ALCHEMY OF PRISON ART

• NCJ Number: 60843
• Journal: Corrections Magazine Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 12-19
• Author(s): P B TAFT
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE USE OF ART THERAPY TO MEASURE ATTITUDINAL CHANGES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN NEW JERSEY AND OKLAHOMA IS EXPLORED, AND BENEFITS OF ART PROGRAMS FOR INMATES ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

ART PROGRAMS HAVE BEGUN TO FLOURISH IN PRISONS, AND INMATES HAVE RESPONDED TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ART. DESPITE THE ENTHUSIASM OF INMATES AND ART PROGRAM OFFICIALS, CERTAIN FACTORS MAY CURTAIL THE GROWTH OF ART PROGRAMS BEFORE THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO PROVE THEIR SUCCESS. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE INFLATION, PUBLIC CONSERVATISM, AND SKEPTICISM ON THE PART OF SOME : PRISON ADMINISTRATORS. MOTIVATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF ART PROGRAMS IN PRISONS, AS DEMONSTRATED IN A STATEWIDE ART CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN NEW YORK. MOST INMATES INDICATE THAT IT WAS THE ADMIRATION OF OTHERS THAT ENCOURAGED THEM TO PURSUE ART. IN THE U.S. BUREAU OF PRISONS, NO SPECIAL PERSON IS ASSIGNED TO COORDINATE ART PROGRAMS, AND ART INSTRUCTION IS CLASSIFIED AS AN EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY THAT RECEIVES MINIMAL ATTENTION. THE ONLY NATIONAL PROJECT THAT PLACES ARTISTS IN FEDERAL FACILITIES IS THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AND THE BUREAU OF PRISONS. THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR THE ARTS IN PRISONS IS PROJECT CULTURE (CREATIVE USE OF LEISURE TIME UNDER RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENTS). THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY FUNDED WITH AN LEAA GRANT AND IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE AMERICAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION. IN SOME STATES, INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATIONS ASSUME THE TASK OF BRINGING ART PROGRAMS TO PRISONS (MASSACHUSETTS, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, MINNESOTA, AND OKLAHOMA). ART THERAPY IS USED TO MEASURE ATTITUDINAL CHANGES IN ONLY TWO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, THE ADULT DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT CENTER IN AVENEL, N.J., AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES UNIT AT THE JOE HARP CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN LEXINGTON, OKLA. SAMPLE WORKS OF ART DONE BY PRISON INMATES ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)