Alcatraz : Destination Prison
According to Indian oral history, Alcatraz was first used as a place of isolation or ostracism for tribal members.
Resurrecting its multiple histories as a farm, prison, and tourist destination, Destination Prison offers a new societal instrument almagated from these histories.
PRISON
The maximum security prison incarcerates celebrities and entertainers, for both short and long sentences. By prison standards, Alcatraz is luxurious, but that does not mean it is insufficient. Once prisoners are placed on Alcatraz they are given no special treatment from other prisoners.
Cells resemble those used during the prison’s previous activity, though with some technological improvements.
Lights go out at 10:30 pm and prisoners are awake and out of their cell at 6 am.
Prisoners receive very warm showers to inhibit acclimation to the cold waters that surround the prison.
No physical training, beyond farming, is allowed to prevent escape.While at Alcatraz, prisoners are expected to be productive in their respective professional industry. Crews of filmmakers, recording engineers, literary agents and other producers are staffed to facilitate productivity.(Permits to use inmates in outside productions are available, though the inmate is not permitted to leave Alcatraz) Royalties from these productions help fund the prison.
FARMING
Prisoners start the day with farming. Farming instills a sense of community as well as exercise.Due to San Francico’s mild climate, much of the food prisoners consume is grown on the island.
Year-round, the community garden grows almonds, arugula, apples, apricots, asparagus, avocado, beats, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collard greens, fennel, grapefruit, kale, leeks, lettuce, oranges, pistachios, potatoes, sage, thyme, walnuts, and wheat; seasonal foods are also cultivated.
TOURISM
Alcatraz offers visitors a first hand experience to see the famous and infamous incarcerated. Tours of each inmate are scheduled; come see behind the scene of prison productions!The Island Café serves locally harvested organics prepared by the world class chef Jeff Henderson (author of Cooked: My Journey from the Streets to the Stove)