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The BlueMoon is published bi-monthly by the Kentucky Arts Council. Please send comments, questions and information to The Blue Moon, Kentucky Arts Council, Old Capitol Annex, 300 West Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601-1980 or call 502/564-3757V/TDD Toll Free: 1-888-833-2787
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Four Western Kentucky artists have begun a challenging project at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville, Kentucky. Photographer Craig Bunting, visual artist Dottie Quertermous, National Heritage Award Winner thumbpickin’ guitarist Eddie Pennington and theatre person extraordinaire Karen Willis are members of the Prison Arts Project, a residency program sponsored by the Kentucky Arts Council and the Kentucky State Penitentiary. The residency program, which officially begins in early September, will last through January of 2003, and could potentially be expanded through the end of June of 2003. The residency coordinator, in concert with KAC’s Community Arts Director Chris Harp, will work with prison officials on measuring improvement in inmate behavior during the course of the residency.

Each artist brings their own expertise not only in their particular discipline, but also in residency work in institutions. When Karen Willis was asked about her motivation to work in the prisons she replied, “Well, I’m not afraid to do anything or go anywhere and I believe that theatre is basic to the human experience. It should be a part of everyone’s life.” Inmates will explore theater, visual arts, crafts and music, and plans will be made to mount local and online exhibitions of works, musical concerts, and perhaps craft sales to benefit the program’s continuation.

Even though the Kentucky State Penitentiary has not sponsored artist residencies in the past, the inmate population is constantly creating. More than three musical groups have formed within the prison, including gospel music and rap. A tour of the facility demonstrates that inmates seek creative outlets, and one can see examples of this everywhere, from murals to sailing ships made from corn dog sticks. The arts are in institutions all across the state due in large part to the organizations (such as Kentucky Shakespeare) and individual artists who have gone into facilities to engage Kentucky’s institutionalized populations.

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