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Prison Art for the sake of Freedom

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Art without borders- at least at this Yerevan store

The Prison Art shop near Khanjyan Street opened its doors to customers a week ago, with big letters on its façade that are a magnet to curious passersby.

Gypsum khachkars (cross stones), small church models made of tuf, ships of pasteboard, wooden engraved backgammons, candleholders, caskets, cigarette-holders, beads, bags, slippers and other items prepared from what prisoners could find in their places of confinement are on sale at the shop.

This small shop replicates a glassed metal prison cell where, unlike dozens of other galleries in the city, besides the name of the author of the work one can also learn in what place of confinement he is serving out his sentence.

Prison Art was opened by the “Assistant to Convicts” Foundation which has operated since 2002 and was established by a decision of the Armenian government. The goal of the Foundation, presided over by Armenian Justice Minister David Harutyunyan, is to provide employment to convicts.

Prisoners are employed at the stone, needlework and woodwork productions of the Foundation as well as in agriculture, and the profits, according to the Foundation’s Director General Gagik Madoyan, are transferred in full to penitentiaries to satisfy the needs of their inmates.

According to Madoyan, last year alone the Foundation’s amount of business was worth 150 million drams ($337,000).

“We first had the idea of constructing this shop in 2002,” says Madoyan. “But we managed to get permission for territory from the municipality only this year. We will sign labor contracts with prisoners good at crafts and the profits received will be transferred to their individual bank accounts. By their wish they will either spend this money on their needs, or will send to their families.”

It cost 3,150,000 drams ($7,000) to build the shop.

“We called the shop according to the samples it presents,” says Madoyan. “We are not doing business here. Our only goal is to ensure employment in prisons. This way we want to encourage convicts to create and improve their craftworks.”

According to the shop assistant Marine Ghahramanyan, no large purchases have been made at the shop yet, however they have many visitors. “Many sellers from the tables at Vernisage come to study the works here and compare their prices. In many cases they say the same work at our place is cheaper than theirs.”

These works are sold from 500 drams (about $1 for a small gypsum khachkar) to 55,000 drams ($120 for an engraved backgammon board), although prices are negotiable. According to the shop assistant, in this case it is important that the buyer really appreciates the value of such works.

According to Madoyan, the works are evaluated by their authors, and the shop adds only ten percent.

Items by male and female prisoners from 11 prisons are on display. Madoyan says that the number of those wishing to participate in such programs is increasing day by day.

“Only the samples that the Foundation’s workers managed to collect at penitentiaries are currently presented. However, we asked the authors of the works to present the raw materials they needed that we would supply, as well as we will create a corresponding workshop for them to work in more appropriate conditions.”

A room is under repairs at the Erebuni prison in Yerevan that will serve as a studio for prisoners.

“Some of them have very good works, however soon we will hire a specialist who will go around prisons and give professional advice for creating works of higher quality,” says the Foundation’s director general.