Prisoners' artwork displayed at Rackham

Only three days after opening, 111 criminals from 35 state jails have sold almost half of the artwork they have on display at Rackham Galleries as a part of the Fourth Annual Exhibit of Art by Michigan Prisoners.

The exhibit, which runs until Feb. 24, is a component of English Prof. Buzz Alexander's and Art and Design Prof. Janie Paul's classes.

By showcasing 229 works of art for the public, Alexander and other organizers said they hope to eliminate negative images associated with prisoners and to give students an opportunity to see prisoners' talents.

"In our culture, prisoners are stereotyped as criminals - not as people with families and loved ones or as individuals who are trying to grow," Alexander said. "This exhibit will humanize the 45,000 people in Michigan prisons."

LSA sophomore Melissa Kinney, who is enrolled in Alexander's "United States Prisons" class, said she looks forward to attending the exhibition.

"I believe everyone has the right to express themselves - and hopefully by attending this exhibition, my own preconceived notions and stereotypes of our prisoners will be destroyed," Kinney said.

While most students accepted the notion of prisoner self-expression, many felt uncomfortable with the fact that the artists will receive all the proceeds from the exhibit.

"We already spend millions and millions of our dollars on prisons. If these inmates should make any proceeds it should go directly towards paying for their jail facilities," said Anil Sastry, a Business senior.

Other students shared Sastry's point of view.

"I believe convicts go to jail to suffer for their crimes," Business senior Steve Ahn said. "These murderers, rapists, robbers, extortionists ... should not be making money off the system.

"When you're in jail, your freedoms are taken away, that includes self-expression. We should not be rewarding criminals," he said.

The exhibit's administrative assistant Laurie Hess, however, said the inmates' crimes are separate from their art.

"These are artists, they have created the work and they deserve the money... just like anyone else, prisoners are human beings that feel pain, that see beauty, and that create ... these are people who need this support," she said.

The prices for the works of art range from $1 to $500. Previous exhibitions have attracted more than 1,100 visitors and earned $6,000 in sales.

02-12-99