PAINTING in PRISON

Last week’s blog story was about drawing with a purpose. Today’s blog story is about painting with a purpose. 

For about 5 years, once a week, my mum Mary took painting classes for maximum security prisoners at Auckland Prison (Paremoremo). She was accompanied by my dad Peter and older sister Linda. Talking with Linda last week, some fascinating insights were shared about my mum’s voluntary work with men that were ‘inside’ for a long time. 

There was always a good turnout of between 12 -20 participants. Linda described mum as always being herself (all 5 foot 2 of her). She was quietly spoken and earned the prisoners respect because she wasn’t there to judge and knew how to teach something she loved doing herself and was good at. 

Mum had the ability to draw talent out of anybody. She wouldn’t hear and accept the words, “I can’t paint.” She was there to love them and to teach them. Mum knew that the men needed kindness as they were angry and hurt and paying a price for their wrong doing. 

As time went by, Mum, Dad and Linda could see more of the real person as they developed their painting skills. She was able for a brief couple of hours to take them from their prison environment to a whole different world. Linda can still remember mum’s encouraging words, “That’s great! Keep going.”