Community Mural at Detention Facility
Working with the mental health services of a detention facility Cultivative ventured into a less traditional method for dealing with mentally ill inmates. The idea is that creative activities can stabilize patients and potentially have a positive impact within the correctional system. This was not primarily an art eduction project, the goal was not about training inmates on how to create beautiful murals. The project provides a great opportunity to explore and practice social interaction skills.
BACKGROUND STORIES
At 7am, my team gets escorted to our mural location. We wait as the first door is shut and locked behind us before the second can be opened into a long corridor. We are in jail today – in the section that holds inmates diagnosed with mental disorders and who are accused of committing a crime.
Mount Diablo is a great source of pride in Contra Costa County. The design was chosen by the Sheriff’s Office not just because Mount Diablo is depicted on the officers’ badges. It is also a symbol of each officer’s dedication, hard work and a commitment to the communities that they protect and serve every day.