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| Charlotte White |
For about the past 10 years, the Reverend Charlotte White
has split her work week by serving two very different communities: the
multi-denominational residents of Whitney Center and the female prisoners at
the Chrysalis Community at York Correctional Institution.
This week, White was able to bring the two communities, and
her two missions, together. The female prisoners with whom she works as the
Niantic, Conn., prison’s chaplain produced artwork depicting the Stations of
the Cross for Holy Week, and now the colorful pieces—assembled with tissue
paper and glue—are on display in the Hamden, Conn., community’s Cultural Arts Center.
White said both a Whitney Center staff member and resident
have stopped her to say they thought the pieces were “very powerful.”
“Bringing the exhibit and the writings of the women to
Whitney Center offers an opportunity for residents to see and hear directly
from the women, to experience their common humanity. Connecting the arrest,
trial, torture and death of Jesus to the experiences of prisoners today is a
powerful connection,” White said.
The prisoners feel as if their voices are heard through the
display, White said. For Whitney Center residents, who are largely interested
in social justice issues, the exhibit further piques their interest in the
prisoners’ plight.
The inmates’ artwork depicts the 15 Stations of the Cross
(one more than is traditionally displayed). Typically, the Stations of the
Cross decorate the exterior walls of a church as the 14 Stations of the Cross
depict Christ’s journey from Pilate’s judgment to the burial tomb. The women of
the prison’s Chrysalis Community imitated the traditional stained glass designs
through the use of tissue paper, and also added a depiction of Christ’s
resurrection to make their display represent 15 stations.
White first began leading 14 female inmates at the prison 14
years ago through a Lenten Bible study and writing group. As the group read
through the passages leading up to Jesus’ resurrection, they imagined
themselves in the role of the different characters, imagined experiencing
judgment from Pilate, and mocking from the soldiers and grieving from Mary.
“Perhaps most moving of all, we took the role of Jesus to
feel and experience what he went through for us,” White said.
After understanding the roles involved and experiencing the
story of the resurrection, White encouraged the women to pen their own stories,
relating their experience with incarceration to each Station of the Cross. It
quickly became apparent that despite the negative sentiments flowing through
the stories, recalling the resurrection was a source of joy. The women then created
the visual depictions of each of the Stations of the Cross.
These interpretations of the Stations of the Cross speak to
a wide variety of viewers because they embody the experience of life: the
trials that test you, the hardships that knock you down, the friends who help
you move forward, and finally, the victory that comes with having borne great
trials.
“As spiritual care coordinator at Whitney Center, my work is
not limited to religious residents. Whitney Center defines spirituality as ‘the
search for meaning and purpose in life, the connection of love that flows
between people and all creation, and the appreciation of beauty, music and
nature.’ Connection to others, concern for others, includes our
incarcerated sisters, and their artwork brings beauty into the observance of
this Christian observance called Good Friday. So many things come together
spiritually in this art exhibit on the Stations of the Cross and the written
reflections on the Stations that will be shared in the Good Friday service.”
Over the years, the prisoners’ exhibit has been on display
in churches, retreat centers, and nursing homes throughout Southern Connecticut
and Washington, D.C. Due to a Division of Correction policy, the exhibit images
cannot be shared here.
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