By Margaret Wright
The Santa Fe New Mexican
SANTA FE, N.M. — A flurry of preparations in a cavernous warehouse on N.M. 14 just south of Santa Fe resemble those for any other fine arts and craftsmanship exposition.
There’s the scent of fresh paint and sawdust from workers repairing sections of walls where goods will be displayed. Another crew unpacks boxes of painstakingly fashioned goods: hand-carved wood figurines, intricately beaded rosaries, woven rugs, paper flowers arranged in paper vases, finely wrought metalwork, an array of freshly varnished furniture.
The difference here? The warehouse is on the property of the state penitentiary, and all the items for sale were created by inmates from 11 prisons.
Some of the artists themselves will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday to meet with buyers from the public during the second Penitentiary of New Mexico Inmate Craftsmanship and Trades Fair, hosted by the state Corrections Department.
The first such event in October raised almost $17,000, with about 400 inmates participating, the department staff said. Anna Martinez, acting director of the department’s corrections industries, has been watching goods arrive from all corners of the state, and she says she expects this second expo to be even bigger.
“Part of the picture is that we have an exciting program for inmates, but part of the bigger picture is that they’re giving back to their communities, and they’re taking ownership for their actions,” she said.
Martinez said just over half of the revenue generated by sales at the fair is deposited into accounts inmates can use to purchase food and additional arts and crafts supplies. Another small percentage flows into special accounts inmates designate for a family member.
The remaining 35 percent gets divided between a fund under the Crime Victims Reparations Commission, savings accounts to help inmates pay for housing upon their release, and funds for vocational programming at each prison.
Martinez said she received word from the warden of the Otero County prison that its inmates contributing work to the fair opted to donate their proceeds to restitution. Inmates at that prison are convicted sex offenders, and not permitted to attend the fair where inmates sell their works to the general public.
Other inmates also help prepare the warehouse for the event. Informational tables are hosted by two inmates from each prison selected by wardens and correctional staff members based on their good behavior and knowledge of how the works were created.
Martinez said Secretary of Corrections Gregg Marcantel is an advocate for prison programming like the craftsmanship and trades fair because of far-ranging benefits. He was inspired to initiate the event after visiting the Angola Prison Rodeo at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, an event that also includes an arts and crafts fair.
“A lot of our offenders were violent at one time,” Martinez said. “When they transition from violence to patience to creativity to artistic talent to ownership, it can make the prison a safer place.”
Plus, participants derive self-worth and pride from producing high-quality work and gain entrepreneurial and life skills, she said.
Alex Tomlin, spokeswoman for the Corrections Department, said the average inmate in New Mexico enters prison with less than a high school education.
“What we have found for us is that sometimes vocational training is the best,” Martinez said. “We can work with our community and get them right back into jobs where they can sustain themselves and make a living.”