Through his sculpture installation, titled The Metal Man, artist Danny Killion draws from his personal experience in prison to offer a poignant portrayal of the labor of incarcerated individuals at New-Gate[1]. Killion’s piece speaks to the variety and impact of historical prison labor roles, such as blacksmiths and coopers[2], in tandem with the modern-day prevalence of prison labor. Unveiled in 2023– commemorating 250 years since the prison’s founding to share an important message– the sculpture makes a point to depict a pained, grieving expression on the subject’s face; the industrial style of the sculpture further illustrates the personal toll of human worth being reduced to their physical output.
[1] “Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine, East Granby–Events and Programs.” CT.gov. Accessed July 3, 2023. https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Historic-Preservation/04_State_Museums/Old-Newgate-Prison-and-Copper-Mine/Events-and-Programs.
[2] Mangan, Gregg. “Notorious New-Gate Prison.” Connecticut History | a CTHumanities Project – Stories about the people, traditions, innovations, and events that make up Connecticut’s rich history., October 18, 2021. https://connecticuthistory.org/notorious-new-gate-prison/.