Proliferation - Paul Rucker - US Prisons

In May of 2009, I was honored to be part of a Prison Issues residency at the Blue Mountain Center. While there I had the honor of being in the company of some amazing people. Artists, activist from around the world provided over two weeks of inspiration, knowledge, and camaraderie.
While doing my individual research, I happened upon some maps created by Rose Heyer that showed the growth of the US Prison system. With that information, I was inspired to create Proliferation, an animated mapping of the US Prison system set to original music.


Timeline

Green Dots: 1778-1900
Yellow Dots: 1901-1940
Orange Dots: 1941-1980
Red Dots: 1981-2005

Nathan Eyring - Animation
Aaron Bourget- Video Editing
Rose Heyer - Research
Troy Glessner - Music Mastering

Special Thanks:
Blue Mountain Center- Prison Issues Residency
Fellow Activists of the Prison Issues Residency
Peter Wagner
Prison Policy Initiative
Prisoners of the Census
Washington State Arts Commission/Artist Trust Fellowship
Cornish College of the Arts
Jess Van Nostrand

www.paulrucker.com

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Prison
• Prisons
• Population
• US
• United
• States
• Incarceration
• Jail
• System
• Paul
• Rucker
• Music
• Animation
• Cornish
• College
• of
• Arts
• War
• on
• Drugs
• Blue
• Mountain
• Center

[yass278]

how many have been destroyed?because it seems absurd that we would keep prisons from 1778 to 1900

[symbiosism1]

@yass278 Actually many are still open. San Quintin opened in 1852, and is still active. Sing Sing 1828, still active. Clinton Correctional 1845, still active. Thank you for your question.

[symbiosism1]

Several people were involved. Each part took a great deal of time.

The maps were researched by Rose Heyer long before I found them. Nathan Eyring animated the maps, and Aaron Bourget edited the video. Paul Rucker created the concept, played all the instruments, and recorded the music.

[Ozzbaldo]

Can you post a legend for what the different colors represent? Also what is the timeline?

[symbiosism1]

Timeline

Green Dots: 1778-1900

Yellow Dots: 1901-1940

Orange Dots: 1941-1980

Red Dots: 1981-2005

[qpstrafe]

How long did this video take to make?

[ArtsyFartsyTim]

Paul is one amazing human being...