(?) = either illegible in the original or uncertain rendering from original

Ruth Cooper — thought provoking

Dana Winters — interesting, moving, contrast

(?) Gunn — This has given us a real jolt and shake up.

Path Polenchuk (?) — wonderful pictures, sad stories though

1st Kitimat Rangers — Very nice exhibit, powerful, moving. The emotions are well portrayed and flow with the sense of the world and justice served or not served.

David Walford — Ah Leslie, you open the heart bleeding through the broken glass of our ways. I was catapulted into my own struggles with pain and freedom. Spirit at one, probing the centre of things.

Sylvia — The goodness of humankind shows through in all the people represented here: hope in the midst of despair, freedom despite imprisonment, expressions of pain in response to inhumanity and indignity, people searching for truth and justice in the midst of confusion and darkness. If we care enough to find the goodness in each other, the bias that separates us will begin to disappear.

Terry (?) — Your statements pose a question — what is an education? What is it for and what do we use it for?

June (?) — Your pictures and their words evoke a very strong message. I’ll be thinking about this for awhile now.

Ricki — Wow, many powerful feelings have been evoked! It’s hard to put these into words… “rooted in childhood experiences” rings out loud and clear for me, and I hope that through awareness (such as this show) further movement towards humanity’s healing is possible.

J — beauty of truth — never simple. Check the range of reality. Concepts and perspectives of/on freedom, justice etc.

Leah Pipe — We’ve all become hardened. We’re mostly interested in our own personal realities. Unfortunate, that.

Marnie Duff — (Thanks) for showing what you found — the un-understandable and the hope.

Pearl Bender — Everything always works out for the best — we may not know it today or tomorrow, but it will alway work itself out. Thought provoking

Anon — Interesting to read the various viewpoints. It would be interesting to know how long the people had been imprisoned — did their attitudes change for better or worse? Exhibition shows that truth can come from many sources.

D. Chief — I’m glad to see someone who thinks of the forgotten people. I’m also an artist and very often use humans and animals as my subjects, but this exhibit really gets to the heart of things.

Treena Woloski — Jail is an experience not to be taken lightly.

Laura J. McLeod — very emotional for me

Shannon Higdon — One’s soul is generally made up of one’s inner feeling. Something unknown to the human “eye”. In your art, Leslie, I have honestly been granted the rarity of seeing, hearing, smelling, and yes, shared in, the feeling of the souls of your subjects. Thank you. I am presently an inmate at BCCW. However, like all mankind I am a prisoner of this world! I make my own heavens and hells, and today you have helped me share in one more part of heaven.

Dusty — Matsqui/95 — People say what they feel. Too bad they can’t do what they say. I’m happy to have seen this exhibit… The views that all of these people have will keep me thinking for awhile. I’ve heard too many people say the same kind of things. Most were convincing. Most were telling a lie. It would be nice if it were true.

Quinn Alexander Falk (167331C) — What are we supposed to do? And who are we supposed to do it for? And when are we supposed to know if we’ve done it right? And what is right? All the people who apparently know stuff, who told them they were right, and who said that they were right? I have seen and studied several religions and modes of thought and talked to lots of humans, and none of them seem to know what essentially we are supposed to do. I need to know. I need to learn everything there is to know and then learn some more, since I have found no God or deity, (or) pagan religion that will serve my purpose. So what are we supposed to do?

Anita — Victoria — What was it that pulled me off the street and into your exhibit at Metropolitan? Whatever it was, I hope these forces call many others to see your works. I think you have effectively, in artistic form, documented the conflicts of human perception and thought which exist around the issue of imprisonment (both in prisons and in our own narrow-mindedness) in the province. And although (excitingly!) you have included opinions and ideas and prejudices and thoughts from all throughout the province, you touch on a sensitive issue which people everywhere encounter. I, like the social worker on the back wall, believe in the hope for human transformation through self-empowerment, and the testimonials from inmates are encouraging to us city-folk who think we have difficulties in our self-realization. At least we have freedom and the ability to seek out help.

Don Pierik — I am an absolute believer in human dignity. To me there is tremendous need to explore the depths of society to identify it. When many of these people talk about “finding themselves”, I believe it is a display of their God-installed identity… “Eternity in their hearts.” This exposes me to the reality of the prison system. In each individual portrayal of pain, hope, beliefs, judgements etc., I see the universal need humanity expressed…

Allison Sutherland — The faces are real, yet not. Many people need to see this expression of ”being human”. The bars need to be taken down - the show will start that process for some.

Caroline James — visual artist — There’s so much we’re afraid to talk about. The show has given us the opportunity to begin a dialogue by taking the fear and transforming it in the art. This inspires me in my own journey.

Harold Goldstein — househusband etc. — What is represented here is a manifestation of the various energies we put “out there” in our worlds… coming back for us to have a look, and be reminded of what’s important in life…relationships, families, fellow humans… not objects and power over (others).

John Hammond — I was touched by the writings of the many. It seems more public awareness is needed to sooth the souls of the masses! With this understanding our country would be an everlasting free spirited land. I feel that the problems in our country are all self oriented and that people have to learn to coincide and live together. We have a great nation that is slowly turning into a racist society! Why not measure our wants with what we really need to live and survive.This would solve almost every problem in Canada! We cannot undo what has been done in the past, but we can control our future destiny.

Russel Breitkreutz — Born again and truly free. Matsqui Institution — To be truly free we must love and forgive everyone, especially ourselves. I can see the human condition. People searching for happiness, peace and love in all the wrong places. With each failure and negative experience they fall further from their desires. Soon it becomes despair, hatred, death.

Charles Johnson — I know that going to jail is not that fun because when I was in Vancouver I went to jail a couple of times. The first time was for auto theft and B&E, but I signed a contract with my PO and got off on a warning with 40 community hours. My second time was for assault and bodily harm. But when the judge saw my P.O.R. she was impressed and I got 40 community hours, four months probation and some counselling shit. That’s all I got caught for. Now, enough about me, I find that the court system is not all that fair because most of the time, when people get sentencing, it also depends on the judge’s mood. I also think there should be a lot more wilderness camps so the inmates can learn skills and make money by not doing crime.

Chris Murray — powerful

Marianne Bianco — very sensitive

Pam Pitzman — It’s an effective way to make us think and feel about others who normally we forget.

Thor Sunde — I feel unsettled by this, but I think I should be - after all, complacency always seems to creep back again.

Danie Holonga — the art work inside inspired me a lot, reflecting the positive pathway to neutralize out our (?) on aboriginal cultural heritages.

Janet Walford — Thank you Leslie - and all those who participated with you to bring this exhibition to be. I’m struck by the power of life and grace amidst the pain and struggle in the journey which we all share. There’s a rich sense of blessing in this work.

Frances Barton — In viewing an exhibition like this I am forced to begin a search of my own soul — have I been too insensitive, too unaware, too remote from the realities which exist all around me - realities of injustice and prejudice where I hadn’t realized they exist or thought about - realities of goodness and truth within the hearts of many people whom I haven’t known or even tried to know? This dialogue with different people awakens a response in me to care more, to break through barriers (the bars are very significant) - to become involved! Thank you, Leslie, for all the sacrificial time and effort you have put into this show so that all of us who view it may have new perception and non-judgemental attitudes! We all have great worth in the sight of God.

Jacque — What a powerful statement. At times our justice system seems so dark. The use of colour seems to say there is hope as well.

Frank Muir — A superbly delicate statement of society which has challenged my social conscience.

Christine Anderson — I feel consolidated and inspired by the exhibit.

Caril Chasens — tracings of souls — faces transparent in the light

Johanna — This really hits hard! I loved it.

Terry Glavin (freelance journalist) — Great work. Hope you tour it!

Anon — There is no “them” and “us” — only an illusion propped up by the luck of the draw. The humanity, pain, love and joy are all part of the whole. When are we going to learn to do things better? Will we?

Brenda S. — I see it as a real sharing of values and perhaps a way of coming to understand one another.

Sam J. — It was interesting seeing some of the judges and cops that put us through pain and torture.

Morgan Teneyche — I found the pictures to be visually stimulating. The radiated feeling, compassion and hurt. If I could cry I probably would…

Jordi — The space that separates me from “THEM” diminished somewhat after seeing, reading, feeling the work.

Deanna Boylan — I loved the “feelings”, “vibes”, “energies” I experience when I’m surrounded in the art. Reading all the pieces really got me thinking about the “hole” picture of the system, the true underlying realities that so many don’t know about or don’t care to know.

Anon — My thoughts today really are about the victory we can have in Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.”

J. Leslie Ocol (?) — I am going to write some of the real feelings I have at this time. I’ve spent half of my entire life in and out of prison. I fear everyday of going back to my old philosophies. Trial and error is one of the best ways of learning. Now I feel I have changed enough that I can help achieve my inner peace by sharing some of my new philosophies. My hurt is coming to an end and I’m giving up my free time to instruct and counsel those who are in need. I plan to live my life to its fullest potential. This challenge is one I know I will be most happy to pursue.

Barb (?) — (This exhibit) shows that there are other parts to people than what they are labeled — whether that be a prisoner, judge, lawyer, prostitute etc. When people realize that we all are multi-faceted it helps them to be more forgiving of others.

David Brown — I know a few of the people who are the subject of your work and feel a blended sense of tragedy and hope from what you have depicted. Dana, who introduced me to you, and the young boy who worked for him are the essence of tragedy. If only they had listened to both you and to me it would not be so tragic and there would be some hope. Now, for them there is nothing. Your work has moved me.

Patricia — The first thought that comes is “My heart is full”. But the words are in Gitxsan.

Wendy and Craig — We are reminded, awakened to essential things. The words, the images — all this will stay with us.

Grace Hauser — After viewing again, I have to ask myself, “Who is the prisoner? Perhaps it’s me!”

Deanne McIndoe — Freedom comes with such a price — a price often taken for granted. The women in the show seem to communicate more light and positive results from their incarceration — much more than the men. Just an observation.

Clare — The times require trust… (the exhibit) created a means and space where quiet people have spoken.

J.B. — I hope it gets the community talking, sharing experiences rather than gleaning info from the media who are frequently just plain wrong.

Laurie Hill — The span of the subjects is obvious, but the underlying hope and healing emerges gradually.

Sue Mulholland — We all seem to have the ability to seek hope and goodness, and in spite of adversity, the human spirit can, and does, seem to prevail in the pursuit of goodness.

Judi Morris — The truth needed to be spoken.

Bill Tomlinson — Despite our circumstances we are all to be cherished. We need to be more empathetic to those who are imprisoned. Those who have expressed their thoughts and feelings have provoked deep thoughts within me.

Tandi (?) — I found, often, the image of the person I had from reading their story jarred with the colours or fullness of the painting. Especially when the colours jarred, this frightened me. When the image of the word coincided with the painting (especially the colours) this gave me peace.

Lynda — I stayed in the home of “Nick” in PG. Boy did we ever learn to keep our rooms tidy! She was tough, fair and a good cook. Dealt with inmates for 12 years (?) and clients when she got home. She musto’ had a good system eh?

Rick — guard. Matsui institution — It pisses me off that I’m always considered the bad guy. Things have changed. We don’t beat people up and push people around with the shields anymore. It’s not like I accept the stuff that the guys here have done to get inside here, but I respect that they’re human beings the same as me.

Janice Bright — Here are some of my thoughts on the penal system. I haven’t had any experience in the penal system yet. But I hope I don’t find out what it is like. I think it was a good idea what you did. So people know how they’re being cheated while they are doing time. That’s all I have to say.

Hadley Fowler (age 12) — I saw your painting show and I liked it. I liked the colours and the pictures. I feel sorry for the people in jail because they are probably nice. I feel bad for their kids.

David — Here are some of my ideas on the penal system. They should have all the governments burned if they lie. The police should die if they lie and cheat. They should do their job right. The should only put you in jail if you kill someone.

Karen Cain — a powerful integration of message and art

Julia Smith — It gives a lot to think about.

Michael (?) — great idea to let the people speak and use art exhibition for that

Todd — Who is on the inside? Who is on the outside? Are we prisoners of our minds? Our souls? Our bodies? Who is the system for? How do we deal with hate? Thanks for the questions. The power of this work will stay for a long time.

Olga Walker — A very inspiring show in painting and thoughts expressed.

Anon — well appreciated

Pam Zornow — Dear Leslie, I’ve only just seen you from time to time, your physical stature so fragile. It amazes me, your depth, your compassion and your understanding. You’ve shown the different faces of the judicial system as well as the people as a whole who make it up. Absolutely awesome.

Ruth – Thanks, Leslie, for the tap on the window. It will take some thoughtful digestion before a thoughtful reply comes to form.

John Fomele (?) — I saw and read a few fragments. Captured was the context of where crime and punishment fits into our society. I appreciated the full range of voices, from the retired businessman who reads between the lines of his newspaper to the inmates and their experiences of life inside. It’s a most wonderful portrait. And these voices are important if only to make us question those who hold steadfastly to the belief that if we just imposed stiff penalties on young offenders the world would be a better, safer, healthier place, albeit the jails a little fuller.

Suen Riemann — I definitely think it’s about time that people listened to BOTH sides of the story and stopped dealing with unusual people with cynicism and hypocritical hate. Excellent exhibit!!

D. Butt — I especially agree with Gerald Anderson, with rights go responsibilities. If more of us considered that before we committed any act there would be far fewer problems in our society. Re: exhibition — a TV interview/document that anyone can examine at own pace.

Karine P. — dynamic, lots to think about. There is no absolute truth.

Sharon Mason — I enjoyed your concept of both sides of the subject matter. We need to have both sides on such an important subject.

H.W. — I don’t know exactly how to describe how I feel about your artwork. I do know, though, that I will remember it clearly in my mind forever.

B.J. — Once again looks deceive. The face first, the soul second. When one is asked to do a specific job, listen weigh, believe, decide. THAT is the job. NOT to speak, debate, argue, convince another of what you want.

Anon — I agree. We cannot, must not trust. Our souls cry out saying ‚— I must trust. I will trust. I need to trust, but again we cannot, must not trust: So I trust (in you? In me?) I trust?

Judge Terry Shupe — Kamloops — Your insightful work reaches deep into the soul of what we do. You are to be commended for such remarkable, thought provoking work.

Ken McIntyre — I’m glad I finally had the chance to see your exhibit… As I cruised the exhibit and read the comments from people on both sides of the fence I seemed to put my hatred and prejudice against “The Man” on the back burner, as it were. Your work clearly shows that regardless of our opinion of judges, cops, social scientists and ordinary citizens, all of their statements and opinions are quite valid to a greater or lesser degree.
As I told you, I don’t necessarily agree with some of the statements of the “outsiders”, but I concede that these people have never, will never, walk the proverbial mile in my shoes. I wish there were some way to make them understand that we are not all predatory, homicidal pillocks or sex deviates. Any such efforts seem only to trigger paranoia or fuel arguments about who is right and who is wrong. Society, if real solutions are to be found, must abandon altogether the “good guy - bad guy” mentality and concentrate on the fact that we are all still human beings, that there is still much each of us can contribute to the community if we could be given the chance. I found your exhibit to be quite enlightening. Thanks for bringing your show to my jungle…

Leslie Black — I “recognize” many “voices” and “faces” from my years working inner city and on the reserve. You have captured much that has been true to my experience of the struggles of those on the margins, those caught into vicious cycles of fear/mistrust/violence/captivity/pain/hope/new life… The mural is very gripping. I felt it in my gut. I felt an urge to shield my young children’s eyes from it because it so vividly portrays realities of our world that I wish they didn’t have to grow into knowing. I want to protect their innocence, trust, openness, beauty. What you show is all too real! Colours — in some of the faces I was certain you have captured the auras, and their colours, of individuals in the moment. At some portraits it was so obvious to me that I gasped. I wonder if you have seen their auras, or sensed them consciously…

Rev. Russell Crossley — (The show) speaks with a wonderfully powerful message with all its continuity and discontinuity. Out of the anguish of some and the hope of others shines the face of grace and tender mercy.

Denene — What a story the pictures tell. Like the young inmate, I feel pulled by many emotions when I see the exhibit - especially the judge — such sadness.

Veronica Blake — We all can learn from this who share our society whether you are in jail or out of jail; “you are first and foremost a human being”, and we learn from that big first!

Pat O’Riley — As a woman who has spent time in Kingston Prison for Women, all I can say is thank you… thank you for caring, thank you for listening. Most of the women who I met in prison were not bad or evil, they were warm and loving — all they needed was for someone to let them know that they are worthy and wonderful human beings. We don’t need more prisons, we need more people who know how to love, to care, to have compassion… to listen to the silent and silenced voices. These voices have much to teach us…

(?) — The portraits are all individual (the definition of a portrait) and there are no community groups. Justice (not incarceration - which is community protection) but justice, is a community issue. With this collection of individual portraits there is the suggestion that all these people, and we ourselves, are in association, but not in community. At the same time this presentation invites us to become involved in the justice system in some significant way. Provocative.

Sandy Telford — NCAFPS, Quesnel — While reading these stories and info on the inmates I kept wondering about the spirit of all these people. There isn’t a place where you heal the spirit in a wholistic way in prison. I have personally met some of these people in jail and know some of them. There is another side to the art work and stories, this is the side of the victim. Everyone has forgotten about the victims, the families these people in jail have ruined. What about them? If they had a conference to voice their opinions, and you could draw their pain, hurt and anger and healing ways it would be a good comparison. Compassion for both sides.

Keith Naziel — Here are some of my opinions on the penal system for young offenders. Put them in a camp where they will get help like counselling, job training skills and teach little more about law than what they think they know about it. Who knows, one may become a short time law (breaker).

Gloria Green — Anyway, the court system; they could maybe speed things up and let the young offenders be first so that way the judge is in a good mood. As for crime, it does not pay, but if you do things right maybe things could turn around for the good. What does throwing people in jail do, what does it accomplish? Community work is stupid; who wants to go and work for some stranger, I sure don’t.

Bruce (?) — a subject that needed to be expressed

Tricia Humeniuck — gives you an understanding of how life is on the other side

Markus Koelnberger — radical, awesome and cool

Dennis Contain — The prisoners are trying to learn about themselves. The others don’t question their own lives, perhaps they should.

Anon — very different

Anon — excellent, very expressive, well received — our second visit

Paul Mulholland — Leslie: if you ever get a chance contact Daryl Goll with Cariboo Action Training Society in Prince George. They operate a wilderness camp for young offenders. The program is nationally known and has been featured on CBC news as a program that works.
So, after we hear about the failures and what doesn’t work.

Hannah Lin — I can feel a ripple of voices streaming from these beautifully compassionate portraits. Despite the pain here, I feel a sense of calm too - all these people with so much understanding forming a larger picture of something that we usually face with frustration. Thank you and them - their eloquence and you bringing them all together. There is much more to be said…. 6 billion people on the planet now.

Carole H — You’ve shed lots of light and colour on a heavy subject. Well done! It should be in a book to give people a better chance to digest it.

Karen Cain — artist Vancouver — Leslie, I hope to meet you while I am in Hazelton. I thought I was jaded after being immersed in art - art shows - art education - art politics, but your carefully installed show has swept that aside. I hope there are plans to send this show across the country. It deserves a wide audience. The technique and media not only bring the multifaceted people to life but raise further questions than even the text allows. It is deeply felt and provocative. Thank you.

John Bender — I’ve ben in jail in Ca. It ain’t no better there either.

Anon — Freedom to think, to be who you want to be - seems like many “good” people have less freedom than they really know. But some of these “bad” people come into conflict because their freedom doesn’t fit the norm.

Alan — It can only do good to keep this subject before us all.

T.B. — It is sad, so sad, that some people don’t believe more in “rehab”. Maybe if some of us had been helped when we were young we wouldn’t be here today. I know that it is within ourselves to help ourselves, but God, we need society’s help as well. Time for change.

Vicki B. — the statement has been made!

Maila Barnwell — I don’t like how in the judicial system many people just want to punish others instead of helping them. It seems they just want to punish people to feel good about themselves.

Glenn Ryzwar — Apt. Concrete. Search for mood. Contrast. Warm and cool tone. But… What about the illusions? The slight of hand? Thankful for your efforts, yet you took only what you were given! There are patterns - your colours could begin to intuit that. More is to be achieved, the best is yet to reveal itself. Yes, denial runs deeper than reason illustrates. People are too secure in their resources - where is the avenging truth of say, Wilde’s de profundis? My respect for you is great - inadvertently you awakened my knowledge of our tragedy - all of our authority which fails, our wills which fail beneath a superior accident. I too will continue to search.

(?) — Great sensitivity for the feelings of those unfortunate people who are imprisoned.

Renee M. Webster — The whole justice system is certainly in need of an overhaul, and maybe by shows like this people will ask for improvements to be made.

Joan C. Jakes — Some thoughts after viewing the exhibition: Having taken in a young child of three years, who had been a ward of the Alberta Government since prenatal birth to a teenaged mother, during which time he had been placed in 13 different foster homes and a hospital 5 times, suffering from nutritional anemia and pneumonia, I am well acquainted with the trauma that can occur in people’s lives and the resulting sickness and anger. With proper help, my husband and I were able to take care of most of his physical problems, but the damage to his brain cells and his psyche was impossible to cure in spite of all the assistance we could muster. When he died at the age of twenty five years, following many years of trauma and delinquency, during which time he had been diagnosed as suicidal and homicidal, it was a relief to know that he and society were finally safe. Whenever I hear of a serial killer, rapist etc., I wonder what could have happened to them in their early lives. Obviously their need is not punishment. They do however, need to be kept apart from the rest of society and one would like to know that they were somewhere beautiful, with the necessary boundaries and with people in charge who could understand and meet their needs. My work in prisons as a volunteer has helped me to realize that many people incarcerated were themselves early victims who in turn victimize others. For the severely damaged I believe that they are unfit to return to society. For the less severely damaged it would seem, especially if they are young, that a proper program of intervention, during which they are given opportunities to get to know the people they had hurt, and thereby make some restitution, would be more likely to result in rehabilitation. Certainly prisons as they now function are not equipped to heal.

Frederick B Watt — Compassion and courage illumines every frame.

Rosalie Goldstein — social worker — Moving, powerful, painful. I feel so hopeless — yet I keep trying.

Mark Clarkson — Thank you for the beautiful and gentle way you have publicly danced with private fears.
The work helps me see the shadows of the bars surrounding my world. Bars forged with fear. And yet I know I can find freedom here now.

John Havens — “Mental Health and the Law” Psychiatry Conference — Our sessions were overseen by the very real people in your paintings. I was enriched, inspired and awed by the responsibility to endeavour to understand and respect all.

Diana McDougal — BCSS Quesnel — Meaningful; a lesson in understanding for humanity.

L. Bishop — Matsqui Institution
Alone I cry
Alone I live
The pain I feel
Will never give
So to pass the time
I Sit and stare
Hoping someone
Will try to care
Just for me

Anne — I’m working with some of the students from the First Nations high school. On one of our classes we visited your show. The students were quite taken by it, especially those who have already been in contact with the correctional system.

Nicole Morgan — From what I read in your book of opinions from the people in jail, it appears that it all depends on the past and on whoever is in jail. I have always believed there is a place for everyone and that’s where they should be.

Joceylynne Hamilton — I saw your art show last week, and here are some of my ideas. First, about the court system. I have been to court before and it is not a good experience. It was scary. I think the reason it was scary is because all eyes are on you. When lots of people are staring at me it makes me very nervous. It seems the sentence depends on the judge’s mood.