Kurrah Mia gallery provides an outlet for Indigenous prisoners by selling artwork helping families on the outside

Aboriginal arts and tour company Kurrah Mia is helping provide an outlet for Indigenous prisoners at Albany Regional Prison by selling their artwork through the Kurrah Mia gallery. Kurrah Mia co-owner and Noongar man Ron Grey said 40 per cent of profits from the sale of the prisoners’ artwork went to their families on the outside. “I was lecturing at the prison three years ago when I was introduced to one of the prison artists,” he said. “I said I had a gallery I was setting up and would like to have some art to sell, so I got in contact with the partners and it started from there.” The prisoners’ partners collect the completed paintings from the prison and take them to Kurrah Mia’s Middleton Loop store, where they can be hung for sale. “They support us, we support them, the money goes straight back into their families and it keeps our shop full of art,” Mr Grey said. “We think it’s a good thing because it shows another side to someone who has a talent — whether the prison brought it out, I don’t know, but they may have already had it before then. “We are trying to work with the community and we don’t judge, we just look at the art.” A partner of one of the prison artists said it helped the men reconnect with their culture. “My partner has been painting since he was a child, he’s expressing himself through art and it’s helping him cope,” she said. “He wants the world to know his culture and stories.” The prison artist draws on knowledge and stories from the Wirlomen Bardak and Goreng tribes of his family line. He uses traditional native animal symbols and dots to retell stories passed down to him by his grandfather and father. Kurrah Mia has sold at least six of his traditional Aboriginal paintings. “It’s important because it’s providing for his children even though he’s in jail and it’s a big part of him staying on track when he gets out,” the artist’s partner said. “His dream is to own his own art gallery and mix it in with stories and dances to show the world, to teach the younger generation so that their culture stays alive, because a lot is lost. “I think the prison would benefit from more help from the community towards helping Indigenous artists. “It’s a good way for these young Indigenous men to not reoffend again because they’re reconnecting to culture.”