GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — When it comes to art, almost anything can be a source of inspiration, whether it's a beautiful vista or within yourself or your imagination.
For inmates confined to a single building for days, weeks, months, or even longer, they have plenty of time to come up with and make some of their own creative artworks.
And for the first year ever, Mesa County sheriffs are showing off their projects.
Division Chief Henry Stoffel with Mesa County Sheriffs tells me the jail does what they can to help inmate's lives enough to ensure they don't come back to jail once released.
Stoffel says this goal is achieved through their medical-assisted treatment program, mental health center, and jail-based behavioral services.
Inmate Steven Vanmatre tells me access to art supplies means more to him than just ink and paper.
The pieces are hung both in a community room inside the jail and out in the main lobby, with titles and the names of the artists.
Stoffel adds this is not a competition, just a showcase.