We are in the midst of holding 6 introductory retreats at the Lowell Reception Center: a maximum security prison for women with many innovative programs that is located near Lowell, in Marion County Florida. A group twelve JDB alums have been working with an equal number of specially selected prison participants. These ladies were selected from some 200 interested inmates who came to a presentation we made at Lowell in July. Each week a group of 4 rotating JDB alums meet at Lowell and carry in and out of the prison the special materials that are needed for each week’s presentation.
On the first day we met with our inmates, we gave each of them a journey daybook and the art supplies they will need to work on their pages. Earlier in the summer, several of us met at Susan’s house for lunch and to make the beautiful books with handmade paper covers and the special Zerkall printmaking paper that our newest JDB participants now use. To pay for these materials, we received a most generous grant from Satchel’s Pizza, in Gainesville, as well as several anonymous private donations. During our first week, on August 19th, we presented the Introduction to making Journey Daybooks to our eager inmates. During the second week, they were introduced to Drawing in the Journey Daybook. In the last 4 weeks, we will present the units of Writing, Painting, Collage, and Design of the Page. Already, those of us who have been to Lowell are experiencing a strong sense of solidarity with these lovely, appreciative ladies who are learning to make journey daybooks during their private journeys that describe journeys of sight, sound, feelings, thoughts, and memories.
More to come . . .
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