A handful of inmates from the El Dorado Correctional Facility will get a glimpse of freedom this week with the opening of “Art Unlocked” in Butler Community College’s Erman B. White Art Gallery.
Though the inmates remain at the facility, their artwork is on loan to Butler for this exhibit, comprised of a variety of pieces and styles.
The idea for “Art Unlocked” came to Butler’s Dean for Enrollment Management Glenn Lygrisse after receiving a painting from EDCF inmate Mikel Trumbly.
Lygrisse volunteers with Central Kansas Prison Ministry and has met with Trumbly for several years now, encouraging personal and spiritual growth.
After bolstering Trumbly’s interest in painting, Lygrisse received an original acrylic painting of a Meadowlark, sitting on a fence post on the prairie.
The painting hangs in Lygrisse’s office at Butler and inspired the idea to coordinate an exhibit of inmate art.
“Community involvement has brought a sense of self-respect to Mikel since this project began,” Lygrisse said. “I trust it will carry over into all aspects of his life and to other inmates at EDCF.”
El Dorado Correctional Facility is a super maximum facility with some medium custody.
Inmates receive training in vehicle repair, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, construction, food preparation and woodworking. Additional activities include music and art.
This exhibit showcases the work of more than a dozen inmates who used their time to create something personally meaningful. Some of the artists had never touched a paintbrush before beginning work on these projects.
EDCF administrators view this artistic outlet as a self-help program to help them learn the value of respect, motivation, discipline and focus.
“Most of the inmates feel viewed negatively by society,” said EDCF Activities Specialist Dave Suttle. “This exhibit gives them a chance to be viewed positively. They are seen as people who have talent and skill, not just inmates who are locked up and not doing anything.”
The exhibit opened Aug. 27 in the Fine Arts 700 Building at Butler’s El Dorado campus and will be on display until Sept. 24.
There will be a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.
