By Rachel Konieczny
News Assignment Editor
A collaboration between the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department and the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts brought inmate art to campus.
St. Bonaventure’s Art Education Program opened the exhibit “Personal Explorations” Monday, thanks in part to the sheriff of Cattaraugus County, Timothy Whitcomb, who approached The Quick Center directors to lead the project.
Sean Conklin, assistant curator of The Quick Center, said Whitcomb thought of the idea after hearing an NPR broadcast discussion about educational programs offered in correctional facilities.
Conklin said he and Ludwig Brunner, executive director of The Quick Center, discussed the idea of holding an exhibition for students.
Conklin, who taught weekly art classes to inmates, said he brought work created by the inmates back to The Quick Center and returned the following week with items they wished to continue working on.
“I went through all the work each student created and selected works that best represented the themes of each assignment, the strongest examples of growth and development for each student and some pieces that just appeared interesting and would round out the exhibition,” Conklin said.
The Art Education Program uses art education and creation for personal therapy and skill building, said Conklin.
Brunner said the Art Education Program also enables various schools and students, from grades kindergarten through twelve, to visit the galleries, participate in art activities and have school performances.
“I think the goal of the program is to reflect the Franciscan values of the university… and just show people that some programs can work,” Brunner said. “Something can be done to give them hope.”
Conklin said students of all skill levels were admitted into his class, where he used a series of art history lectures to introduce inmates to various classical and modern artists.
“Much of class time was spent on one-on-one interactions where I would walk around the room and offer help or guidance or listen to a student break down the idea he or she had and help them choose the best tools and materials to create it,” Conklin said.
The Quick Center and the sheriff’s department donated the materials for the works using commissary funds specifically allocated for the betterment of inmate life to cover additional expenses.
Conklin said he hopes the exhibit clarifies any misconceptions people may have about inmates and demonstrates the inmates’ willingness to grow and change from past mistakes. He said people who attended the exhibition were shocked at the talent and imagination the inmates’ work revealed.
“I think the exhibition helps to break down those understandings and demonstrate that just because someone enters a correctional facility does not automatically mean they lose all sense of purpose, motivation or humanity or that they now deserve less respect or compassion because they have made mistakes,” Conklin said.
koniecrc14@bonaventure.edu
