Somebody’s Daughter began running art workshops with women at Fairlea Women’s Prison in the late 1980’s. To this day, weekly art workshops continue with the women at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Melbourne and Tarrengower Women’s Prison in Central Victoria.

Women come to the art room with no preconceptions. They are often low in confidence, have experienced trauma and have little, if any, formal training in visual art. However, they come with a wealth of life experience and stories inherent in cultural diversity.

Once the women overcome their initial fear and self doubt, they enter a world of creativity and a blossoming self determination. There is a positive, focussed, almost meditative energy in the art room, as the women approach their work with palpable enthusiasm and commitment. The deep satisfaction and sense of achievement the women experience can be life changing and in some cases, life saving.

Annually there is an exhibition showcasing women’s artwork in tandem with a theatre production at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, open to invited audiences including friends and families of the women.

Their artwork communicates a multitude of themes, voicing the women’s humanity, vulnerability and dreams. The work is powerful, sometimes raw, often beautiful and always a testimony to resilience.

This exhibition at fortyfivedownstairs is a selection of artworks collected over the many years of Somebody’s Daughter’s work with women in Victorian prisons.