Prisoner Art Contest & Exhibition

Stunning artwork by prisoners and ex-prisoners from over 30 countries made up PFI’s fifth Prisoner Art Contest and Exhibition.  The contest and exhibition were held during the 2007 World Convocation and included over 120 original pieces. The theme of the art contest was “Where Love and Justice Meet,” which each artist expressed in a unique manner.

A panel of six judges judged the entries on the basis of technical merit, artistic impression and relevance to the theme. Over $5,000 in prizes were awarded to the winners and their national ministry. The winners are:

DRAWINGS

• 1st place - The Visiting/Waiting by Ralph Hobson from PF USA
• 2nd place -  Do You Believe In God? by Koua Xiong from PF USA
• 3rd place -  Sacred Tears for Us by Paul S. Mafnas from PF Guam

APPLIED ARTS

• 1st place - The Love of Jesus and the Law of God by Lenton Wilson Polonio from PF Belize
• 2nd place - Jesus in the House of Mary and Martha by Konstantine Byshik from PF Belarus
• 3rd place - Such Wonderful Love by Morapeli Nkoko from PF Lesotho

PAINTINGS

• 1st place - Convergence of Hope by Jose Hernandez from PF USA
• 2nd place - The Good Samaritan by Bruno Campolina de Oliveira from PF Brazil
• 3rd place - Where Love and Justice Meet by Jose Luis Fernandez Gutierrez from PF Costa Rica

“As the art works are displayed, it is my hope that people see the seriousness in all our expressions of shape, colour, emotion, joys and pain. We are in one way or another revealing our inner selves (our remorse, pain, sorrow, joy, hope and love),” said third-place winner in the drawing category, Paul Mafnas.