Artist inspires residents at Georgetown’s Pallet Village

The Healing Arts Studio at Georgetown’s Springboard Pallet Village recently hosted artist Sakana Walls for a live painting demonstration and discussion during its regular Monday evening art night.

A Delaware artist, Walls honed his creative voice during his years of confinement in the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna. He talked about his life and art with Pallet Village residents while painting a new version of his signature piece, “Weathering the Storm,” which he first created while he was incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution - Phoenix in Pennsylvania during a temporary transfer.

“This painting came out of what I was feeling at the time,” Walls said. “I have always painted versions of this with a lot of darkness in the background.” But more recently, he said, he has begun painting the piece with lighter shades, reflecting his growth and new life.  

Walls told the Pallet Village residents and Milton Arts Guild members, who attend art night each week, that he started painting while at Smyrna, but he was limited in supplies and opportunities there. Once at Phoenix, he could paint in his cell and explore his art more fully.   

“I don’t want to paint just pretty pictures,” Walls said. “I wasted enough time being incarcerated. I don’t want to waste time painting anything I don’t feel.”

John Wanner, a Pallet Village artist, said Sakana’s story reflects how some other people at Pallet Village feel regarding the genesis of their art. Wanner and Juan Cantu are the co-creators of the art studio at Pallet Village. 

At the end of his visit, Walls signed “Weathering the Storm,” which this time had an aqua background instead of the earlier, darker versions, and presented it to Wanner in appreciation of the work of the Healing Arts Studio. 

The Healing Arts Studio is open to Pallet Village residents daily, but Monday evenings are a time for residents and Milton Arts Guild members to do art together ... or just to talk. The groups have been getting together weekly for nearly two years.