1968: A Folsom Redemption
EXTENDED TOUR! NEW DATES AVAILABLE!
Celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of a landmark event, 1968: A Folsom Redemption is a collection of photographs and memories of two journalists lucky enough to be among a handful of eyewitnesses to the historic Johnny Cash concerts at Folsom Prison. This candid and personal photography exhibition covers a critical juncture in the career of Johnny Cash, one of the twentieth century’s most beloved performers.
In January 1968, Johnny Cash was at a crossroads. His music career, in a slow decline for several years, was in need of a smash hit. He had recently straightened out his personal life, and leadership changes at his record label meant he was able to finally convince them of the merits of a live recording in a prison setting. Cash had been performing for inmates as far back as 1957, when he received a stream of requests from prisoners who identified with the man who sang “Folsom Prison Blues.” This connection developed with prisoners during these concerts had made him increasingly sympathetic to those he would later call “the downtrodden.”
Working as freelance journalists, photographer Dan Poush and writer Gene Beley met with Cash and his family the day before the concerts began, at the invitation of Reverend Floyd Gressett, a friend of Cash’s who ministered to inmates and helped set up the show at Folsom State Prison with Recreation Director Lloyd Kelley. After practicing the set with the Tennessee Three at Hotel El Rancho the night before, on January 13, 1968, Cash, along with opening acts Carl Perkins and the Statler Brothers, performed two separate shows in the dining hall at Folsom. Notable for capturing Cash’s ability to connect with his audience, the recordings crackled with the excitement of an adoring crowd. The resulting album, At Folsom Prison, was released four months later to critical and popular acclaim.
Beley’s first-person account of those days, and his knowledge of the storylines at work behind the scenes, make this a fascinating exploration of the little-known aspects of a well-known event in popular culture. 1968: A Folsom Redemption takes the viewer right into the heart of this pivotal moment in the life and career of one of the twentieth century’s most important and cherished musical personalities.
For the first time ever, this travelling road show collection of thirty-one photos features a wide range of intimate photos with friends and family to a backstage meeting with country music legend Merle Haggard with the Man in Black. This exhibition highlights Cash’s golden era from the January 1968 Folsom prison album recording to a March 1, 1969 concert in Anaheim, California when he was getting ready to launch his network television show.
Tour Schedule
1968: A Folsom Redemption is touring June 2019 through August 2029. The dates below reflect seven-week exhibition periods. Dates are subject to change; please contact MoreArt@maaa.org or (800) 473-3872 x208/209 for current availability.
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June 16–August 11, 2019
Temple Railroad and Heritage Center
Temple, TX booked -
September 1–October 20, 2019
Clinton House Museum
Fayetteville, AR booked -
November 10, 2019–January 7, 2020
Laurel County Public Library
London, KY booked -
January 28–March 16, 2020
Cordova Community Council
Cordova, CA booked -
April 6–May 25, 2020
Pence Gallery
Davis, CA booked -
June 16–August 11, 2020
Moses Lake Museum and Art Center
Moses Lake, WA booked -
September 1, 2020–January 7, 2021
Sioux City Public Museum
Sioux City, IA booked -
January 28–May 25, 2021
Johnny Cash Boyhood Home
Dyess, AR booked -
June 16–August 11, 2021
Refurbishment
Kansas City, MO booked -
September 1–October 20, 2021
University of Tennessee at Martin, Paul Meek Library
Martin, TN booked -
November 10, 2021–January 7, 2022
West Baton Rouge Museum
Port Allen, LA booked -
January 28–March 16, 2022
Tullahoma Fine Arts Center
Tullahoma, TN booked -
April 6–May 25, 2022
East Texas Oil Museum
Kilgore, TX booked -
June 16–August 11, 2022
University of Arkansas, Pulaski Technical College
North Little Rock, AR booked -
September 1–October 20, 2022
Birthplace of Country Music
Bristol, VA booked -
November 10, 2022–January 7, 2023
Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanites
Texarkana, TX booked -
January 28–March 16, 2023
Hoover Presidential Library and Museum
West Branch, IA booked -
April 6–May 25, 2023
Delta Cultural Center
Helena, AR booked -
June 16–August 11, 2023
Chandler Museum
Chandler, AZ booked -
September 1–October 20, 2023
Chelsea District Library
Chelsea, MI booked -
November 10, 2023–January 7, 2024
Oxford Performing Arts Center
Oxford, AL booked -
January 28–March 16, 2024
Wassenberg Art Center
Van Wert, OH booked -
April 6–May 25, 2024
Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center
Gallatin, TN booked -
November 10, 2024–January 7, 2025
Coffeyville Convention and Visitors Bureau
Coffeyville, KS booked -
January 28–March 16, 2025
Fullerton Museum Center
Fullerton, CA booked -
April 6–May 25, 2025
40% Off
available -
June 16–August 11, 2025
Converse Library at Glenrock
Glenrock, WY booked -
September 1–October 20, 2025
EKU Center for the Arts
Richmond, KY booked -
November 10, 2025–January 7, 2026
Ellen Noel Art Museum
Odessa, TX booked -
January 28–March 16, 2026
Visit Rome Wisconsin
Rome, WI pending -
April 6–May 25, 2026
available -
June 16–August 11, 2026
available -
September 1–October 20, 2026
available -
November 10, 2026–January 7, 2027
available -
January 28–March 16, 2027
Refurbishment at M-AAA
Kansas City, MO booked -
June 16–August 11, 2027
available -
September 1–October 20, 2027
available -
November 10, 2027–January 7, 2028
available -
January 28–March 16, 2028
available -
April 6 –May 25, 2028
available -
June 16–August 11, 2028
available -
September 1–October 20, 2028
available -
November 10, 2028–January 7, 2029
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January 28–March 16, 2029
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April 6–May 25, 2029
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June 16–August 11, 2029
available
Exhibition Details
32 photographs by Dan Poush and Gene Beley and 2 works of ephemera
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Content
Fee Includes
Press Kit
Registrar’s Packet
Programming Guide
Gallery Guide
Text Panels
Narrative Labels
Full Insurance
Installation Instructions
Custom-Designed and Built Crates -
Curated By
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Organized By
ExhibitsUSA, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO
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Out-of-Region Rental Fee
$3200
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In-Region Rental Fee
$2520
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Duration
7-week display
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Shipping
Common Carrier
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Running Feet
105
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Square Feet
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Security
Limited
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Number of Crates/Total Weight
3 crates estimated/ TBD weight
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Insurance
The exhibition is fully insured by ExhibitsUSA at no additional expense to you, both while installed and during transit.
Downloads & Resources
Click HERE to view and download the Factsheet for 1968: A Folsom Redemption.