A New Book About the Women's House of Detention, An Art Exhibition Shows Torment of Solitary Confinement, Tony Nominations, Listening Party: Trombone Shorty
A new book tells the story of the Women's House of Detention, a prison that operated in Greenwich Village from 1929 until 1971, before being demolished in 1974. The facility, which today is the Jefferson Market Library, was a women's prison that held women, transgender, and gender non-conforming people, often for just being poor or not compliant with gender standards of the time. Author Hugh Ryan joins to discuss this history and his book, called, The Women's House of Detention: A Queer History of a Forgotten Prison.
A new art exhibition, I Can Show You the Way Out, depicts the torment of solitary confinement. The art show, curated by Gregory Thornbury, features several abstract paintings created by formerly incarcerated activist, artist and author Chris Wilson. He joins us to talk about his collaboration with House of Puff and Etain to raise awareness about solitary confinement. The exhibition opens on May 12 and will remain on view until June 10 at Etain located at 242 E. 58th Street.
The Tony Nominations were announced Monday. NPR editor Jay Vanasco talks about what stood out to her.
On Sunday, Trombone Shorty closed out the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival's main stage, as he and his band have been doing since 2013. Fresh off winning his first Grammy for his contribution to Jon Batiste's We Are, Trombone Shorty is now out with a new album of his own, titled Lifted. Trombone Shorty joins us for a Listening Party.
