When we discussed the idea of turning Prisoners’ Inventions into an exhibition, Angelo proposed making a life-size replica of his cell. He wanted visitors to gain a physical and psychological understanding of the space, and a context for the design and manufacture of the inventions. Angelo noted that in California, prison guards are often made to spend a length of time in a prison cell as part of their training as a way of enhancing their awareness of what prisoners deal with. Visitors to exhibitions of Prisoners’ Inventions are invited to enter the cell and sit on the beds, chair and toilet.
Angelo provided detailed blueprint drawings of the interior of the cell. Fabricators work from these drawings each time the cell is rebuilt. The cell fixtures were constructed from Angelo’s drawings by workers at Mass MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts. Special thanks go to Richard Criddle and John Carli who led the fabrication of the cell.
