The Big Issues - HMP Send
‘I have thoroughly enjoyed working on the Watts Gallery art project. It has been a fantastic experience meeting such wonderful, talented, caring and motivational people who have worked so hard to ensure that I have had all the creative tools and atmosphere to inspire me to produce some enlightening pieces of artwork. It has been an entertaining and yet productive experience and I feel privileged to have been a part of this ground-breaking scheme which has brought some light into the dull grey prison world.
I am certain that Watts the artist, would have been delighted to see such a brilliant scheme taking place under the auspices of the Gallery he set up. From the initial chat through to developing the work and leading onto the finished pieces, I have felt supported and encouraged throughout. It has been great being part of such a tremendous team of women and I feel that women’s creative voices, which have been silenced for so long, are at last able to speak out and be heard.
The themes covered by Watts and alluded to in our work are issues that face us all at one stage or another in our lives and through these, are able to transcend the ordinary to produce extraordinary pieces of work. Such a positive experience opportunity can only motivate us further and spill over to other areas of our lives as our sensations become tuned in to the creative buzz. I hope this is the first of many opportunities to work with the Watts Gallery team and I wish to thank them and all those who have funded the project for allowing us the chance to be part of such a brilliant scheme.’
Clare - Participant
‘When I started this project and saw the quality of Watts and Sandy’s work I thought ‘oh shit, I’m in the wrong place – I can never produce work like that’. In the first session we all did a collage which I was very slow at and hardly covered half the paper.
Then when it came to finding something to paint it was panic stations all over again as I desperately looked around for inspiration. I based my picture on an image from a magazine and was really pleased with the end product. Most of the work was done in my cell which was awkward but still very enjoyable, relaxing and sometimes stressful! I’m very grateful to Sandy and all at Watts Gallery for giving us their time, patience, materials and this great opportunity to have our work displayed and hopefully enjoyed! Thanks.’
Siwan - Participant
‘I have been impressed and inspired at how the participants rose to the challenge to create a body of work to exhibit, a daunting task for any artist! They have shown courage in their willingness to address subjects that expose their inner most thoughts or feelings and have been bold in their attempt to express their inner voice. The support they showed to each other, openly offering feed back and understanding, has given us all a creative dialogue which has been very rewarding for me. This project has had a big impact on the prisoners’ self-esteem, and with encouragement and the opportunity to exhibit their work can only lead them to positive new directions in life.’
Sandy Curry, Workshop Leader
The Fenton Arts Trust Artist in Residence at Watts Gallery 2006-07
Slide Show
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images below
Acrylic on paper, HMP Send. This painting is my own version of a painting that Watts did, which I found really inspiring to look at in a book of his work.
Acrylic on canvas, HMP Send. There are many women who find it hard to cope with the struggles that life presents them with, for example battered wives, debt, childhood abuse etc. This woman cries alone, as she feels that there is nobody that wants to listen, or is able to help her.
Acrylic on canvas, HMP Send. My picture Harmony was inspired by a picture I saw in the prison magazine. I enjoy all types of music and personally feel that whilst listening to music I feel relaxed, stress free and in harmony. My picture represents this. During the project Carmell was released from prison. Since leaving prison she has been working on improving her art skills and is due to start an art course in September 2009.
Acrylic on canvas, HMP Send. Inspired by Watts’s Under a Dry Arch and also Gabriel Marcia Marquez’s book Love in the Time of Cholera, this acrylic on canvas tries to show that despite all the hardships of living on the streets, there is always hope, love and friendship to be found. It shows that amongst the detritus of poverty and abuse, warmth and love can offer support to the frightened.
Acrylic on canvas, HMP Send. Inspired by Watts’s Time, Death and Judgement. This acrylic on canvas depicts a woman running with her two children from a violent relationship, the emotional affect it has had on them and the conflagration shows the burning pain left behind. The three characters symbolise each emotion and attempt to demonstrate the powerful effects of abuse and neglect in modern society.
Oil pastels on pale watercolour wash on board, HMP Send. Inspired by my own life each fragment tells a story of a time in my life, e.g. prison, relationships, new beginnings and bright future.
Pastel on paper, HMP Send.
“It’s a chance of a life time –
Art is my passion and this project has given me the opportunity to produce some wonderful art – help make the sentence a little bit less stressful.”
Jasmine
“After being on
this project
over a period of months –
I have found it to be an uplifting experience”
Alicia