The dream home of a man in solitary confinement: Darkroom catches up with ‘Herman’s House’ filmmaker Angad Singh Bhalla

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What kind of house does a man who has lived in a 6′ x 9′ box for over 30 years dream of?

In 2002, after months of correspondence, artist Jackie Sumell posed that exact question to Herman Wallace, who may be the longest-serving prisoner in solitary confinement in the United States. The answer to that question inspired a decade-long friendship between the two and is the basis for the international art exhibition “The House that Herman Built” — a first step in making Wallace’s dream home a reality.

The friendship between Sumell and Wallace, the injustice of solitary confinement and the power of art is at the heart of “Herman’s House,” a documentary from filmmaker Angad Singh Bhalla. The Darkroom caught up with Bhalla ahead of the doc’s national debut on PBS’ POV July 8.
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