Invisibility Blues is being reissued by Verso Press in July of 2008 with a new cover shown here.
For The Women's House is a a mural painted by Faith Ringgold in 1971 in response to the riot at Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York in 1971. which resulted tragically in the deaths of both prisoners and guards. Ringgold's project was funded by CAPS, which no longer exists. The mural was installed in 1972.
But years later, one of the guards at the prison came to tell Ringgold that her painting had been moved from a corridor to the cafeteria in what had subsequently become a male facility and then painted over, and put in a basement. Ringgold then contacted the authorities in the prison system only to discover that there was a new program in charge of refurbishing and maintaining the prison system's vast art collection. This program refurbished her mural and re-installed it in the present women's facility on Riker's Island, the Rose M. Singer Center in a safe place where it is visible to everybody who wants to see it.
I always really liked this mural, and the ordeal that went into its composition-- the decision to portray only women and to show them in what were then unusual roles in society. The bite of the painting has not dulled with age over the past 28 years, yet its intrinisic sweetness continues to lingers. As Ringgold's other works become more famous and well known, I am proud to reclaim this particular work which so many fewer people have ever had a chance to see.
But years later, one of the guards at the prison came to tell Ringgold that her painting had been moved from a corridor to the cafeteria in what had subsequently become a male facility and then painted over, and put in a basement. Ringgold then contacted the authorities in the prison system only to discover that there was a new program in charge of refurbishing and maintaining the prison system's vast art collection. This program refurbished her mural and re-installed it in the present women's facility on Riker's Island, the Rose M. Singer Center in a safe place where it is visible to everybody who wants to see it.
I always really liked this mural, and the ordeal that went into its composition-- the decision to portray only women and to show them in what were then unusual roles in society. The bite of the painting has not dulled with age over the past 28 years, yet its intrinisic sweetness continues to lingers. As Ringgold's other works become more famous and well known, I am proud to reclaim this particular work which so many fewer people have ever had a chance to see.
Posts
