These pages document textile work created by inmates at the west wing of Auckland’s Paremoremo prison. These include a series of fabric panels made specifically for the new Auckland Hospital building.

For over ten years the men’s prison has run a weekly art programme, tutored by Robyn Hughes and led by inmates from the West Wing Art Komiti*. Fabric artist Jean Clarkson worked with the group from 2001 to 2004.

A specialist in teaching practical design for employment outcomes, Jean established a fabric design course at Auckland University of Technology in the 1980s. At the West Wing she taught a variety of techniques from block and mono-printing to stencilling and screen printing on fabric.

She found many inmates took readily to the process. “Paremoremo has always had great carvers. We were able to combine several techniques; some of them carved blocks which were transferred to screens. The art group printed T-shirts and cloth pieces that were then given as gifts to whanau and visitors”.

When the opportunity arose, the inmates’ Art Komiti decided to respond to the call for public art works for the new Auckland Hospital. The group produced fifteen large fabric panels, with many combining traditional Maori and Pacific design elements. They also produced carvings, and paintings in Robyn Hughes class.

During the course of the project, Jean brought other artists out to the prison. These included students from the AUT fabric printing course, and Pacific artists, Andy Leleisi'uao and John Ioane, through the Tautai Contemporary Pacific Arts Trust.

They also produced formal lava lava for Mika’s Toro Toro performing group’s 2003 Japanese tour.

The Art Komiti hosted a visit from a South African delegation looking at art in prisons and provided a hands-on printing session for delegates, who took samples of the printed cloth back with them.

This programme offered a practical and exciting result for prisoners, enabling them to create impressive art works and providing possible employment pathways in the future.

Jean would like to acknowledge the support of Robyn Hughes, Jacqueline Connor and Mark Lynds from west wing education area. She would especially like to awhina the role of the Art Komiti for their creativity, hard work and determination.

*Komiti = committee