Artistry In Pastel

Works of Art from the Inmate Art Program

Iowa Correctional Institution for Women

December 6 – 31, 2014

Frame Works is pleased to announce the art exhibition Artistry in Pastel featuring original pastel works of art from the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women’s Inmate Art Program. The show will open at Frame Works, 5800 Merle Hay Road, Johnston, Iowa on Saturday, December 6, 2014 and hung in the gallery until December 31, 2014.  This exhibition marked the third collaboration between Frame Works and the Inmate Art Program.

The Artists and the Program:

In 2004, Mary Muller began teaching art lessons at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women (ICIW) in Mitchellville, 20 miles east of Des Moines. Her goal was to find among the inmates, women who had the talent and the drive to develop an expression of art to be relied upon for future income and personal growth. There is no question that creativity helps build a more positive self-image and greater confidence in accomplishment. It has been proven that this type of endeavor leads to positive life changes. The women become aware of their ability to create beautiful art while improving their self-image, gaining confidence through decision making, problem solving, and the awareness of the effort and time required by themselves and others in the class, thereby improving their social skills.

In 2008, Muller recruited three artists to teach the classes when demands of her own work made it impossible for her to continue. Artists volunteering their time are Joan Broek, Jan Davison, Penny Sullivan and Sus Sweitzer. Periodically exhibitions are provided for showing their work, thereby sharing it with our community and providing additional value of their talents. The program continues to grow, adding more classes to reach more inmates.

This exhibition will include 60+ paintings by women in the Inmate Art Program. For more information about the art program, purchases or commissions, contact Penny Sullivan at jpenny.sullivan@yahoo.com.