Hope House

A few years ago I was able to work as a resident artist for Hope House. Hope House, started by Carol Fennelly, connects incarcerated men with their children. It is one of the only reunification programs where the artists make murals in the prison itself. It really struck me to be on the inside and working with the men so closely, as so much of the prison experience is about the actual setting of prison. It is an intense environment.  Hope House DC offers programs to prisoners and their families aimed at decreasing recidivism and keeping incarcerated men connected. I really was more focused on the relationships that the dads had with their kids.  Losing a parent to prison can be a really profound loss. And there was a lot of time that we were making up for in a week of creating murals.  For me, as an artist, I loved creating the best day ever murals. These murals were a chance for kids to create an alternative reality where they went on a trip with their dads. It really embodies the way art can take someone to any place and to any time and create a hopeful alternative reality. It really helped me understand the importance of having a connection and understanding of your family. Not all of the kids had great relationships with their dads but they had the option to know who they were. And that is something that is critical.