The Guest House

  • A group of adult inmates on Rikers Island Corrections Facility worked with artist Chris Soria to create this mural based on the poem“Guest House,” by Rumi.
  • Here is a close up of the scroll on which the inmate participants painted the poem “The Guest House,” for all to read and enjoy.
  • A full view of the mural's central figure.

Project Description

Ten Rikers Island inmates created a large mural based on the poem “The Guest House” by Rumi on the wall of the Eric M. Taylor Center at Rikers Island. Based on ideas brainstormed during a discussion of the poem, the mural team compiled imagery into a visual reference dictionary. Participants made drawings based on the references and transformed them into the final design for the mural. While painting, participants were introduced to techniques such as gridding, mixing colors, applying paint, layering, and rendering shadows and highlights. The mural depicts a labyrinth which reveals the shape of a man. In his arms, he holds a large hourglass through which sand pours. In the sand are small bricks inscribed with words from the poem, including joy, depression, awareness, sorrow, honor, shame, malice, and laughter. A vibrant aura radiates from the center of the labyrinth-tattooed man. This project allowed the inmates to contribute in an artistic and thoughtful way to their surroundings.

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Project Info

Location: 29-76 Northern Boulevard Brooklyn, NY 11101

Fun Facts

Research
Rikers Island is a jail and not a prison. The complex is made up of ten separate jails which hold local offenders who are awaiting trial, cannot afford bail, or are serving a sentence of one year or less.
Quote
“Contributing something beautiful to the facility that ironically incarcerates them was a cathartic experience for a number of participants.” - Chris Soria, Lead Artist