Candido Bido, one of the most valued Dominican painters, gave inmates at the Monte Plata jail a short course in painting, as reported by Hoy newspaper. He also encouraged them by telling his life story of how being born into a very poor family he had developed into one of the leading Dominican painters of all times. Bidó has made a name for himself worldwide for his colorful compositions. During his visit to the jail, he critiqued the works of the students of the School of Painting of the Monte Plata jail and urged that they continue on. "You, thanks to painting, can let your errors die, and be reborn as new men, to later reincorporate into society," he said. "In every town, barrio or person there may be an artistic talent to be discovered, what you have to do is cultivate it with lots of discipline and work." He also donated painting materials, books and magazines. The Monte Plata inmates have a painting exhibition scheduled for Bellas Artes in October. The Monte Plata jail is considered a model jail for its successful training courses. Designer Marcio Peña started the painting school in 1998.
