“All Women Are Role Models”
Montana Women’s
Prison Project
Montana Arts Council
Percent-for-Art Project
Final Report
This two year project has been a huge, wonderful and challenging learning experience. If I were able to rename the project I would call it “Honoring the Spirit of
All Women”. The project has impacted many of the people involved. It has grown in scope and exceeded my hopes and expectations. All of the objectives in the proposal have been met and many additional objectives were undertaken in the
course of the project. The following are the accomplishments that were part of
the proposal as well those that were completed in addition:
Accomplishments that were part of the proposal.
· Three arches were constructed
which connect thematically as well as visually.
· The “Great Mother Arch” is in the Visitor’s courtyard.
· The “Loving Mother Arch” is in the Parenting Module courtyard.
· The “All Women Are Role Models Arch” is in front of the main entrance to the prison.
· Two workshops were completed
that encouraged the personal growth of the women of the prison:
o Jennifer Thompson led the creative expression
workshops which were well received by the women.
o Chip Clawson
led clay workshops in which the women made tiles (40) with the names of inspirational women.
These were placed on the “Great Mother Arch”.
· Ceramic masks were also
made in these workshops. The masks reveal beauty, pain and insight.
· 238 nominations of inspirational
women were made.
· 205 different inspirational
women were nominated.
· The names of 189 inspirational
women are on the arches.
· The workshops provided
a way for the women to connect to and have ownership in the project and the art.
· Books were donated to
the prison library and the women used them as references to nominate inspirational women for inclusion on the arches.
· A bibliography of autobiographies,
biographies and other books was placed in the library.
· The art presents a “strong, positive, feminine image”.
· The art is visually attractive and will help create a “more humane environment of distinction and enjoyment”.
· The arches are very durable and will require no regular maintenance other than annual inspection of grout.
· The “Loving Mother Arch” provides a place to play for children visiting their mothers.
· The prison staff and the
women of the prison provided a friendly working environment for the artist.
Accomplishments outside the proposal.
· An additional four session
clay workshop was offered. This workshop challenged the women to create a piece
of ceramic art that embodied the idea of “strong, positive and feminine”.
This workshop was very successful and the results showed that the women grasped the concept with vigor and understanding.
· The women of the prison
were involved in steering committee meetings. They determined the criteria for
the nomination of inspirational women and made other decisions.
· The women of the additional
workshop were able, but not required, to work on the construction of the arches that are inside the prison. They helped with mixing and pouring concrete and the grouting.
· Workshops in other fields
were arranged to encourage personnel growth.
o Jeff Blend presented a yoga workshop.
o Linda Bassingthwaighte presented a meditation
workshop.
o Sue Kronenberger and Beverly Fox presented
a theater and writing workshop.
· A dedication ceremony
was held for the women of the prison. It was a warm, heartfelt event which 70
women of the prison attended.
· A public dedication was
held and about 50 people were able to enter the prison for the ceremony.
· Seven women of the prison
spoke at both events and were able to relate what the project meant to them. This
was very important and rewarding to me. At the beginning of this project it was
my hope that the project would have impact and meaning. As these women spoke
in public, I knew that the project had had a positive effect.
· The Choir of the Montana
Women’s Prison sang “Somebody’s Hero” by Jamie O’Neal at both dedications.
· A show of 35 masks from
the first clay workshops was installed at the Bill McIntosh Gallery in Billings. They will be installed permanently in the prison by the artist following completion
of the public show.
· Documentation includes
two binders with 300+ pages of nominations of inspirational women, photographs and other information about the project. There is also a CD with photographs and other information on it. A copy of each is in the library and the warden’s office. There
has been unedited limited video made of the project.
· Technical drawings were
reviewed and approved by a licensed Montana engineer.
· Building permit, Encroachment
Easement, Right of Way Permit and Business License were obtained from the City of Billings.
· The project was inspected
by the City of Billings building and right of way inspectors and approved by both.
· 4000 PSI concrete and
a stress test were required for the sidewalk. Testing was done by Maxim Technologies. The concrete tested at 6270 PSI.
Construction and Maintenance
The construction of the arches is a ceramic shell filled with concrete
and rebar. Construction drawing and photographs accompany this report. No regular maintenance is required; however the grout should be checked every year. Should grout need to be replaced any tile installer would be able to do it.
Respectfully submitted,
Chip Clawson
