Renowned Art Exhibition Asks, "What Kind of House Does a Man Who Has Lived in a 6x9-Foot Cell for Over 30 Years Dream Of?"
Brooklyn Public Library’s latest exhibition, #76759: Featuring the House That Herman Built, showcases artist Jackie Sumell’s work and correspondence with the late Herman Wallace, who spent over four decades in solitary confinement at Angola Prison.
In 2003, Sumell asked Wallace, "What kind of house does a man who has lived in a 6x9-foot cell for over 30 years dream of?" The exchange resulted in a collaboration that transformed their lives and produced an internationally renowned exhibition, book and documentary film.
“One of the Library’s essential functions is to host informed public discourse on critically important topics,” said Brooklyn Public Library President & CEO Linda Johnson. “Our hope is that #76759: Featuring the House That Herman Built will inspire Brooklynites to think deeply and converse thoughtfully about solitary confinement and other aspects of our criminal justice system.”
Herman Wallace was imprisoned in the Louisiana State Penitentiary in 1971 for armed robbery. In 1974 he and two other inmates, Albert Woodfox and Robert King, were convicted of murdering a prison guard. The members of the Angola 3, as they came to be known, maintained their innocence. Each was placed in solitary confinement. In 2013, Amnesty International called for Wallace’s release on humanitarian grounds after he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. After he spent more than four decades in solitary confinement—longer than anyone in the history of the American penal system—Herman’s conviction was overturned by Federal Judge Brian A. Jackson. He was released on October 1, 2013, at the age of 71, and died just three days later.
Included in #76759: Featuring the House That Herman Built are a life-sized replica of Herman's prison cell, selections from his correspondence with Sumell, books from his reading list, and, in Central Library’s Grand Lobby, a model of the dream house that he designed. The exhibition is on display through June 5. Additional #76759 programming will include panel discussions, film screenings, and other special events.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: www.bklynlibrary.org.
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