“Write what disturbs you, what you fear,
what you have not been willing to speak about.
Be willing to be split open.”
― Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within
Behind
the Bricks is an innovative writing and visual art project from
the Crow Wing County Jail in Minnesota. It is a significant step in the
rehabilitation process for those who are incarcerated to be connected to an
outside artistic community. Inmates were provided an opportunity to explore
literary and visual arts by expressing their emotions and thoughts through
prose, poetry and art. The heart and soul of this project were the volunteers
and workers who brought the arts to the inmates offering them hope to turn
their life around and improve their feelings of self-worth.
The
literacy program at the Crow Wing County Jail began several years ago with Fathers Reading Every Day (FRED), a national program, aimed
at increasing children's success in school by promoting early literacy
experiences in families. In four years the program has expanded to book clubs,
writing groups and visual art classes led by instructors who guide inmates in
productive self-expression.
A grant
from Five Wings Art Council with matching funds from Crossing Arts Alliance in
2014 enabled the project to expand its literacy programs to publish the book Behind the Bricks. Inmates’ published pieces and visual art
work were featured in exhibits at the Crow Wing Jail and the Q Gallery
in Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd, MN and several churches in the Brainerd
area.
The book
is divided into literary art and visual art. I was quite taken with the
quality of the work and how articulate the authors and artists were in the
published pieces. Raw emotions of regret, hopelessness, despair and loneliness seem
to wash over each page but yet a sense of hopefulness prevailed. Their written work seemed to emanate an almost
overpowering love for family and a strong need for support. The visual arts
section featured drawings and paintings that were creative and emotional as stories
unfolded on the canvases.
Behind the Bricks shines a light into the hidden community of
offenders. It serves as a reminder to us that they are simply people who
struggle more with steep-edged issues than most of us. Within the pages of the
book we find brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandchildren, wives, husbands,
daughters, and parents who have made poor decisions in life, and are now paying
society's price. But aside from their addictions, angers, jealousies, and angst
that put them into incarceration, they are, nevertheless, fellow human beings
who wish and hope for someone or something to somehow help them right their
ship.
Those
involved with creating this project hoped that the opportunities afforded the
participating inmate writers and artisans would have an impact on their healing
process and direct them to reset their lives toward being more positive and productive
individuals in society.
Books can
be ordered following the link below.
Hmmmm, maybe I need to read this book.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting project.
Thank you, Sue.
ReplyDeleteAs one of the project managers and one who actually worked with inmates, I have to say that this is one of the best projects in which I have ever been involved. I highly recommend others to read the book. It contains raw emotion, determination and even a little humor - all of which show these inmates as the humans they are.
As one of the project managers and one who actually worked with inmates in the jail, I must say that this is one of the best projects in which I have ever been involved. I encourage you to read the book. The lines and words are filled with raw emotion, determination and even a little humor - all of which show the inmates as the humans they are.
ReplyDeleteSue,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder on this excellent project. I was at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa on Nov. 7 and the display of art and writings fillled a wall in the Celebration Room. It was a joy to see the original pieces displayed so beautifully. I will order from Krista at Blue Cottage Agency. The ARTS belong to everyone in our human family. Penny SWanum