DOC Prison Arts Program Exhibit

• Through Sunday, May 18
• Mispillion Art League, Milford, DE
• 302-430-7646

From May 5 to May 18, Mispillion Art League will host an exhibit in collaboration with the Delaware Department of Correction featuring artwork by students in the Prison Arts Program at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (JTVCC). The Program organizes art education for incarcerated people and supplies them with materials to explore creative healing.

 Through the event, the groups aim to showcase the importance of art as a therapeutic outlet for inmates. Engaging in creative activities can be key to rehabilitation, as art encourages introspection, provides purpose, and helps maintain positive hobbies. The opportunity to exhibit their artwork publicly can aid inmates’ re-entry into society by offering a sense of belonging. The entire community is invited to visit the Mispillion Art League gallery to enjoy this collection. 

The JTVCC Prison Arts Program consists of a beginner class and an advanced class and currently serves a dozen incarcerated artists. Day-to-day instruction is guided by highly skilled and experienced inmate artists. The student artists mainly work in acrylic paintings on canvas, plus some drawing and watercolor. Work is currently underway at DOC to expand the Prison Arts Program to other correctional facilities and to strengthen the Program through partnerships with local and national art-centered rehabilitation programs. JTVCC’s Prison Arts Program is led by Program Coordinator Alexis Blocksom.

 “The Prison Arts Program is a powerful tool for rehabilitation and self-expression,” Department of Correction Commissioner Terra Taylor said. “It also provides a meaningful opportunity for incarcerated individuals to learn a practical skill that supports reentry and opens pathways for career success upon their return to the community.”

The prison artwork on display at the exhibition can be purchased through the JTVCC Prison Arts Program after the show. Sales generate commissions which are paid to the inmate artists, with the remaining proceeds reinvested in the Prison Arts Program to purchase materials and supplies.

The Mispillion Art League is open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00–5:00 (Saturdays 9:00-4:00, beginning in May), and is located at 5 N. Walnut Street Milford, DE 19963. Learn more about MAL at www.MispillionArts.org.

Presented by Mispillion Art League.

Art Centers Galleries Community Services Free Visual Arts Central Delaware

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