July / August 2011 Exhibit
Art From Within is an exhibit of art created by inmates of the Lea County Correctional Facility. The exhibition represents the work of 49 artists and contains over 200 pieces of 2 and 3-dimensional art ranging from paintings to envelope art to a butterfly jewelry box made from craft sticks to a large sailboat made from toilet paper, paper towels, and pencils. With limited resources at hand, the artists become very creative in finding and using materials not normally found in artwork. A wide range of styles, mediums and themes are seen in the array of work shown. Some of the materials used are red cedar squares, oil pastels, acrylic paints, white cotton handkerchiefs, coffee, popsicle sticks, and jumbo sticks. Toilet tissue was used for a bouquet of one dozen roses colored with Kool-aid and other flowers in the show are made from tissue paper. Other works on display are clocks and jewelry boxes of various designs, picture frames made from newspaper, quilts, jewelry, origami swans, and miniature grand piano jewelry boxes. Many handmade frames showcase the paintings. The show sheds light on the talents found behind prison walls. The exhibit will be open from 11-5 Tuesday through Friday, and 10-5 Saturday through August 27. The show is free and open to the public.
