CANON CITY — Christopher Dennison is making history behind bars at the nation’s most secure prison, Supermax, just south of Florence.

Dennison is the first Supermax inmate to be allowed to paint on canvas in his cell. The prison is known for housing the most dangerous of the nation’s convicts.

The public will be able to see his and more than 20 other inmates’ artworks during the "Color of Hope: Humanity Rising" art show slated to kick off today at the Fremont Center for the Arts, 505 Macon Ave.

Dennison, who is serving a life sentence, is one of several Supermax inmates taking part in the Creative Arts Platform at the prison which enables inmates to learn about art. One groundbreaking project allowed them out of their cells to paint a mural on a prison wall.

Dennison’s ability to create art in his solitary cell, “came as in an incentive after proving himself and doing well with some of the other Creative Arts Platform projects such as the mural,” said Justin Reddick, program facilitator. “For two straight months, I had to inventory his supplies every 48 hours to ensure that the safety and security of the institution was maintained.”

The result of the prison’s reform-minded effort are Dennison’s 12 large scale artworks that will be featured during the art show.

“I have never had a chance to be part of something ‘real.’ If I do eventually overcome my circumstances, I will be able to say that art was the thing that saved me and kept me together,” Dennison wrote in his artist bio.

Another featured artist is Kieron Webber, who is incarcerated at the high security U.S. Penitentiary next door to Supermax in the Florence Correctional Complex. He also is serving a life sentence and has studied in the program the longest — for a year and a half.

“We had a world renowned art therapist audit our program last September and he was so impressed with Webber’s work and story he put Webber’s work on the cover of his latest book which is set to come out July 14,” Reddick said.

Some of Webber’s creations are intricately painted rocks.

“The rocks I find throughout the prison yard. A lot of violence happens in the yard, yet I am still able to find beauty there and bring it out through my artwork.

“For me, it is sort of like a rose growing through the cracks of cement. Like, no matter where one resides beauty can always be found,” Webber wrote in his artist bio.

One exhibit will be a painted prison jumpsuit which was a collaborative effort with eight inmates who were allowed to express what the jumpsuit means to them. Another group project focused on helping inmates with borderline personality disorders.

The arts program has gotten a huge boost from Pueblo’s prominent street artist, Matte Refic, aka Mat Taylor who helps teach art techniques. Reddick and Refic work alongside staff Psychologist Paul Zohn and Reentry Affairs Coordinator Jessica Salo.

Art in the show was created by inmates at the U.S. Penitentiary and Supermax between October and June and much of it has been professionally framed, thanks to additional budget funds. The recreation department at the Florence prison complex also has collected inmate hobby craft art which will be displayed and sold during the show.

The show debuts during the First Friday Reception from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. today. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The exhibit will run through July 27. Admission is free.

tharmon@chieftain.com

Twitter: @tracywumps