wabi-sabi saturday – the eastern state pen

This prison was the world’s first true Penitentiary, a building designed to inspire

penitence (or true regret) in the hearts of criminals.

Its vaulted, sky-lit cells held many of America’s most notorious criminals, including bank robber

“Slick Willie” Sutton and “Scarface” Al Capone. 

The prison stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and a surprising, eerie beauty.

Those are the words direct from their brochure, and to me it’s the perfect summary.  But first, how does one end up in Philadelphia visiting the Eastern State Penitentiary?  A wonderful opportunity coordinated by PWP, Professional Women Photographers, headquartered in NYC.  Their outings never disappoint.  It was a rise and shine morning on a gorgeous spring day, a brisk walk across Central Park to the East Side of Manhattan to hop a bus headed to Philly!

If you’re a lover of creepy, decrepit, and historic buildings this is an absolute must-see and an overabundance of wabi-sabi.  Since there were so many incredible captures (no pun intended), I’ll just showcase some of my favorites!

Every day prisoners at Eastern State would spend every hour except for one in a cell with a toilet, a table, a bunk bed and a Bible.  When the prisoners did leave their cells, a black hood would be placed over their head so they couldn’t see others as they were guided through the hallways.   They lived a life in solitude and would only get a glimpse of sunlight, known as “The Eye of God” which came through a slit in the prison ceiling.

Walking through the hallways and in and out of cells was it the peeling paint on the walls, or a ray of light showcasing an old bench or a broken commode, or reflections caught when least expected…perhaps it was a combination that brought a feel of eeriness, abandonment and pain.

Only seen by joining in on a five minute tour called Leaving Their Mark, a guide showed me inmates’ graffiti that would have otherwise been missed. In cellblock 8, layers of paint have chipped away to reveal an eye. A way for prisoners to deal with confinement, this particular drawing was completed above the cell door, the only place a guard wouldn’t be able to see.  Probably drawn by pencil, a single teardrop drips from the eye.  Was this a sketch of the prisoner’s eye? Was it of someone on the outside? Perhaps a loved one?  Or was it depicting the guards watchful eye?  Was it the “Eye of God?” Was the person in the tear drop crawling out or trying to crawl in?  Whatever the answer, it was powerful.

One of the most infamous inmates of all time was Al Capone.  He was allowed comforts not granted to other inmates…fine furniture, oriental rugs, oil paintings and a fancy radio.  This room was one of only a few cells that has been restored, taking you back in time to the days of the early 1900’s.

Of course a photography outing is never complete without a little abstract thrown in!

Many people have claimed to see ghostly images roaming the hallways and many people have claimed to hear strange sounds, perhaps this is why Time magazine included the penitentiary in their Top 10 Most Haunted Places in the World!  All I know is this trip will be one of several back to Philly to continue to capture (and improve on) those haunting images!