Several ex-felons suddenly walked upon a group of mostly white folks who were viewing classical art in an open-spaced gallery at the Pulitzer Foundation for Arts.
The invasion of the gallery mavens’ personal space painted various expressions on their faces. Concern. Discomfort. Rejection. Fear.
But when the former prisoners, along with former substance abusers and homeless Vietnam veterans, started singing and performing, the art patrons’ negative expressions gave way to amazement.
The personal space invaders were performers in Staging Old Masters: Former Prisoners Perform at the Pulitzer, an innovative project in conjunction with the exhibition Ideal [Dis-] Placements: Old Masters. The Old Masters paintings are 14th to 18th century European works.
“It helps to change perceptions and stereotypes when you see them perform these scenes that are based on the Old Masters paintings,” said Lisa Harper Chang, manager of community engagement, a joint position she serves for the Pulitzer and Brown School of Social Work at Washington University.
“Working with them speaks to my fundamental belief that everyone is good and can achieve,” Harper Chang said.
“It isn’t about the things that they’ve run into, it’s about finding the right tools to unlock the potential in all of us.”
The exhibit is a collaboration between the Pulitzer, Saint Louis Art Museum and Harvard Art Museum. The Staging Old Masters concept is the brainchild of Harper Chang and Matthias Waschek, director of the Pulitzer. They reached out to the Employment Connection, Agnes Wilcox (founder of Prison Performing Arts) and Washington University Performing Arts chair Rob Henke.
It was Wilcox who suggested that the actors walk into the audience’s space.
“We offered a glimpse of what ex-offenders and homeless vets look like – that they’re not scary at all and able to overcome their circumstances,” Wilcox said.
“And it’s hard to be scared when someone is singing.”
‘First job I ever had’
Travis Dean is an ex-offender in the St. Louis City Drug Court program.
“It shows that there’s more to us than our backgrounds – we’re capable of doing so much,” he said of the opportunity.
Dean, who now wants to pursue acting, said his eyes were opened to art.
“Usually, I wouldn’t even look at art, but it gave me a whole new consciousness on art and what it means,” he said.
In one scene, Dean and Reuben Stewart rapped in front of a painting of Saint Sebastian, the Biblical saint killed with arrows for spreading Christianity.
“Saint Sebastian, what’s up? Don’t got no drink in his cup,” the duo rapped.
Dean said, “Sebastian’s story inspired me because he knew he would die, but he spread the word for God anyway because his faith was so strong.”
The project also was intended to help the former prisoners with employment skills – and it did.
“It helped me to articulate my words more and showed me how to be on time for jobs,” said Dean, age 20.
“And this was really the first job I ever had – a good thing that goes on my resume.”
All of the actors were paid for rehearsals and performances.
Dean, who grew up without a father figure, said employers don’t know the potential they are missing by judging him on his past mistake.
“It stresses me, because I did what I did in my past and now I’m trying to put all my time and energy into positive things,” he said.
From her social work background, Harper Chang, knows this is a critical issue. “If people don’t change their perspective on (ex-offenders) and give them a chance, they may re-offend,” she said.
Aaron Margolis, chief development officer of Employment Connection, said there is a payoff for employers if they take the chance.
“A lot of employers say that ex-offenders are the best workers to have – they are committed about really getting a second chance at life,” Margolis said.
Potential employers who want to go recruiting at a performance of Staging Masters are sure to discover one thing.
“The value wasn’t just in who the actors are, but it’s a great performance,” Margolis said. “Anyone who views it will be impressed .”
Performances of Staging Masters are free and have been extended until Sunday, May 10. Performances days and times are 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.