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freedom to create: supporting women-centred creative arts practice in prisons
ILLUMINATE selected art and extracts of poetry by women in HMP YOI Cornton Vale
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About
ILLUMINATE The aim of this Artlink Central creative arts project was to enable participants to find ways of expressing aspects of their lives through experiencing art forms such as reflective writing and watercolour painting. Artists Evlynn Sharp and Frances Douglas led creative workshops in which women from HMP YOI Cornton Vale first took part in writing excercise, sharing personal memories and feelings, before experimenting with watercolour techniques to make artworks to complement the text. “The daily feedback I received from participants was excellent, the ILLUMINATE project gave women an outlet to discuss issues they had previously been unable to think about let alone share in a group. Each woman demonstrated strength of focus and commitment, and the benefits were evidenced clearly in their behaviour within the prison. Among many outcomes achieved, staff reported improvements in the women’s confidence and positive attitudes.”
Sam Ferriday Unit Manager HMP YOI Cornton Vale 1
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Introduction The women who have given their poems and artworks for use in ILLUMINATE show the excellent outcome of focused work in developing communication and creative skills. This anthology of their writing and art reveals their diligence in working towards a deepening of self-expression, human dignity, truth. The extracts of poems in this publication reflect each prisoner’s path of survival often out of great grief and hardship. The act of writing can take courage to recall harsh realities of life. Each participant has had to face herself and write from the heart of her own experience. During the ILLUMINATE project, participants spoke of how tasks helped them to release painful aspects of their lives bringing issues to the surface that could be discussed in the safe atmosphere of the workshops. Cornton Vale’s officers have been excellent in their support of the ILLUMINATE project, and I am proud of each individual’s work contributing to this successful venture. With the assistance of all involved, these smooth-running, well-facilitated workshops prove the inherent value of my staff’s contribution. Artlink Central has also shown consistent excellence of professionalism and generosity in its provision of projects in the Scottish Prison Service. For the ILLUMINATE project, Artlink’s visual artist Frances Douglas and poet Evlynn Sharp took time in developing the course content, approach and exercises to fully engage the prisoners throughout. ILLUMINATE draws from source material of ancient manuscripts unfolding the care of early peoples to convey their inmost world. This material breaks through to our times serving to help Cornton Vale women find different ways to express their thoughts and increase self-esteem, confidence, understanding. Forbes McKillop Deputy Governor HMP YOI Cornton Vale 2
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EXTRACTS:
“This woman’s eyes are distant And cold; vacant they linger, They look but they do not see, They do not want to see, The journey is a daze. This woman has tears in her heart, She is scared to breathe Lest the threads that hold it together Start to unravel. Her journey Is exhausting, she is out of breath…” Sharon, A Woman’s Journey
“I am a woman who has felt love And also great pain; I am a woman who has had stability But also instability; I am a woman who has had hope Only for it to be taken; I am a woman who has fought for justice And gone un-heard; I am a woman who has also cried And been un-heard…” Kim, This Woman
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EXTRACTS:
“Today, I feel cheated. Forgotten about. Out of sight, out of mind. Others – family and friends – Going about their lives, Their jobs, their home time… How often I think of them. What are they doing this week? This day. This hour. How often do they think of me? Perhaps hardly ever. And how I can ever forgive myself, I just don’t know...” Sheila, Often Forgotten
“I remember I made a journey The first one to here in 2008 I remember feeling down Because I was away From my family and friends For a while And this would become my life For the next few years Coming in and out of here And being in prison…” Sandra, The Journey
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EXTRACTS:
“I remember when my Mum died, And the pain Me and my sister went through. Fostered by my Aunty’s cousin, Then felt unwanted, Coz she put me and my big sister In a Children’s Home, Coz she couldn’t cope… I just didn’t know How to deal with the loss Of my Mum – And still don’t.” Paula, I Remember
“Mum, I wish I had got to tell you All the things I wanted to, But you got taken so suddenly, I miss you so much, You did everything for me, Still spoiled me, I was 23, I should have been standing On my own two feet; I never got to thank you For looking after my son When I had a heroin addiction, And always being there when I needed you, You never let me down…” Kirsty, Letter To My Mum
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EXTRACTS:
“The box in the back of my mind, I never open it, and try to forget… Forget the past and store away As I don’t know how to deal with it – I’ve hurt my son by not being there When I promised myself I wouldn’t do what My mum and dad did to me; I let my sister down, The one and only time she has ever needed me, And how I can ever forgive myself…” Carla, Box In My Mind
“Behind these bars, Dragged away from my family and friends, I can see things more clearly, I can see where I went wrong, In here, I feel like I can hide from mistakes, I can say, ‘Things are going to change When I get out,’ But things are easily said, And not done…” Kelly, Clearly
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EXTRACTS:
“I walked out in the storm, I remember walking down the road, Sliding everywhere. My mum chased after me, But I refused to go back home. I wish sometimes I had not done that, And listened, and gone back home To return to my family. I ended up in a Bed & Breakfast for a few days. It was cold. I had a fry-up every morning At the hotel, but it was never the same…” Gemma, Winters
“I was a wee girl with my mum, We used to go to The Forge Where we had curry… I miss my mum; We lived on a street Where my dad was a loner, He’s in a home now, He has long hair, I haven’t seen him For about two year.” Margaret, When I Was Wee
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EXTRACTS:
“I hold lots of memories, All of which are clear, I cherish these… They are of my children… I stop to listen, Even now, Just in that instant…” Karrie-ann, Echoes
“What I want Is to get out of prison And change my life, I want to get a new flat… A college placement or a job. I want to change my lifestyle… My circle of friends. I want to spend more time With my family, I want to help my brother Get his own flat And make sure He doesn’t make the same mistakes As I made...” Michaela, This Prison
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“I can’t think. My brain’s not working. I am not in a writing mood. It’s depressing in this jail Cause they lock you up…” Jess, Untitled
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MOMENTS:
“I find it very hard to describe how I’m feeling and speak About losing important people in my life.” Paula “I need to find the courage to make things right In my life, and build bridges Especially with my family and my son…” Kirsty “You robbed me of my innocence And for that I will never forgive you. Never.” Sheila “I will become me again With a full heart that will beat as normal, A free will…” Carla “I always said, when I got older, I would be young at heart. But there’s young at heart And acting like child…” Kelly “Looking through these bars, Into the distance, I dream of a happy life, Far from here…” Kim “As I look into the mirror, I see a woman who has found hope, A woman who feels she can believe again…” Sharon
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ILLUMINATE selected art and extracts of poetry by women in HMP YOI Cornton Vale
Illuminate is a Freedom to Create project, a programme supporting women-centred creative practice in prisons. The programme is funded by Creative Scotland, The Robertson Trust and by The VOLANT Charitable Trust through Foundation Scotland with support from New College Lanarkshire and the Scottish Prison Service.
More information and full transcripts of poems contact: Kevin Harrison, Director Artlink Central, 69 Cowane Street, Stirling FK8 1JP Tel: 01786 450971 | Email: info@artlinkcentral.org
www.artlinkcentral.org No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission, except in the case of brief extracts embodied in critical articles, reviews or lectures. Design: Baseline | Editors: Kevin Harrison, Evlynn Sharp and Frances Douglas | Š Artlink Central 2014