Detainees give back with art for auction

CLOVIS - Detainees at the Curry County Detention Center are using their artistic abilities to promote a passion for reading among local children, all while behind bars.

Five pieces of art created by detainees will be part of a silent auction to take place during the upcoming New Mexico Association of Counties 82nd Annual Conference to be held in Socorro County June 18-22.

All of the money raised by the five artworks will then go to Curry County's Imagination Library program, which provides a free book each month to children in Curry County until their fifth birthday.

Programs and Services Coordinator Melissa Haack said detainees involved immediately jumped at the chance to create a painting or drawing to benefit a good cause.

"The detainees that were chosen to participate or anybody that submitted a piece of artwork, (they) really felt like they were going to give back somehow," Haack said. "Regardless of their charges or circumstances, they thought this is a way to give back to the younger generation and help them succeed and hopefully not follow their path."

Besides the charitable aspect, Haack said the program also provided the detainees with "a constructive outlet for stress relief" and challenged them to expand their artwork subject matter, which might not normally fit the family-friendly requirements of this art auction.

Gwen Valentino, the event coordinator for the conference, said Socorro County Commissioner Ray Martinez came up with the idea for the inmate art auction after attending a detention conference where the program was suggested as an opportunity to boost morale in the detention centers.

Administrator Mark Gallegos said the auction provides a chance for the different detention facilities around the state to network and take part in some competition, all for a good cause.

"We all got together and kind of wanted to find a way that we can build relationships with other county facilities and other detention facilities," Gallegos said.

Valentino said Bernalillo, San Miguel, Socorro and Taos counties will also participate in the art auction, each raising money for different causes.

The pieces of art created by the Curry detainees feature classic New Mexico imagery like the Zia symbol, the Sandia Mountains and pueblos, as the artists drew inspiration from the Land of Enchantment and "just whatever they felt was on their mind," Haack said.

Gallegos said the art supplies were purchased using funds from the detention center's education budget.

Curry County Manager Lance Pyle said the money from the auction will be much appreciated for the reading program which is completely dependent on donations and currently funded through September.

"No tax dollars are put towards the program so I think it's a great benefit for the inmates to do artwork and then turn around and give the money to the Imagination Library," Pyle said.

Pyle said the Imagination Library has delivered a total of 25,946 books since the program first came to Curry County in 2014, with 588 kids currently enrolled and 513 already graduated from the program.

"No tax dollars are put towards the program so I think it's a great benefit for the inmates to do artwork and then turnaround and give the money to the Imagination Library," Pyle said.

Valentino said in addition to the artwork, Socorro's detainees have helped set up the conference by stuffing silverware packets and creating center pieces and corn husk dolls.

"They've really been involved with the conference, which is kind of cool," Valentino said.

Haack hoped the art program would show the public that not all detainees are life-long lawbreakers.

"I think it's really important for people to know that there are people that are being held here until the judicial process is done and not everybody is hardened criminals and there are those that want to change their life around and do good for the community," Haack said.