Photos: Inmates Create Art For Car Park

Over the past three years the City Art Festival, under the auspices of the City of Hamilton, has focused on beautifying various areas in Hamilton in a concerted effort to live up to the mandate of being a ‘vibrant’ City.

More than a dozen art installations have popped up around the City with the latest one going up in the Cavendish car park, featuring artistic works by Westgate inmates.

Saying it was part of an an “effort to be more inclusive,” the City approached the Department of Corrections to garner the interest of inmates and contributing artwork to the initiative.

Once onboard, the inmates worked on the project at the Westgate Correctional Facility and upon completion, the teams at the City installed the work on the eastern wall of Cavendish car park.

Coordinator of the project at the City, Janée Pitt, said, ‘The final product is really quite something. The big, bold, bright pieces add a real pop of colour to what has always been a pretty uninteresting spot.

“The City was delighted to work with the Department of Corrections and to give the inmates the chance to give something back to the community. We are thrilled with the result and hope the public enjoys the pieces.’

Art Instructor at Westgate, Mr. Lester Hartnett, added, ‘This most recent project done by the art class at Westgate is one to be proud of. The paintings depicting Bermuda’s locally grown fruits along with some reef life were sketched and painted by five students and myself.

“The collaboration was great and left us with a sense of accomplishment. Families and friends can feel especially proud of these men. I would like to especially thank Mrs. Margo Jean Fraser, fellow teacher, for her input and support. Thanks also to the prison staff for their support.’

One of the Westgate art students said, ‘Firstly, I would like to thank Mr. Lester Harnett for introducing me to the use of acrylics [paint] in my artwork. The two murals I worked on were the cherries and the loquats.

“I painted them with the assistance of Mr. Harnett; another student assisted with touch-ups. The two murals are painted in contrasting styles, but they are clearly identifiable as the fruits they represent. Thank you also to Mrs. Laura Walker, Programmes Director and Ms Dwanita M. Grant, Vocational Coordinator for the opportunity to Participate in this project.”

Another art student added, “We were pleased to participate in this art project – to assist Mr. Harnett and to make a contribution to the community; to give back. Some of us had worked on large murals before; some had not. It was an enjoyable experience. We are looking forward to seeing the projects installed. We will send our family members to see it.”

“The City of Hamilton sincerely thanks the Department of Corrections and the Westgate Correctional Art students for their contribution to this project. Additional artwork, by other local artists, included in the 2018 City Art Festival will be completed and installed within Hamilton in the coming months,” the City said.

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