$BWTZ

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Project Title:

“BEAR WITNESS” – An NFT Collection by a Man Who Survived the System

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Overview:

BEAR WITNESS is a hand-drawn NFT collection of bears, created by an artist who spent 32 years inside the California state penitentiary system. These aren’t just drawings — they’re tattoo flash, real designs inked on skin behind prison walls. They represent survival, identity, and hope from a man who entered prison at 18 and re-entered society at 51.

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Artist’s Background:
• Incarcerated at 18, sentenced to 50 to life.
• Released on parole at 51, completed parole in just 1 year.
• Served 32 years in California state prisons.
• Created hundreds of tattoo designs while incarcerated, many of them etched into the skin of fellow inmates.
• Since release, he’s been working full-time in construction, living a clean and productive life.
• Now 100% free — no parole, no conditions — just a man contributing to society and sharing his art.

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About the Art:
• Every piece is hand-drawn — no AI, no filters.
• Bears are the central theme — symbolizing strength, survival, and loyalty.
• Inspired by California prison tattoo culture, Chicano flash, and the raw emotion of life inside.
• These images were once currency, pride, identity — now they’re a canvas for storytelling.

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The Collection:
• Limited-run of 589 NFTs
• every one of them was tattooed on a fellow inmate

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Why This Matters:

This isn’t just another NFT collection — it’s a testament to resilience, redemption, and the power of second chances. It gives voice to someone who survived a brutal system and came out determined to make good on life.

By collecting a BEAR WITNESS NFT, you’re not just supporting an artist — you’re honoring the journey of someone who found a way to create beauty in the darkest of places