Approximately 10 years ago, Madison Correctional prison employee, Sgt. Rolaunda Mitchell founded a program now known as M.A.P., the Madison Arts Program. It is described as “a coordinated effort by the staff and administration to positively support individuals during their incarceration so that they experience long-term positive outcomes.”
Using “arts-based” and “values-based” programming, the goal is to help inmates achieve “their full-potential and to lead purposeful lives.” In other words, the inmates were invited to create art — from painted works to sculpture to collages and constructions.
Last fall, LeMoyne Arts gallery presented an exhibition of some of the art created by inmates of Madison. The project was coordinated by David Gussak, Professor of Art Therapy at Florida State University, and for over 20 years, a leader in the field of art by the incarcerated, and Paula Gasparini-Santos, an artist, art therapist, and grief counselor. It was the first time “prison art” had been seen in an exhibition outside the facility.
On display at the LeMoyne show were two over-12-foot giant totem poles with detachable wings and beaks; several monolithic chess pieces of cardboard; brilliant paintings in acrylic and watercolor; and large works of vernacular art that seemed to dance with artistic free-association.
There were two astoundingly detailed works in soap which looked as if they’d been carved from marble. Given their setting, the men’s “tools” are limited and materials are subject to prison regulations — yet their imagination and artistic ingenuity was remarkable.
Now, a half-year later, Gasparini-Santos brings “Beyond Good and Evil” to the 621 Gallery in Railroad Square, an artistic collaboration with the new-found artistic community at Madison Correctional opening with a reception at 6 p.m. Friday, May 2.
Part solo exhibition of Gasparini-Santos’ work, and part themed-art by the inmates, she says of her own work, “My paintings and poetry have been created in response to working inside corrections with incarcerated men. I explore the notion of moving beyond labels, challenging our beliefs around what is good and what is evil. My art pieces explore the psychological notions of forgiveness, fear, pain, suffering, and offers the idea that Evil is pain that hasn’t healed.”
While Gussak and Gasparini-Santos spent more physical time inside the prison with the last exhibit, this time the collaboration was more thematic, with photos and their visits mutually inspirational.
“In addition to my solo exhibition of large paintings, there are 6 installation projects the men at the Model Arts Program inside Madison worked on for the theme of ‘beyond good and evil.’ In total, about 79 men participated in creating these pieces for exhibition,” Gasparini-Santos said.
There will be a panel discussion presented by Dr. Dave Gussak and Paula Gasparini-Santos discussing the importance of art in the world of incarceration and the power that art has to transform spaces and build community.
The exhibition will be up from May 2-29 at the 621 Gallery in Railroad Square. The opening reception is from 6-10 p.m. Friday, May 2; the Art Activism talk is noon-3 p.m. May 10; and a closing poetry event will be at 7 p.m. May 29.
If you go
What: Opening Reception for “Beyond Good and Evil” exhibit
When: 6-10 p.m. Friday, May 2; with art activism talk at noon on May 10 and a closing poetry event at 7 p.m. May 29
Where: 621 Gallery, Railroad Square Art District
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