The Cribs

by Jane Evelyn Atwood, at the Side Gallery, Newcastle.

The Side Gallery has come up trumps again with their current exhibition entitled Women In Prison, by Jane Evelyn Atwood.

The exhibition features female prisoners being held in jails in America, France and Russia, and features some grim, harrowing and thought-provoking images. As Atwood says, most of the women are in prison due to men, and often as a result of sexual and physical abuse. Where are we as a society if we cannot offer these women an escape route to independence that doesn't mean crime?

Amongst the pictures is one that left an indelible image in my mind. It features four women, who have their arms stretched out in front of them, which display a plethora of cuts and scars where they have self-harmed (self-harm is a particular problem in female prisons) with knives and razors. It really does lead you to question whether there is another way.

The exhibition runs until 13th March, and entry is free.