Folsom State Prison, Represa, CA, August 25, 2015, from the “Listen” project, 2006–18

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© Rhona Bitner, ADAGP, Artists Rights Society, New York. Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer W…
Folsom State Prison, Represa, CA, August 25, 2015, from the “Listen” project, 2006–18
© Rhona Bitner, ADAGP, Artists Rights Society, New York. Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art at Hamilton College. Photo by John Bentham.
Artist/Maker (American, born 1960)
DateAugust 25, 2015
MediumFujiflex print
DimensionsImage: 40 × 40 in. (101.6 × 101.6 cm) Frame: 41 1/2 × 41 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (105.4 × 105.4 × 3.8 cm)
Credit LineRuth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art at Hamilton College, Clinton, NY.
Object number2024.7.8
Not on view
DescriptionCalifornia’s second oldest prison, Folsom, dates from 1880. Although it is now a medium-security facility, it was one of the first maximum-security institutions in the United States, notorious for its harsh conditions. Johnny Cash was born poor in rural Arkansas and spent his life acutely sensitive to the plight of society’s outsiders. He was inspired to write “Folsom Prison Blues” in 1953 after seeing the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison while serving in the United States Air Force. He recorded his live concert for the inmates on January 13, 1968. Released as At Folsom Prison, it became a # No. 1 hit on the country music charts in 1968 and went gold six months later.
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Additional Details

Signature Verso (Sharpie): "© RHONA BITNER / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED / FOLSOM STATE PRISON / REPRESA, CA / AUGUST 25, 2015 / FROM LISTEN 4/6"
Grande Ballroom, Detroit, MI, October 29, 2008, from the series "Listen"
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Object number: 2014.3.1
© Rhona Bitner, ADAGP, Artists Rights Society, New York. Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer W…
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Rhona Bitner
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© Rhona Bitner, ADAGP, Artists Rights Society, New York. Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer W…
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Photograph by John Bentham
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Image courtesy of the Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art at Hamilton College, Clinton, NY. © R…
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Photograph by John Bentham.
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