Sponsored by
Prison walls become photo gallery
ITS imposing walls have been the symbols of justice in Leeds for more than 160 years.
But the ramparts of Armley Prison have now taken on a wholly different role – that of an art gallery.
A section of the wall has become home to a new photo exhibition.
Photographer Casey Orr has spent months putting together her collection of 24 larger-than-life portraits, among them photos of prisoners and their families.
The exhibition, thought to be the first of its kind anywhere, also features evocative portraits of Leeds women who have emigrated to the city from across the world, and of a selection of birds, common and exotic, which have made their home in the region.
Armley-based Casey, herself an American ex-pat, wanted to use her art to explore the nature of migration, community and home.
The aim, she said, was to focus on people and animals which are not indigenous to the Armley area and to make connections between their experiences of migration and the "curtailed" existence of the prisoners.
"These photographs show how people are constantly crossing boundaries and connecting with each other," she said.The prison is a central landmark in this area but it's almost as if the building is invisible or impenetrable.
"Some of my photographs are of prisoners and their families and, by displaying them on the walls, I hope to make a connection
between what's happening on the inside and outside."
Massive metre-high canvases of her photos will now be displayed outside the main walls of the historic jail.
A simultaneous exhibition will be hung up inside the prison for inmates.
Among the prisoners Casey photographed for the exhibition was young dad John-Paul Semeniuk, 27, who is currently serving three months for handling stolen goods.
A touching portrait of him with his two year old daughter Nevaeh – taken during one of the toddler's weekly visits – now hangs outside Wall 5 of HMP Leeds.
John said: "The exhibition will hopefully make people think, that we are family people too, but we are not with our families every day."
Mark Hudson, deputy head of operations and security at HMP Leeds, said "This is an opportunity for us to celebrate with prisoners, staff and visitors the uniqueness of Casey's work".
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
