Another Art Rumpus

The University of Southern Maine kicked up a storm when it decided to exhibit paintings by Thomas Manning, who is serving 80 years for a series of bombings and the murder of New Jersey state trooper Philip Lamonaco in 1981. Manning claims to be a political prisoner, and in the context of the exhibition the University appeared to be supporting that contention. With a grovelling apology from Uni. President Pattenaude, the Manning paintings have been withdrawn. The correct decision. However, in general, prisoners should have the right to art therapy and perhaps to have their work exhibited. In the UK a number of prisons run art groups - Holloway Prison for women is one - and some of those prisoners both exhibit and sell their work.