1968: A Folsom Redemption
ON LOAN FROM EXHIBITS USA, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, AND MID-AMERICA ARTS ALLIANCE
The Man in Black is coming to Odessa, Texas! Featuring stunning photographs from Johnny Cash’s iconic performances at Folsom State Prison, 1968: A Folsom Redemption captures one of the most transformative moments in American music history.
In January of 1968, Johnny Cash walked into Folsom Prison in Folsom, California with his guitar and an idea that would change his life and the landscape of country music forever. At a low point in his career, Cash seized the chance to record a live album before an audience of incarcerated men. What began as a bold experiment became a moment of revival, redemption, and cultural legacy that continues to resonate decades later. This exhibition commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of that landmark event through a remarkable collection of photographs and stories by freelance journalists Dan Poush and Gene Beley, two of the few people granted access behind the prison gates. Their candid images document both the electricity of Cash’s onstage performance and the quiet, human moments behind the scenes—revealing the deep connection he forged with his audience that day.
This traveling exhibition features over thirty rare photographs, including behind-the-scenes moments with Cash’s family and friends, as well as encounters with country legends such as Merle Haggard. Together, these images shed new light on the legendary performance and the Man in Black’s enduring empathy for the downtrodden.
More than a concert, 1968: A Folsom Redemption captures a powerful story of second chances—for Cash, for his audience, and for the spirit of American music itself.
Dan Poush, In Anaheim, March 1, 1969; digital scan of original negative, 20 x 18 3/8 inches; Courtesy of the John R. Cash Revocable Trust.
Dan Poush, Before the First Performance; Blowing Smoke Rings, January 13, 1968; digital scan from original negative, 20 x 13 3/8 inches; Courtesy of the John R. Cash Revocable Trust.
This exhibition will be on view at the Ellen Noël Art Museum in Odessa, Texas, from December 6th, 2025 through March 15th, 2026. The Museum is open from Tuesday through Sunday, 12–5 PM, with extended hours on Thursdays until 8 PM. As always, admission is free to the public.
Special thanks to the following institutions for making this exhibition possible!
