WARSAW — A Warsaw art studio, Spoonful of Imagination, is working with the Kosciusko County Jail Chemical Addiction Program to bring art to inmates.

Spoonful of Imagination owner Erica Deuel will lead art journaling classes with the current JCAP women’s class on Friday afternoons for the next three months. The art program started Friday, Feb. 28.

Deuel learned about the JCAP program through her husband, Matt Deuel. For the past six months, he has been working on a documentary about the JCAP program.

The JCAP program started in August 2018. The program exists for inmates who have a history of drug addiction. JCAP lasts 90-120 days, is offered to 12-15 men or women at a time and participants must be recommended and approved. JCAP inmates are housed in a specific block, separated from the general jail population. The program offers counseling and various life skills classes.

The couple announced the new initiative in a video posted Wednesday, Feb. 26, to the Spoonful of Imagination Facebook Page.

“Erica has heard me come home and talk about this program for months and what it has meant for me to be in there and be a part of it,” said Matt Deuel in a video posted on the art company’s Facebook page about the new effort.

When JCAP Coordinator Courtney Jenkins mentioned she would like to add an art program to partner with the counseling and mental health, Matt Deuel approached Jenkins and his wife about Spoonful partnering with the program.

The goal of the art studio is to make art accessible to everyone.

“We wanted to share art in a place that could use some hope and joy,” said Erica Deuel in the video.

The article continues below the video.

“I’m excited to share just about art and how it heals,” said Erica Deuel. “It’s a safe place to process and get ideas out.”

“The activities will teach the girls some techniques and offer them a space to let their feelings and emotions flow,” said Jenkins.

Through painting, creating and drawing, “We’ll be able to just really pair nicely with some of the counseling and other classes,” Erica Deuel said.

To support the program, the Deuels announced a 50/50 fundraising effort. “Each class costs about $150,” said Matt Deuel. To offset the cost of the classes, the Deuels have a $4,000 fundraising goal.

In addition to supporting the art classes, 50 cents of every dollar donated will go toward supporting the entire JCAP program.

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office has already purchased art journals for each of the women in the program, according to Jenkins.

Through donations, the funds will “make the classes happen and invest in some of the amazing people who are doing work inside of this,” Matt Deuel said.

As of Friday, the Deuels have reached more than one-third of the $4,000 donation goal, according to a post on the Spoonful of Imagination Facebook page.

To donate go to spoonfulstudio.com/donate and specify the donation is intended for the JCAP art classes. Information regarding donations by check are included on the web page. For more information, the Deuels can be contacted at [email protected]. 

Spoonful of Imagination is an IRS approved, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible per IRS regulations.