It was literally a meeting of the minds when artists Mrs. Belinda Tartaglia and Mr. Christopher Grimes discovered they were thinking along the same lines: namely, to organise a major exhibition of art by inmates of Bermuda's prison system.

Mrs. Tartaglia's inspiration came from viewing a similar exhibition of prison art in London, where the standard was high and the works fascinating.

"Why,'' she thought, "couldn't Bermuda have something similar?'' Meanwhile, Mr. Grimes, who is the Works Operations Manager at HM Prisons, knew that art was being taught in the prison, and indeed he had assisted in this role himself.

When Mrs. Tartaglia approached him to donate some unwanted art materials for the programme, the creative sparks flew.

Starting off modestly, last year's exhibition at City Hall featured works by inmates of Westgate Correctional Facility only.

"It was intended to be a small, pilot show to gauge public reaction, which was very, very positive, and we also noticed a difference with the inmates as well,'' Mr. Grimes relates, "so we decided to do it again this year on a larger scale.'' Thus it is that, this year, inmates from the entire prison system -- Westgate, the Co-Ed Correctional Facility and the Prison Farm -- will be participating in the new show, entitled Timely Reflections II, and a wide variety of works is being prepared.

"We are going to have drawings, paintings, sculpture, furniture, jewellery, crafts and calligraphy -- anything creative that they do,'' Mr. Grimes says.

"There will also be some poetry, which we are framing and hanging. Each person has his or her own way of expressing their creativity, and we are going to show it all.'' Thanks to the generosity of Frameworks and Heritage House, who donated mattes and second-hand frames, all of the drawings and paintings will be properly mounted for display, and the scheme has also won the enthusiastic support of the Bermuda Arts Council and the corporate community.

If the duo seem excited about the forthcoming show, it is perhaps nothing compared to the reaction from the inmates themselves.

"Their response has been great, and some of them have been quite prolific,'' Mr. Grimes enthuses. "The organisers of the show have been amazed at the quantity and quality of the work coming out.'' Mr. Grimes also has high praise for the way in which the inmates successfully completed the paperwork formalities and met the deadline for submitting their art. In fact, he said, preparing for the exhibition had had a salutary effect on their morale and well-being.

"We feel it has been a good exercise, and not only in a creative sense,'' he said. "Certainly, the morale, sense of dedication, and enthusiasm in preparing for the exhibition has been outstanding.'' Noting that the inmates' desire to participate this year has been "overwhelming'', Mr. Grimes says some have been preparing for the new exhibition since the last one closed.

"Our hope is that, year over year, more and more inmates will participate,'' he notes.

Three inmates interviewed for this feature, all of whom are serving long sentences for serious crimes, had their own views on the show.

Inmate A, a furniture maker, says that while he has always loved art from his school days, it was "an old-timer'' who actually taught him "the gift of furniture-making''.

"I became like him, and developed his creative craftsmanship,'' the man explains. "Since then I have taken an International Correspondence School course in art, and it has inspired me to be creative. My long-term plan is to build furniture for myself.'' Inmate B, a sculptor and carver, says he first became interested in carving "after watching some of the excellent work the guys around me in prison were producing''.

In preparing for this show, the man says he has has learned that, "despite many obstacles, I have found you can work hard to overcome them''.

Inmate C, an artist who also participated in last year's show, says he follows his heart when it comes to subject matter.

"If it is a subject that uplifts me, then I'll feed on that.'' While he likes to create drawings as gifts for his friends and family, the man says he also does it "to show them and those who are concerned with my well-being that I am dealing with my circumstance in a positive manner''.

Indeed, Mr. Grimes stresses that the purpose of the exhibition is not to show what inmates can do, but rather to show some of the positive things that are happening within the prison system.

Nor is its purpose to provide a revenue-earner for inmates through the sale of their work. In fact, prison rules forbid this.

"However, some inmates have asked if they can sell their work, with the proceeds going to designated family members or dependents, and we are allowing that this year,'' he says.

For her part, Mrs. Tartaglia is delighted that the concept of the show has proved such a success all 'round.

"I think it is good to let people see what the prisoners can do,'' she says.

"If you can reach a mind, that is good. It is all about self-respect and self-esteem. I am not trying to save the world, but I figure if you can build on self-respect and self-esteem it may help the inmates to feel better about themselves in some small way when they go back into the community.'' Commissioner of Prisons, Mr. Edward Dyer, is already on record as being pleased with the concept, and the positive effect it has had on inmates, and on behalf of the Prison Service Mr. Grimes expresses appreciation to the Bermuda Society of Arts for providing the venue for the show.

While Prison rules forbid the inmate-artists from attending the exhibition in person, they won't miss out altogether.

"We are taping a video of the entire show and also taking photographs, so they will get to see what the public sees,'' Mr. Grimes assures.

Pencil studies: Reggae king Bob Marley (top) and `Child with Rose', two of the works gracing Timely Reflections II.

Photos by Arthur Bean Getting it together: Part-time Westgate art teacher, Mr. Lester Harnett (top), shows off a cedar sculpture created by an inmate. (Above), exhibit organisers (left and centre) Mrs. Belinda Tartaglia and Chris Grimes join Lester Harnett in surveying some of the works for tonight's official opening.