Art Flourishes in Strangest Places Lubbock Avalanche Journal 10 May 2000  by Kara Altenbaumer

Lessons blend social issues with artistic vision to help inmates learn

Texas Tech art education students this semester used art to teach inmates of the Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center how to—as one youth put it—express themselves "in a legal way." For several weeks throughout the semester, students in art education professor Dennis Fehr's course traveled to the youth jail on Mondays to learn some lessons of their own about teaching, and about bringing social messages into the classroom. Knowing that youthful offenders are often stereotyped, Fehr said he wanted to put his students into a situation that would make them nervous. Then he wanted them to see the stereotypes proved wrong.

"I was nervous because it was the first time I've taught anyone," said Danielle Hale, an art education graduate student, "but these kids are just like any other kids. They knew we were there because we cared about them."

After classes began, Fehr said, one JJC student told him he wanted to finish high school so he could continue to pursue art.

"If you are upset, you go to art," said Andre, 16. "I had messed up one picture . . . then I turned it into something else. On my free time, I think I'll make some more things."

Another inmate, 14-year-old William, who said he learned art is a "legal way" to express himself, made a project with jail bars on it.

Marisella, 15, made a collage about a girl who was smoking in front of a television set showing a program telling her no.

"They'd open up more during these art lessons," said JJC art and science teacher Byron Felty. "The strongest thing (the Tech students) brought was a sense of cooperation and unity. Our students looked forward to Mondays like you wouldn't believe."

Each lesson focused on both social and artistic issues. Most projects had the purpose of helping the kids learn about themselves, said Stacy Griggs, another art education grad student.

Fehr added, "If we don't integrate social and ethical concepts in our teaching, regardless of subject, then we aren't doing all we can do. There is a therapeutic aspect to art, but we're not art therapists—we're art educators. We give these kids art as an option after they get out of the Juvenile Justice Center."