Sheila Craig used to think art could change the world.

Now she just wants it to fill a void in her students' lives.

She thinks it's working.

Ms. Craig has been an art instructor at the State Regional Correctional Facility in Findley Township for the past eight years.

She put on the program's seventh annual art show this week at the Mercer County Courthouse. The three-day show, which ended Wednesday, featured more than 60 paintings by about 30 artists.

The paintings included gentle images of ballet dancers, flowers, birds and mermaids and country music diva Faith Hill and dark ones of the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center towers and a giant, blood-stained robot holding the severed head of the Statue of Liberty.

Most of the paintings were for sale -- a couple for as little as $5, two for as much as $200. Ms. Craig said 10 percent of the money generated is to be deposited into the inmates' general welfare fund, which helps pay for prison programs such as her art program. The remaining 90 percent goes to the inmates' individual accounts, she said.

Ms. Craig said about a dozen pieces were sold during this year's show.

She said art is an outlet for the prisoners. "Some of them have possibilities to turn their lives around with art," Ms. Craig said. "It can fill a void."

Ms. Craig said she teaches three classes of 18 male prisoners apiece. Her students are of all age groups and talent levels.