Brooklyn Center Man Part of Hennepin County ‘Art Heals’ Exhibit
Junior Bantoe of Brooklyn Center is one of several artists featured in a new exhibit at the Hennepin County Government Center called “Art Heals.”
The art in the exhibit was born out of trying circumstances. Clients of treatment court created a variety of art pieces, from paintings and pottery to poetry, that helped them recover.
Judge Amber Brennan, who presides over treatment courts in Hennepin County, thought about the idea for an exhibit when she saw a man sketching while waiting for his turn in court.
“I said ‘hey are you doing a sketch’ and he said ‘would you like to see it?’ And I said ‘sure,’ and he flipped it around and we couldn’t believe you know how talented he was,” recalled Brennan.
Art isn’t a formal part of treatment court, but is often used as therapy for clients. The “Art Heals” exhibit, located on the 17th floor of the Hennepin County Government Center, recognizes that.
“We all have a job to do. I have a job to do in treatment court, and they have a job to do too,” said Brennan. “But we still can see other’s humanity, and I think that’s a really important aspect of treatment court especially.”
Treatment court is different than traditional courts, where attorneys representing clients often do the talking. In treatment court, the judge meets one-on-one with participants to make sure they’re meeting their recovery goals.
Junior Bantoe discusses his art piece titled “Seasons” with CCX News.
Art a Place ‘To Draw That Extra Strength From’
For Junior Bantoe, art helped him address his struggles with alcohol.
“Art it can be either a hobby or it can be, I think where you can draw strength from,” said Bantoe.
Bantoe created two pieces, one titled “Shattered,” and another titled “Seasons.”
“With seasons, there are stages. And with every season there are disappointments, but you do have to go through every season,” explained Bantoe.
Bantoe also described treatment court as a positive experience.
“It has helped me in so many ways,” he said. “It’s another separate family that you understand one another. And, if anything was to go wrong, they are always there.”
