Sometimes creativity comes out of the darkest corners. On the last episode of Broken Chains for season one, Damien Linnane and Jayde Farrell talk about using prison as a place to develop artistic talents. Damien and Jayde are both former Australian soldiers as well as being formerly incarcerated. Jayde Farrell now works full-time as a multi-medium artist, while Broken Chains host Damien Linnane is now a part-time artist specialising in graphite photorealism and is the illustrator of the book This Is Ear Hustle. 

Links: 

See Damien's exhibition with Newcastle libraries.  Broken Chains Newcastle Libraries. 

Follow Jayde's art on Instagram. "Jayde Farrell". Instagram.  

Follow Damien's art on Instagram. "Vigilante Studios". Instagram. 

Learn more about books written by Damien Linnane. "Scarred and Raw". DamienLinnane.com. 

Studies are commencing investigating the connection between military service and criminal offending   

o   Kellie Toole and Dr Elaine Waddell (2020) Why are ADF veterans over represented in South Australian Prisons? University of Adelaide Law School, Research Unit on Military Law and Ethics\ 

o   Kellie Toole and Dr Elaine Waddell (2020)  Too Many Veterans in South Australian Prisons The Last Post Magazine.  

Learn more about synaesthesia.  

o   Carpenter, Siri (2001). "Everyday fantasia: The world of synesthesia". American Psychological Association.  

o   Palmeri, Thomas J.; Blake, Randolph B.; Marois, Ren (11 September 2001). "What is synesthesia?". Scientific American. 

Read about an exhibition of artworks from Long Bay Art school program – Bar Codes: Artworks by Inmates of Long Bay Goal. 8 September 2001  - 4 November 2001 - Sydney Living Museums.  

Read about Boom Gate Gallery, which sells artwork by current and former inmates of New South Wales Correctional Centres.  "Boom Gate Gallery". NSW Government. 

Read more about creating art in the prison system. "Art in Prison". Justice Action. Retrieved 19 August 2021. 

Read more about how Damien used art as a pathway after prison. Kellar, Jim (25 July 2021). "Newcastle artist Damien Linnane talks about his deal with Ear Hustle and Broken Chains show". The Newcastle Herald. 

Read about weapons at Long Bay. Worsley, Ben (23 August 2017). "NSW prisons to be raided in contraband crackdown; authorities warn offenders 'will be found'". ABC News. 

Prison catches people who fall through the cracks of society. Stewart, Anna (10 December 2017). "Lifetime prevalence of mental illness and incarceration: An analysis by gender and Indigenous status". Australian Journal of Social Issues. 

People who have had problems with education often end up in prison. 14% of prisoners have completed Year Twelve, compared to 63% of the general population in Australia.  "Comparisons with the general community and prisoners internationally". Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2009.  

Read more about how beneficial teachers can be in prisons, and how the NSW government fired most teachers from prisons. 

o   Patty, Anna (19 September 2016). "NSW teachers fear downgrading of education for prisoners". The Sydney Morning Herald. 

o   Long, Rob (9 March 2020). "Prisons struggling to fill teacher positions". New South Wales Teachers Federation. 

Do you need some support after prison? 

o    Samaritans   

o   Surviving on the Outside: Getting out of Prison Community Restorative Centre  

Check out more music by Louisa Magrics. "LXM music". SoundCloud.com. 

Views expressed disclaimer: 

The views, thoughts, opinions expressed throughout this series are solely attributed to the host and guests of the program and do not reflect those of the City of Newcastle.