From Over the Wall

'From Over The Wall'

For the last 10 years, on a bi-monthly basis Wakefield has been the home of the Artwalk. On the last Wednesday, every other month, businesses and other venues across the city open for an evening of visual art exhibitions, workshops, live music and performances. A wide range of businesses choose to be part of this alternative night out from cafes to accountancy firms, and art studios to churches and the cathedral.

'From Over  the Wall'

The purpose of the exhibition was to bring the voice of the prisoners out to the public, in order to challenge some of the stereotypes people may have about prison and prisoners. We also felt it was important to take the voice of the public back into the prison to show those who submitted work that people were interested and attended the event.

2019 - 'What if..'

Our second 'From Over the Wall' Exhibition was even bigger and better!

This years theme was intentionally more open to encourage creative freedom and  autonomy.

2018 - 'Community'

Our first 'From Over the Wall' exhibition on the theme of community received over 30 art and creative writing submissions.

On the evening itself, we had live readings of some of the poems to bring them to life in addition to all the work being on display.

Visitors were invited to vote for their favourite pieces of work and give feedback to the artists and poets. 

    • Communicate

    Prisoner Poet HMP Wakefield

    Communicate before it's too late
    and everyone falls away.
    Dip fingers and thumbs into Narcissi's' lake,
    be left with nothing to say;
    A forest cold, a forest bare a
    reality left behind.
    Does the path of our progress lead
    to solipsistic minds.

    To places fair, to places sweet, to
    virtual pleasure machines? or
    Open windows onto new vistas and
    brand new social scenes?
    Oh I love you and you love me yet
    our minds will never touch,
    mediated by bodies, psychic worries
    and now even more stuff.

    Protective buttons like children's mittens
    keep me safe inside, to
    catalogue my likes and hates
    from written within my hide.
    Like a watcher behind a screen or
    subject in a dream
    I'm not really here to hear
    The screams of suffering.

    (That a community could be buffering)
    Caused by belief in something
    or other, God, ego, money, power but
    Not in one another like
    A Buddhist Bodhisattva
    Unconditional lover, where
    I don't need to call no one brother.
    And from this seed community will flower;
    A fruit not yet grasped at, conceited,
    pressed, printed, typed or tweeted.

    No Ball Games

    Prisoner Poet HMP Wakefield

    We used to kick a ball about
    Or play cricket in the street
    Couldn't afford to buy posh trainers
    Tattered shoes were on our feet.
    We used gates for our goalposts
    Wickets made from dustbin lids
    We had such fun in those days
    Back when we were kids.
    When a ball went in a garden
    We'd plead 'please give it back'
    But sometimes they'd be nasty
    And burst it with a tack.
    Now and then we'd get too noisy
    Driving neighbours round the bend
    They'd shout..., 'sod off you little buggers
    Go play down your own end!'
    Times back then were happy
    But change had to come
    When the fun police came roaming
    And filled our lives with glum.
    For the council got high and mighty
    They shot us down in flames
    When they filled our towns with posters
    Stating clearly, NO BALL GAMES!

    Define Community

    Prisoner Poet HMP Wakefield

    A community is people who come together to form a unity.
    With peace, love, integrity and honesty.
    A damaged community invites hostility.
    A united community invites tranquility.
    From smiles and frowns.
    To ups and downs.
    True champions get up off the ground
    After being knocked down.
    With the determination to fight another round.
    A community merges together
    Like birds of a feather
    To deal with problems, issues and pressure
    Combining together
    To form a bond
    That is unbreakable
    Indestructible
    The bond is so strong.
    A community of solidarity
    Feels the pain of each other's tragedy
    A society with a broken community
    Only generates hatred between humanity
    The definition of community is people who come together
    To form a unity.

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