Exhibition of prisoners' and mental art

An art exhibition in Whangarei has opened some bars by allowing prison artists and mental health clients to show their work in a landmark exhibition.

Arts Access - The Turning Point, at Porcine Gallery in Whangarei, is an exhibit of work by artists from Whau Valley Whaiora Support Trust and carvings, woven tukutuku panels and paintings by prisoners in Northern Region Corrections Facility's award-winning Portfolio Art Programme.

Both organisations take part in the national Arts Access scheme aimed at bringing marginalised artists' work into mainstream view in their communities. The scheme's vision is to enable people to participate in the arts, whatever their circumstances.

While Whau Valley Whaiora clients were free to attend the exhibition opening on Tuesday, the prisoners were represented by Mark Lynd, the Northern Region Corrections services manager who set up Ngawha's art programme.