Luvadollar Godallah interviewed by Gurmeet Singh
Gurmeet Singh (00:08): Hi, this is Singh, and I'm taking interview from Luvadollar, and, uh, we are in Shawangunk Correction Facility and doing this interview for this art class, Wave Art Program. So, what's your name?
Luvadollar Godallah (00:29): My name is Luvadollar Godallah. Thank you for having me.
Gurmeet Singh (00:34): Okay. How are you doing today?
Luvadollar Godallah (00:35): I'm all right, I'm all right, man. You know, it's a beautiful day outside. I'm enjoying the weather.
Gurmeet Singh (00:42): How would you describe yourself as a artist?
Luvadollar Godallah (00:46): Uh, well, you know, I-I like various forms of art. So, you know, I-I do art in music, you know. I like to do performing arts. I like the artistic work of being able to-to put together, like, business plans and things like that. So, creative writing, as far as a art is concerned. So, different various forms-
Gurmeet Singh (01:07): All right, that's good.
Luvadollar Godallah (01:09): -I'm into as far as art is concerned.
Gurmeet Singh (01:10): So, tell me about your time in this class.
Luvadollar Godallah (01:12): Oh, well, you know, since I've been in this class, it's-it's been all right. It's been an experience so far, you know. We did a few projects, you know, and you know, I'm just getting a feel for it. So, as for now, it's been all right.
Gurmeet Singh (01:26): You like it?
Luvadollar Godallah (01:27): Yes, I enjoy it. I enjoy it.
Gurmeet Singh (01:29): So, how this class make you feel?
Luvadollar Godallah (01:34): Uh, it-it makes me feel like, you know, like... It makes me feel more creative, like this-like open, as far as more learning something new. Creat-crea-creativity. A new creativity skill set.
Gurmeet Singh (01:52): So, what new thing you learned?
Luvadollar Godallah (01:54): I learned out to do zines for the first time. I never really knew what a zine was until Miss Maggie brought it in, introduced it to the class. And, I learned, you know, the art of putting it together, and I think I made a pretty nice one.
Gurmeet Singh (02:08): Right. So, what's your favorite memory?
Luvadollar Godallah (02:11): My zine, so far. So far, my favorite memory is my zine. Being able to do something that helps others. So, you know, with this zine, it's like a magazine, but you know, for short, you know what I'm saying? Since it's not, you know, a full magazine. It's just something small and informative. They call it a zine. And I was able to create a youth mental wellness support zine, you know. To help the youth. And-and that's like one of my big memories so far with the class.
Gurmeet Singh (02:37): Yeah. I saw that. That's what-that's nice. All right, anything else you want to complete?
Luvadollar Godallah (02:45): In this class?
Gurmeet Singh (02:46): Yeah.
Luvadollar Godallah (02:46): Um, well, I don't really know right now. I wanna see what else they got to offer, you know, and anything they have to offer, I'ma try my hardest to complete it.
Gurmeet Singh (02:55): What you would like to have something new?
Luvadollar Godallah (02:57): Something new? Uh... I think I would like to have more-more-more artistic forms that I could be able to learn that I could give back to the youth of my community. That I could be able to help them with, you know, and encourage them with, you know what I'm saying? Something artistic where they feel like, "We don't have to be doing some of the violent things we doing in our neighborhoods." I wanna be able to give them something different that they could learn. So, I'm learning this to be able to pass this on to the-the youth of my community.
Gurmeet Singh (03:27): So, like, you just don't want to talk, you want to show them something.
Luvadollar Godallah (03:31): Yes, yes.
Gurmeet Singh (03:32): Okay. That's good. And, uh... What space, like offer you different from the space you have in your past?
Luvadollar Godallah (03:45): Well, this-this space offers me a opportunity to be more creative than the space in which I'm placed in when I'm in my cell. You know, so when we're in the block-well-in-I would say in the block. Because in my cell, it-that's a-that's a space that's, you know, good for me, because I'm by myself and I can get into my own thoughts and be creative.
(04:06):
But, in the block, it's more people running around. It's not-you gotta always keep your head up. In here, you know what I'm saying, I feel that same safeness of being in here with people that's trying to learn something new and be creative and I could learn something from as well, so this space offers me that, as far as a difference.
Gurmeet Singh (04:25): So, since you were in this class, how you compare, like, when you start this thing, or it's, like, same thing, like you exp-expected?
Luvadollar Godallah (04:39): Eh, you know, I was open-minded when I first started, so I didn't really have no expectations, I just wanted to see, and-and, you know. 'Cause sometimes you got-you come to it, and you don't have no expectations. You just see, because you never know, you might be in a class with people that you might not like to get along with. And here, I get along pretty good with everybody in here, so, it's a plus.
Gurmeet Singh (04:59): Yeah, I ask this question because I bring two-three people today. New peoples. And, because, you know, first time they got near call-outs. And I was telling them about all the colors and things and-
Luvadollar Godallah (05:11): (laughs)
Gurmeet Singh (05:12): We had this interview thing today. (laughs)
Luvadollar Godallah (05:14): Yeah, yeah.
Gurmeet Singh (05:14): So, maybe they're gonna feel some different. That's why I ask these questions. So, something you like to carry forward from this class?
Luvadollar Godallah (05:26): Something I would like to what?
Gurmeet Singh (05:28): Carry forward?
Luvadollar Godallah (05:29): Oh, I would-I would like to carry forward the, um, I believe, like, the connectivity portion of it. Like, being able to connect with other people inside of a setting. In-in my block, I don't really have people that I can connect with. I'm just a loner in my block. I just stay by myself all day, 'cause I don't really have nobody to talk to. So, you know what I mean, because, I guess I-I'm, you know, so into doing positive things, and a lot of people around me are into doing so many negative things. So, I'm-I don't fit in with them, but in this class, I-I connect with the people in here under the term of being creative and being artistic. So, you know what I mean, I wanna be able to pass that on, if I can. Just that-that-that connectivity.
Gurmeet Singh (06:16): Uh, is there anything, like you haven't shared in this class and you would like the opportunity, like, to have that?
Luvadollar Godallah (06:25): I-I wanna... I wanna be able to-to get more into being able, you know, speaking to Maggie, I-I've learned that, you know, through art, you know, it's still ways that we can connect with the people in the community. Whether it be the youth, or people in general, through this art-through this art class. Maybe doing, uh, little things that, you know, uh, art galleries and things like that so people from the outside could see what we're doing here.
(06:52):
Because it's a-it's a stigma, and I think we're-we're stereotyped in these classes, or in-in prison, period, where people just kinda like, like, "Oh, they criminals, and that's just them, and that's that." I think that I wanna be able to show them, and be able to, you know, like, "Yo, it's more-it's more to the guys in here, man." Some of these guys is really creative and really artistic, and I-I wanna be able to bring that to- share that with other people as far as the community is concerned.
Gurmeet Singh (07:17): Okay, so now we don't have enough time, because time to have some commercial break. So, anything, something, like you want to share with outside people about this participation in the class?
Luvadollar Godallah (07:30): Yes. I want-I want-I want the people out there to know that, yo, it's a lot of people that, even though we in prison, that, you know, and we did a crime, that we still good people and we're artistic and creative and we can do a lot of positive things that can help influence the people even on the outside, you know, to-to wanna do good or get through they day. You know what I mean?
(07:51):
Because, you know, you would think that because we in here, you would think we'd be so stressed out and going through what we going through in here. And I've learnt that it's a lot of people that's on the outside that's even more stressed out. Going through more depression, you know, anxiety and things of that nature, than we are in here. And, I just feel like through our artistic forms we are able-we'll be able to, you know, help them out of their slumbers. Or, you know, put them in better spaces. To know that, "Hey, look at these guys who don't even got their freedom, and they holding their heads up high. And look at us out here. We all stressed out and going through what we going through." You know, I just wanna hope that we could bring some type of joy, some type of, you know, to they-to them out there.
Gurmeet Singh (08:35): All right, Mr. Luvadollar, had a nice time interviewing you.
Luvadollar Godallah (08:36): Thank you, thank you.
Gurmeet Singh (08:36): Have good luck.
Luvadollar Godallah (08:39): Thank you, Singh. Thank you.