Letters and Reviews

Leslie,

It was a pleasure having you into the Inst. The time that you spent on this display really shows. I hope many people get the chance to view this and take the time to read everything and observe the meaning. I thank you and hope I have the chance to sit down and talk on the street.

Take care and keep the faith
Barry Fry
Chairman I/C Committee
Matsqui Inst.

May 15, 1994
Dear Leslie:

I’m writing this letter to encourage you to show Fear In Fragment in other venues.

We’ve had a large number of people (including several school groups) come specifically to see the exhibition, so it has been very good for our attendance figures.

But, the surprising thing to me, is the number of people who have been coming to the office after viewing it, and who want to know if it is going to travel, or where it is going to travel, and to say it should be seen all across Canada. Many people are visibly moved.

In the fifteen years I’ve spent doing this job, I cannot think of any other exhibition which has drawn this type of comment, or had this sort of impact.

So, on behalf of the people who have taken the time to tell me they think it should travel, I’m passing their wishes along to you.

I hope you will be able to arrange other places for the exhibit to go. Good luck!

Sincerely
Eve Hope
Director
Northwestern National Exhibition Centre

May 1994

To whom it may concern:

This letter is about Leslie Barnwell’s latest exhibition - an installation with portraits entitled Fear In Fragment which I would like to recommend.

Physically, the exhibit is of excellent quality: portraits in watercolour with paraffin resist; museum standard framing; installation mural done in torn paper and watercolour with paraffin resist; encapsulated exhibit labels on paper hand-made by the artist.

But the most interesting aspect of the exhibit is its powerful emotional impact. The artist has allowed the people whose portraits are in the exhibition, to make statements which are an important part of the installation. It is these statements which have moved so many visitors.

I recommend Fear In Fragment to you, knowing that if you find space in your exhibition schedule for it, you will not regret doing so. It is well thought out, well put together, and capable of touching people emotionally. It is an exhibit you shouldn’t miss.

Sincerely
Eve Hope
Director
Northwestern National Exhibition Centre

Painter’s Portraits put a Face to Justice in BC

(excerpt from column - March 31, 1995)

… Today at Abbotsford, in a most unusual and troubling work, [Barnwell] turns her illuminating eye to the human landscape. It settles on the least among us, the prison people we often prefer to dismiss as trash, scum, contemptible dregs.
Barnwell requires us to meet the activators of our prejudices, confronts us with the human face of our generalized fears. She doesn’t permit us to evade our ethical relationship with the people we imprison. Nor are they permitted to escape their relationship with the society which constrains their freedom.

The … series of 53 portraits and a large mural use the British Columbia judicial system as a context in which to explore the idea that the barriers we build around each other define our own freedom and that our fears give shape to our prejudices…

Barnwell spent three hours interviewing and drawing each individual. At the end of a session her subjects gave formal statements which appear with each portrait. Statements receive equal weight and the exhibition passes no judgement save on human beings’ inherent right to be treated with dignity.

The images draw attention to the humanity involved. And to our own unpunished crime, reducing people we’ve never met to the stereotypes that grant permission to curse and despise.

“The work does what papers, reports, commissions and newspaper articles cannot,” observed Judge Carlie Trueman after seeing it. “It makes us pause and reflect.”

Stephen Hume
Columnist
For the Vancouver Sun

Beyond Bars: Fragments of Fear from the Justice System

(excerpt from column - September 19, 1995)

The gallery curator had never seen anything like the reaction to Leslie Barnwell’s exhibition.

Some were moved to tears by the Victoria-born artist’s 44 watercolour portraits, mural and wall of black bars installed down the centre of the room.

Any who came last year to the Northwestern National Exhibition Centre in Hazleton BC sought out staff to tell them that the show, called Fear in Fragment, should be seen all across Canada.

“I tried to encourage Leslie right away to have it circulated,” says Eve Hope, centre director…

For … the next two weeks [Fear in Fragment can be seen in] the Evans Hall in Metropolitan United Church, 907 Pandora St.

What you will see is portraits of men and women from three fragments of society: prisoners, professionals working in the justice system, and the public at large, plus written statements provided by virtually all of them….

To reach the prisoners and read their words, you have to place yourself behind the bars. You’re in a category, physically defined and separate.

Which is a useful departure point for considering Barnwell’s invitation to explore a concern which transcends the judicial system.

“I am concerned about the barriers we surround one another with,” says the former teacher. “We tend to make decisions and come to conclusions about others with very limited information.”

At that point explanation stops and categorization occurs, “which is fine if you want to label a bunch of shoes in a shoe store or determine what’s in the grocery aisles. But it’s not an appropriate way to deal with people.”

Deborah Pearce
Columnist
For the Victoria Times Colonist

Mr. Robert Lusk
Warden
Kent Penitentiary
Aggasiz, BC

Dear Mr Lusk,

I am writing in reply to your request for a more formal application to enter Kent for my drawing project.

When complete, this art exhibition will show in art galleries in BC and hopefully other parts of Canada. Other venues may also receive the work - conferences etc.

I am drawing prisoners, professionals in the system (eg. Police, lawyers, judges, prison guards) and common citizens. Underneath each portrait will hang a statement provided by the subject of the work. Each person’s statement is given equal dignity in the show. Many points of view will be expressed. Most, so far, have been positive and uplifting.

I have drawn 42 people to date (including men and women in other institutions). I need 6 more male inmates. I would like the opportunity to broaden the perspective of the show by drawing men in maximum security. I submit my request to you for permission to draw men within Kent’s inmate population.

The process takes from 2 - 3 hours for each person. The conversation is confidential. I reveal in my show only what the person gives me for public exposure.

Unless I can make alternate arrangements I have only one day available to me, either November 19 or 22. Thus I could only draw 3 or 4 men at Kent. If you would like to be included in the show to present your perspective as the warden of Kent I’d be honoured to draw you as well. This would likely mean one less inmate.

The scheduling, of course, would be arranged by you according to the regular constraints of Kent’s daily agenda. To arrange 2 hours for each person would probably be adequate.

I hope this information is sufficient. Please don’t hesitate to call for clarification. For security information: my full name is Olive Leslie Barnwell, bd July 16, 1949 - Victoria BC.
Due to plane reservation regulations I would need your reply in the morning 4 days prior to the drawing date.

Thank you for your attention and your willingness to present this for me.

Sincerely,
Leslie Barnwell

P.S. I have enclosed samples of the preliminary drawings of 2 inmates. The woman is drawn contour style. The man is a simple line drawing. Usually I draw from 3 - 5 drawings during an interview using both styles.

This letter was sent to several galleries by the Fear in Fragment Committee consisting of Val Napoleon, Karen Erickson and Richard Overstall. Their help in activating the exhibition process and providing me with support was invaluable.

To whom it may concern,

Fear in Fragment, a creation of artist Leslie Barnwell, is a thematically linked set of 44 paintings and accompanying mural. Fear in Fragment uses the British Columbia judicial system as a context to explore how our fears define our prejudices and how barriers we build define our ideas of freedom.

The exhibit is now concluding a successful premier showing at the Northwest National Exhibition Centre in Hazleton. Our committee was formed to assist and support Leslie to show Fear in Fragment in other venues in BC and later in other parts of Canada. These venues include prisons, art galleries, and conferences of legal officials. Thus far we have received confirmed invitations from the Burnaby Correctional Centre (for this fall) and the Prince George Correctional Centre (for this summer).

We are providing the enclosed package about Fear in Fragment for your consideration for an exhibition in your gallery. The package provides an overview of the show and describes the exhibition and the creative process. Slides, photographs, an artist’s statement, and Leslie’s curriculum vitae are included.
We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Val Napoleon

Dear Leslie:

Attached is a tentative agenda for the one day workshop, Dialogue In the Pen. Also attached for your completion are two screening forms. Please complete and return them to me as soon as possible as I must send them to Ottawa so that National Headquarters can process your enhanced reliability security clearance. This process may take two weeks.

As per our telephone conversation we have reserved the social development Centre from January 11, 1995 to January 16, 1995 inclusively. The plan is to store the art on the 11th, set up on the 12th, display for the staff and the workshop on the 13th, display for the general inmate population on the 14th and 15th and dismantle and remove the display on the 16th.

Again for your signature is a waiver indicating that you recognize that you are presenting your art display at your own risk and that the Correctional Service Canada is not responsible for any loss or damage.

Thank you for your time and effort. You were well received by our students in the creative writing class and all are looking forward to seeing your work.

Thank you,
Gordon Tanner
Chief Education, Training
& Employment,
Matsqui Institution