not stuff I can just walk around the facility with. Like, it's the, uh, how do I put it? Um, I do a lot of nudes, so, uh, uh, there are a lot of...

Patrick Costello (08:47): It wouldn' fly here.

Dyego Foddrell (08:48): Not... Well, I, you're allowed to draw it. I'm allowed to do that, but I can't just walk around with it.

Patrick Costello (08:54): (laughs) Right.

Dyego Foddrell (08:55): I wouldn't be able to bring it up here to show anybody, 'cause, you know, they, they would think it'd be inappropriate. So it is what it is, but, you know.

Patrick Costello (09:04): So drawing has become a sort of like, personal practice-

Dyego Foddrell (09:07): Yeah. But I do it for fun-

Patrick Costello (09:07): ... not something you share. Yeah.

Dyego Foddrell (09:08): ... really. It kills the time as far as I'm concerned. That's what it does for me. That just kills the time. It's kind of like meditation. It just allows me to zone out for hours. But when I really want to really feel like my, I'm my most creative when I'm sitting in front of my typewriter.

Patrick Costello (09:26): I was, I'm interested in this because, uh, I, what I witnessed in this class was that the drawings––always kind of inspired the writing or the writings were always paired with the drawing because of the format of what we were doing. And do you think, is that something that you found generative or interesting? Is it something you would like continue with or take forward?

Dyego Foddrell (09:51): Um, well, I don't think that they're mutually exclusive. My thing is, I can draw enough so that I can put ideas on paper, but I know that I'm, I'm a good enough writer that I can write for any occasion.

Patrick Costello (10:10): Yeah.

Dyego Foddrell (10:11): So it doesn't matter what we are, uh, what it, you could point at a spot on the wall and tell me to draw about something that has to do with that. And I, I mean, write about something that has to do with that, and I could do that.

Patrick Costello (10:26): I would argue that you can do that with drawing too. You're a very skilled draftsperson. Um, I was so excited about the way that so much of your work, uh, pairs the two. Um, what is something, even, even if this class didn't... Well, I would say even if it wasn't what you thought it was going to be, what do you think you––is there anything else you would want to add about this class?

Dyego Foddrell (10:59): Um–

Patrick Costello (10:59): Or is something that you might take forward with you?

Dyego Foddrell (11:01): Um, I, I'm not sure really. Um, I think that I like the practice of the visualization before you work. I've actually started using that, uh, before I write.

Patrick Costello (11:20): Cool.

Dyego Foddrell (11:21): So before I, when I want to do something, I know I wanna write a short story or just do something creative, I'll sit down in front of my typewriter first and I'll go through the process of closing my eyes and picturing something–

Patrick Costello (11:33): Cool.

Dyego Foddrell (11:33): ... and trying to meditate on it before I, I actually write. So that's something I've taken from the class. So that's something I've implemented in how I foster my creative endeavors.

Patrick Costello (11:48): Cool. That's awesome. Uh, I'm curious, just as a last thing are, are you still working with that, um, particular format of poetry of poem that you-

Dyego Foddrell (12:02): Uh, the Sestina?

Patrick Costello (12:04): Yeah.

Dyego Foddrell (12:05): Um, that was just the first time that I had ever seen it. Uh, it seemed very interesting. It was extremely technical and I love to challenge myself, so I wanted to see if I could actually write one. And because it, because of the technical aspects of the poetry, where the, the, the words have to be repeated in this very specific order, it'd be very easy just to write one, but it wouldn't make any sense.

Patrick Costello (12:35): Right.

Dyego Foddrell (12:36): Um, I wanted to write one that actually as you read it, you could understand how, what the story was about and how it was flowing. So when I was able to do that, I got a sense of accomplishment from it. But I just love poetry, period. So I mean, I have tons of poems written, so.

Patrick Costello (12:56): Alright. And is that another, like, meditative practice for you? Or is it, um, it seems like there's lots of... I guess we're probably trying to wrap up. It seems like there, there's a couple of different approaches you have to writing, you know, there's the like personal essay, uh, or writing as a meditative practice. Do those things, do you set out with one idea about how it... like, "I'm gonna write to calm down?" Or do you just kind of sit down-

Dyego Foddrell (13:25): I just enjoy anything creative.

Patrick Costello (13:27): Cool.

Dyego Foddrell (13:27): And that, I think it's because of the way my mind works. Um, writing for me is such an outlet for all of, uh, uh, uh, my emotions, no matter what I'm dealing with, whether I'm happy, angry, sad, just upset, whatever the case may be, writing is my outlet. So whatever comes out, that's what comes out. And then I, I'll label it after I'm done. I just allow it to be free.

Patrick Costello (13:56): Cool. Is it ever a way to communicate with your mom? Like do you ever see it as something that, uh, is sort of active in that way? Or is it, or is it more a pro- like a personal processing?

Dyego Foddrell (14:09): Nah. I think more, more so it's a, it's a personal processing. Um, I've, uh, I don't wanna say I've come to peace or, or, or to terms with her passing. Um, but I've, I've grown to at least accept it. It's, you know, death and taxes. It's the only things we can't avoid (laughs).

Patrick Costello (14:31): Right, right.

Dyego Foddrell (14:32): Unless you're Donald Trump, then it's just death (laughs).

Patrick Costello (14:36): Fair. Fair enough. Yes, exactly. Um, cool. Uh, oh, it looks like everyone else has switched, but let me see if they'll let me just keep talking to you.

Dyego Foddrell (14:49): (laughs)

Patrick Costello (14:49): I am just gonna keep talking to you.

Dyego Foddrell (14:52): All right.

Patrick Costello (14:52): Great. That's fine.

Dyego Foddrell (14:53): Um-

Patrick Costello (14:54): If that's okay with you, unless you want the experience of-

Dyego Foddrell (14:57): It, it... Listen, I'm good with this.

Patrick Costello (14:58): Great.

Dyego Foddrell (15:00): I like this side of the, uh, this side of the microphone.

Patrick Costello (15:02): Yeah.

Dyego Foddrell (15:02): This is, all right.

Patrick Costello (15:03): Cool. I'm excited to just hear what you have to say, 'cause I feel like, um, we've been able to like watch all the, the people in the class make things, but I've been kind of curious about what's going on for you in your head about this class.

Dyego Foddrell (15:22): Well be careful with that one.

Patrick Costello (15:22): (laughs)

Dyego Foddrell (15:23): I've been told it's a dangerous place to reside.

Patrick Costello (15:25): I mean, I've been told that about mine too.

Dyego Foddrell (15:28): (laughs).

Patrick Costello (15:29): So, um, do you have like a favorite project or, or, uh, thing that you did in this class?

Dyego Foddrell (15:37): Um, in this class, I would have to say it would be the, the piece that you guys did the re- reprint of. Um, that, that, uh, it's something that I've been struggling with, especially now that I'm, I'm looking towards being prepared for my release. Um, I-

Patrick Costello (16:01): Can you describe that piece for me?

Dyego Foddrell (16:03): Uh, yeah, sure. Um, it was a piece, uh, the poem that I did for, it was called "With Her." Or no, "How Can I." Uh, "How Can I" was about me meeting my daughter because, uh, she was born, uh, in April of 2003 and I was incarcerated. I got locked up in, uh, December of 2002. So she was born after I was locked up. And we've never met. Well that's, that's really not true. We have met, but she wouldn't know it. Um, when she was, I think three months old, uh, social services brought her to the jail to see me. So I got to hold her. And, uh, I remember when I was holding her, she passed gas loudly.

Patrick Costello (17:01): (laughs).

Dyego Foddrell (17:02): And, uh, I, I looked at her and smiled and I said, "You're not even a teenager yet and you're already shitting on your dad."

Patrick Costello (17:09): (laughs)

Dyego Foddrell (17:11): (laughs) And, and the social worker started laughing. And, uh, but one, I re- I remember one thing that my sister had told me, um, and she told me this before my daughter was born, my daughter's name is Veris. Um, before she was born, she told me, "When you have a kid of your own, the first time that you hold your, your child, you're gonna f- that's when you're gonna really know what love is, that you're gonna fall in love for the first time in your life."

(17:45): Um, 'cause I was always, as growing up as a kid, I was always what they call the SFL, sucker for love. So I was always, every girl I was with, I was just head over heels with, you know, I was always, uh, uh, very big into monogamy. So I was never one of those guys running around, cheating on next girl or whatever. And, uh, but I was loyal to a fault, to the point where I'd do anything for whoever I was with. And normally anything got me in trouble (laughs).

Patrick Costello (18:15): Right.

Dyego Foddrell (18:16): So my sister told me, she said, "All these times you confused being in love. You're gonna know what real love is when you hold your child for the first time." And when I held my daughter, I knew exactly what she meant. And, um, that was the last time that I held my daughter and she doesn't know who I am. Uh, and just I've thought a lot about over the years what that first meeting is gonna be like. I even wrote a song for, uh, for it called "Introductions." Uh, I won the talent show in this jail when I first got here singing and performing that song, 'cause I wrote the lyrics and the music to the song.

Patrick Costello (18:59): Whoa, cool.

Dyego Foddrell (19:00): I played a piano, so-

Patrick Costello (19:02): Oh, that's awesome.

Dyego Foddrell (19:03): ... that's, that was, uh, uh, something that I had wanted to record, uh, with my sister over the phone and have her put it on the internet and just blast it out there to see if it might possibly just accidentally come across her.

Patrick Costello (19:22): Did you get to do that?

Dyego Foddrell (19:23): No, no. Uh, the program, my sister was gonna buy the program for the computer to be able to do it. And it was like $1,800 bucks-

Patrick Costello (19:32): Oh.

Dyego Foddrell (19:32): ...for the program. And, uh, my, I just sent half of my stimulus check home to my sister so she could pay the rent (laughs). She ain't got $1,800 to just do nothing, something with. So we put it on hold. But hopefully I go home, I can do it myself.

Patrick Costello (19:48): Are you up for, for parole soon?

Dyego Foddrell (19:50): Yeah. Uh, Dec- uh, December of 2024 if I get the six months relief.

Patrick Costello (19:57): Okay. And the six months re- relief is like-

Dyego Foddrell (20:00): Uh, it's uh, the LCTA, the Limited Credit Time, uh, Act. It's, uh-

Patrick Costello (20:07): That was recent, right?

Dyego Foddrell (20:08): No, that, that' been around for a while. It came out, it was last updated I believe in 2014, but it came-

Patrick Costello (20:16): Oh.

Dyego Foddrell (20:16): ...out a little bit before that. But, um, what it does is it gives you six months if you meet certain requirements, and I've met those requirements in two different ways. So.

Patrick Costello (20:27): Cool. Um, I am curious, do you, um, know how you'll contact your kid, Veris?

Dyego Foddrell (20:39): Uh, I'm assuming social media. I mean-

Patrick Costello (20:43): Oh, okay.

Dyego Foddrell (20:44): ... she'll, she was born in 2003, so she'll be 20 now. She'll be 21, 22 when I get home. So I, I don't, I don't know anything about, uh, uh, technology out there.

Patrick Costello (21:01): (laughs)

Dyego Foddrell (21:01): I've been locked up for all of it, but I'm pretty sure there isn't anyone under 30 that's not on social media now in some way-

Patrick Costello (21:09): I think probably you're right. Yeah.

Dyego Foddrell (21:09): ...you know, so. I'm, I'm sure I can find her.

Patrick Costello (21:12): Cool. Um, I'm looking at these questions now 'cause I, I wanna make sure that we are fulfilling the... Oh, well, did she just give us another three minute thing?

Dyego Foddrell (21:33): I think that was the three minutes for the, for the second switch, (laughs).

Patrick Costello (21:37): Right, right. But we, we had, uh-

Dyego Foddrell (21:40): (laughs) that's great.

Patrick Costello (21:41): ...things to talk about. Um, well, is there anything else that you feel, uh, might be helpful for us in structuring this class in the future? Or like things that you, uh, would love to see more of?

Dyego Foddrell (21:55): Um, well for me it's all about making it accessible. I understand you just starting, they stuck us in this little classroom.

Patrick Costello (22:08): Right.

Dyego Foddrell (22:08): Um, I would like to see you guys get moved to a non-college day so that way you can be given access to the conference room and have more students.

Patrick Costello (22:24): Mm-hmm.

Dyego Foddrell (22:24): Um, there are so few programs in New York State prisons that give people an opportunity to open up, um, that I, I personally feel it's, it's our responsibility anytime something comes across the table for us to take advantage of it. Um, I've had four or five guys tell me to tell you guys to put them on the list for the next class. And I told them that's not how it works. Uh, the list is gonna come up on the block, you gotta sign up.

Patrick Costello (23:05): Mm-hmm.

Dyego Foddrell (23:05): And hopefully because of the success that you guys have had, uh, they'll think about expanding it, um-

Patrick Costello (23:16): Or at least giving a little more space.

Dyego Foddrell (23:18): Well, you could use more space.

Patrick Costello (23:20): Yeah.

Dyego Foddrell (23:20): It'd be nice if you could do it more than once a week.

Patrick Costello (23:24): Oh, that'd be cool.

Dyego Foddrell (23:25): Um, it'd be nice if you guys could... We have a computer lab in this jail that, uh-

Patrick Costello (23:31): Oh wow.

Dyego Foddrell (23:32): ...the guys, the guys in the facility, the prisoners in the facility are allowed to use. So it would be nice to see if there could be some type of actual graphic design component added to the class and utilize the, the computer room. Maybe that could be the way that you could get a second day added to your schedule.

Patrick Costello (23:54): Right. Right.

Dyego Foddrell (23:55): Um, obviously it would have to work out with your guys' schedule.

Patrick Costello (23:59): Right.

Dyego Foddrell (24:00): You guys would have to be able to be available. I know that this isn't the only place you guys come.

Patrick Costello (24:05): Right.

Dyego Foddrell (24:05): Um, and, you know, hopefully, hopefully this is just the beginning, so that would be great. Um, I don't know, I just, if you need anything from me, let me know. I'm all in.

Patrick Costello (24:22): Okay, great. Cool. I'm glad to hear that. Um, I think everyone is wrapping up, but thank you-

Dyego Foddrell (24:31): Yeah.

Patrick Costello (24:32): ... so much for talking with me.

Dyego Foddrell (24:33): That's not a problem. Thank you for having me.

Patrick Costello (24:35): This is all great.

Dyego Foddrell (24:36): I, I actually, I think I enjoyed this just as much as I enjoyed the class.

Patrick Costello (24:39): Oh, good. Cool.

Dyego Foddrell (24:40): Great.

Patrick Costello (24:41): Great. Alright, I'm gonna hit rec- the record button.