The UnMural About Recidivism

2016 The unmural about recidivism

Site: Created for the side of a high visibility building downtown.

Artists: Approximately 60 Inmates from the Hamilton County Detention Center

Partners: Hamilton County Detention Center

Description: The UnMural was conceived, designed and partially painted by about 60 inmates at the Hamilton County Detention Center. Mark Making had secured a perfect site not far from the courthouse and had a signed agreement with the property owner to install the work there. On seeing the maquette, the owner changed his mind. We believe that it was a not-in-my-backyard issue and fear of displaying a piece that could be viewed as political. The composition was site specific to fit the building accomodating its windows, door and even the slope of the sidewalk underneath. Other sites were considered but the proximity to the courthouse was deemed crucial to the meaning of the mural. We were very disappointed; the inmates were not. They found it normal that their work not be valued.

The inmates decided on an awakening/transformation theme depicting themselves going through a moment of change followed by a productive life on the outside. Recidivism was the goal. This is depicted in the middle area of the mural with their self portraits featured in a top row and their heroes edging the side. The tile floor would have QR codes embedded leading to videos of poems that inmates recited. Follow this link to access the playlist of their pieces:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWlpOHWpsunLvAOpJSXHPSUxO-XATFFaU&feature=shared

http://bit.ly/4mY6BZv

The work was funded in part by private donors and the Tennessee Arts Commission