Art Haven Instructor Joseph Bettys’ Experience
This week the NGCI Education Department had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Joseph Betty. He has been involved with teaching programmes for over a decade and has been instructing them for half of that time. He has been working with NGCI on the Art Haven programme. One of five non-profit Art Outreach Programmes that NGCI offers to the Cayman community. It was created for adult men and women who are incarcerated at Northward, Fairbanks and recovering substance abusers/addicts at Caribbean Haven. He gave some insight on what his experience as an instructor and working with the Art Haven programme has been like. Art Haven is sponsored by State Street, who NGCI thanks for their generous support.
NG: What do you try to instill in your students the most when teaching?
JB: One of the main things I try to instill in my students, is to see, they often look but don’t necessarily see. I also try to draw their attention to the fact, that art is everywhere around us and to express yourself doesn’t necessarily have to be paint and canvases, and always try to capture their audience in a way that their subject connect beyond surface.
NG: Have you seen positive responses and growth amongst your students?
JB: I have seen growth and positive responses not just from becoming very good at their creative avenue, but they have taken it to a professional level. One good example which I always use, because up to the date, it still warms my heart. When I met one Robinson for the first time, he just wanted to do his time and leave the institute in which he was confined to for a number of years, he wasn’t the friendliest nor did he have any interest in these classes. After a few introductions of the outreach, he somehow decided he would give it a try, besides, he had nothing to lose and time goes faster when you are engaged in activities. He liked it, and continued to be a part of the group. He developed a passion for art, thus became very good at it, his attitude towards people changed, he became my assistant in the programmes and had a track record in outreach art sales during our annual outreach art exhibitions. On leaving the prison his one request was he didn’t want to live his lifestyle any more, when he got out he wanted to do positive things with his life including going back to school and art school. I stayed in touch with him and he did just that went back to school and art school also. There are more stories I could tell like Rene Coleman who is still in the programs and others.
NG: What would you say to people who doubt art can genuinely be a form of therapy?
JB: They will have to try it. I have seen art therapy at its best in the outreach programs, especially with the delinquent juveniles I once had. My female students mostly use the class for therapy. I myself use art as therapy and if it works for my life, which is most time on high tension, then I am going to say, I have no doubt that it’s a genuine form of therapy naturally, because it works for me and others you would never thought it would have powerful effects on.
NG: What do you find most challenging about being an instructor?
JB: I love what I do, but one of my greatest challenges is to try and instill in some students the importance to finish their work at their own initiative. Or working with individuals whom for whatever reason are unable to understand or complete what they must do, but really wants to do it and I want to give them my own personal abilities. It’s a big challenge for me to accept what my students want to achieve but can’t because of a disability or anything else.
NG: What is the most rewarding thing about taking part in the Art Haven programme?
JB: The most rewarding thing for me personally is to see individual growth within the programs. It makes me feel so good when they achieve or complete their task and feel proud about it. It is very rewarding to me, when someone says, thank you Joseph I like what I am doing and I feel better about myself, when are you coming back? It’s just an awesome feeling as an instructor when the students feel awesome about their work and themselves.
NG: What would you want the community to know or understand most about these students?
JB: Most of these students genuinely want to make changes to their personal life, and want society to give them an honest fair chance. Some do what they did because of personal fear and failure, lacking love and struggle with self-esteem. If the community can find a way to inject these missing qualities, and assist with a better quality of personal lives, there wouldn’t be any need to fear or keep them at distance. However, there are some who are just dark and have major issues, but even those can be reached. Keep supporting the local outreach programs, show them we care and show them we see their efforts as human beings, by just simply giving them praise, support and acknowledgment for the work they have put in to merely express themselves and lives.
For more information about NGCI Community Outreach Programmes email education@nationalgallery.org.ky or call (345) 945 8111. Or if you are interested in getting involved and donating to help keep these programmes free, email info@nationalgallery.org.ky. Every bit of support helps.