Chain Gang

[btavis]

Continuing my Americana themed dioramas my next project will be on a Georgia Chain Gang from the 1930's depression era.

Here is an example of a Chain Gang worksong:

http://northbysouth.kenyon.edu/2002/Music/parchman.mov

 

[btavis]

Here are some photos:

 

[renarts]

Fortunately there won't be lack of reference material. Quite a few states are using them again. The ones here in Florida look very similar to the ones in your period photos.

Good luck with this project Bob. I look forward to it based upon your past projects.

 

[Bluesking]

Bob, my mouth is watering at the propects already

 

[Roy]

Hi Bob...good luck with the new project...
I really can't wait to see how you start turning your vision into reality.

I'll certainly look forward to your first steps with this.

All the best..

Roy.

 

[PJ Deluhery]

Great idea, Bob. I'm sure your treatment of this subject will be both fascinating and thought-provoking. Keep us advised.

 

[Guy]

Fantastic idea Bob. I look forward to seeing it develop. Keep us posted as you progress.

 

[Stephen Ward]

Looking forward to seeing this one progress, Bob. Your previous pieces, especially 'Strange Fruit,' have really pushed the envelope and it's great to see subjects like this one being tackled due to their sheer non-existence from the world of figure modeling. Can't wait to see more....

Cheers,
Stephen

 

[Dan Morton]

When you told me about this one in Chicago, it sounded like a terrific idea then. Now it sounds even better!!!

All the best,
Dan

 

[megroot]

Bob,
Looking forward to it. Bringing history to life.(good or bad) that is what you do. Great.

Marc

 

[vergilius]

I haven't seen that one before! Very original

 

[slaj]

Hey Bob, firstly it was great seeing you at Chicago. I'm sure this diorama will be no less than the others....just awesome.

Stephen Mallia

 

[Jim]

Bob:

I hope you have this done by SCAHMS in March, as I'd love to see it 'up close and personal', like 'Strange Fruit', which is still one of the most powerful dioramas I have ever seen. You've raised the bar for the rest of us and that's a very good thing.

Keep up the great work!

Jim Forbus

 

[bonehead]

Hey Bob,

Awesome! Always the iconoclast.

It is really cool that you are always operating outside the box. We "military miniaturists" have a tendency to sugar coat history. Or, at least drown it under a treacly sugar coating of honor and bravery and all of the other twisted denials we put on the sorry, savage, inhuman work of killing or demeaning others.

It kind of reframes the whole idea to actually depict human ugliness in all of its perverse truth. I know there are some modelers out there who sometimes question what you do. Certainly I have enocountered this at shows. That is because the truth about history is uglier than most of us are willing to admit. Many do not appreciate having to examine their assumptions. But you don't allow us to hold onto those comforting illusions.

Good for you!!

Cheers!!

Mike

P.S. Kinda reminds me of the scene in "Cool Hand Luke" where Luke walks off to "take a leak"........ "I'm shakin, boss, I'm shakin'!

 

[rdc]

Hey Bob,

Great idea, looking forward to seeing this come to life. Nothing ugly about a chain gang, just a bunch of criminals paying their debt to society… the way it should be.

Roger

 

[btavis]

Hey Bob,

Awesome! Always the iconoclast.

It is really cool that you are always operating outside the box. We "military miniaturists" have a tendency to sugar coat history. Or, at least drown it under a treacly sugar coating of honor and bravery and all of the other twisted denials we put on the sorry, savage, inhuman work of killing or demeaning others.

It kind of reframes the whole idea to actually depict human ugliness in all of its perverse truth. I know there are some modelers out there who sometimes question what you do. Certainly I have enocountered this at shows. That is because the truth about history is uglier than most of us are willing to admit. Many do not appreciate having to examine their assumptions. But you don't allow us to hold onto those comforting illusions.


Good for you!!

Cheers!!

Mike

P.S. Kinda reminds me of the scene in "Cool Hand Luke" where Luke walks off to "take a leak"........ "I'm shakin, boss, I'm shakin'!

To me Serge Leone nailed my take on history with the term, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly."

As inspiration I have bought a couple of CDs of prison worksongs and they are the perfect background for working on this project. Fortunately, the work of Alan Lomax has preserved many of these songs that go back to the days of slavery. I love these kind of projects because I learn so much in the process and that's what it's all about, right?

Here are some samples:

\http://www.rounder.com/index.php?id=album.php&catalog_id=5022

 

[captnenglish]

I was just wondering what you were up to. Great project. Good luck. I too hope that you have it finished by SCAHMS.

 

[rej]

Hi Bob,

I can only echo what the others have said before me.....waiting for this one to unfold.........

Take care,

Ray

 

[btavis]

Thanks gents. I have already nearly completed the armatures for the twenty figures that will be in this piece. I will shoot some pics next week after I have formalized the layout. I will also have a slew of hounds in the scene who were used to go after any prisoner who tried to escape. Escape was pretty impossible as they were chained together, had armed guards and dogs watching over them.

The work was hard and long. They did farm work, roadwork, railroad work, brush clearing, etc. While the concept was sound as Roger pointed out there were many abuses and the guards were less than kind. Chain gangs were the basis of many a blues song and you couldn't be a proper blues singer unless you had "done time." Parchman Farm was a famous Mississippi prison farm that was notorious for its 20,000 acre plantation like setting.

 

[megroot]

Chain gangs were the basis of many a blues song and you couldn't be a proper blues singer unless you had "done time."

Most of these songs are called the Delta blues. It is hard and rough (in my opinon) but i really like one of the performers: STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN
He tuned it down, and played them loud.

Marc