Dr. Rachel Williams, Ph.D
Dr. Williams, Assistant Professor of Art Education at the University of Iowa, is a nationally known expert in the field of prison art,  She received her doctorate at Florida State University with the dissertation topic of "The Art and Related Experiences of Selected Incarcerated Women; Its Functions and Consequences".  She is conducting a formal evaluation of Art Behind Bars over the course of the next year.

Incarceration involves a number of transitions that can be made easier through art.   Art activities can channel negative energy into positive results.  Programs which incorporate art and community service, such as Art Behind Bars, give inmates a chance to return, in spirit, to the community through their donated time and creations.  Art has been shown to reduce recidivism, assist professions in healing people with violent or tragic pasts, and help inmates gain some control over their lives.

Correctional facilities are places where deprivation, oppression, isolation, and disenfranchisement lurk.  Art offers one activity that is productive, non-violent, communicative, and insightful for people who are incarcerated.  Art fuels a feeling of connection and contribution, safety, and the profound communication that is a necessary part of being human.  The creation of something beautiful and meaningful can help incarcerated people to regain a sense of pride and increase their self-esteem.  The process of making art offers a way for individuals to realize that they are capable of creating something that is valued by society.

 It's important to remind society that there are consequences for incarcerating individuals.  The consequences are not only monetary, but also relate to the lives and welfare of children, communities, and victims.  A holistic approach to rehabilitation, which includes the arts, strengthens the potential for the successful attainment of goals related to treatment and a non-criminal life in the free world.  Through the arts and community service, the bridge between corrections and community can be crossed and embellished with objects that are beautiful, meaningful, and which bear witness to the experience of being human.