Incarcerated Minds

  • Lead Artist Christopher Cardinale speaks passionately about the commitment of the team.
  • The entire wall is a powerful example of Groundswell’s work, both as a mural organization and as a youth empowerment program.

Project Description

In the spring of 2008, Groundswell partnered with the New York City Department of Correction to create “Incarcerated Minds,” a mural designed by students at the Austin H. MacCormick Island Academy High School on Rikers Island Correctional Facility. The mural depicts a group of inmates in a dormitory setting, with each one dreaming of life outside the jail. The team engaged in an ongoing dialogue with the artists throughout the process and drew many connections between themselves and the imagery of the mural. All realized that the mural made a significant impact on their living area. “Incarcerated Minds” generated enthusiasm from inmates, correction officers, the jail administration, and the high school staff. Principal Frank Dody commented that “the students worked collaboratively and evidenced great pride in the mural they created. The mural project gave students a voice in the jail community, and they learned an important life lesson about the strength of working as a team to create a product. In this case, the product is their message of hope for productive futures.”

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

Project Info

Location: 18-18 Hazen Street East Elmhurst, NY 11370

Fun Facts

Fun Fact
Consider your own goals and dreams. How can you reach them? What is holding you back?
Research
The United States incarcerates more of its youth than any other country in the world.
Fun Fact
The school the youth attended is named after Austin MacCormick, a pioneer of education as a tool for rehabilitation in the field of correction.