Hattieville inmates graduate from outreach art classes

They won’t take centre stage at the Bliss but today participants in a unique art course were recognised for their accomplishments over the last ten months. In September, fourteen inmates of the Hattieville Prison enrolled in an outreach class offered by Saint John’s College. Today the men officially graduated from the class and according to their teacher Michelle Perdomo, the experience was rewarding for everyone.

Michelle Perdomo, Art Teacher, Centre for Art Education, S.J.C.
“For some of them it’s the first time ever gotten a certificate of any kind and for others it was the first time they’ve ever had their picture taken so it’s a big day for some people.”

Marion Ali
“The course that they take was one year, so they came here for a year?”

Michelle Perdomo
“Yes, what happens is Kolbe sends a bus with the students and a warden every Tuesday and Friday afternoon and so two times a week they spend from one o’clock till three o’clock in the afternoon here at the college.”

Marion Ali
“The course that they take, is it as advanced as the regular students take?”

Michelle Perdomo
“It’s a regular class that the other art students at the college take so they learn all the same things. We use the same book, same materials.”

Marion Ali
“Being that it was inmates you were working with, how did you find their intake, their reception of the programme?”

Michelle Perdomo
“I would rather teach them than any other students because they behave much better than the other groups of students that I’ve taught because they’re very cooperative and they’re very appreciative of every thing that they get here so I really enjoy having them here.”

Marion Ali
“Why do you think that is?”

Michelle Perdomo
“I think because maybe before they haven’t had the opportunity or maybe now having, been in prison for a little while, they appreciate more the opportunity to be out and be joining society and they have a chance to prove themselves and their behaviour is very, very excellent and so they have a chance to show everybody that they are good people.”

Porfilio Sanchez, Art Inmate
“I decided to make this step in my life since it’s just my first time and I didn’t have any idea about arts. So then I said that well, I’m incarcerated, I don’t have nowhere to turn and then an opportunity came my way so I said it doesn’t make sense for me just to stay here and just look around. So I came to be involved so that I can be able to learn something for myself, not only for myself mutually but so that I can learn so that I can help others. my first time attending this programme here, this schooling, I found out that it’s just a matter of putting a step into your life, moving towards things.”

Enrique Valladarez, Art Inmate
“I’m serving time for handling stolen goods.”

Marion Ali
“You took the one year course and you have been dubbed the veteran of the course. It seems you have some potential of becoming an artist.”

Enrique Vallardez
“Yes, I from small I start paint and drawing till I become more professional on it; on pencil and painting and charcoal pastels. I learned how to do the shadings in the face because I coulda mi draw the outline, like people but I neva know how to do the shadings and that’s what I dedicate myself to this year, the shadings.”

Marion Ali
“Having spent one year doing this, you think when you come out of the prison you will seek a career in art?”

Enrique Vallardez
“That is my hope and my desires and my dreams; to become a good artist, a Belizean artist, to paint landscapes in Belize and paint people that I see.”

Marion Ali
“What were you doing before?”

Enrique Vallardez
“Before, I was in drugs on the streets, that’s why I commit the crime that I committed. Now I am in prison rehabbing. I have sixteen months without using no drugs and I feel good for it.”

Marion Ali
“And you’ll come out soon?”

Enrique Vallardez
“I will come out like in six more months.”

Marion Ali
“You think this has changed you and really offered you some difference?

Enrique Vallardez
“Yes, it really offered me a difference. The opportunities that I didn’t have in the society, I have them now.”

According to Perdomo, the inmates are now eligible to participate in ceramic and sculpting courses set to start in September.