THE SPECIAL UNIT BARLINNIE PRISON: ITS EVOLUTION THROUGH ITS ART, 1980.

Glasgow: Third Eye Centre, 1980
42 x 60cm, offset exhibition poster in light blue and black for this travelling exhibition displaying the work of the men (prisoners) of the Barlinnie Special Unit of whom the most famous inmate was Jimmy Boyle – a convicted murder and “hard man” later to be a Scottish cause celebre. Boyle became a wholly reformed character through his development as a sculptor – much to the disbelief of the UK tabloid press who seemed to want Boyle to revert to his former violent ways. Boyle was later released from prison on parole and never re-offended. This exhibition was organised by Joyce Laing (Art Therapist) and the poster displays a photograph of the courtyard within the Special Unit with various sculptures (probably some by Boyle) in situ. Despite protests, and some evidence to show the Unit was a positive force for reform of otherwise difficult offenders, the unit was later shut down by the Tory Government/prison authorities during a period of political agitation by the tabloid press who complained of any treatment of prisoners which seemed “soft”.