John Henry

_JH: Mechanics of a Legend_ is a devised work using period accounts, scholarly articles, and the language of engineering to explore the legend of John Henry and its implications today.

Picking Cotton

Slavery: The Agricultural Machine

Polly Ann

The Engineer

Devising the formula and system of work which supports him

The Mechanic tallies the work

Work calculations transforming the engineers formula into the mechanical system

The broken machine

The civil war dismantles the machine of slavery and forces the engineer from his position

A moment of hope in post-war

A new machine?

Plans are handed down

No work

Implementing the new design

Incarceration of the unemployed

Applying the design

Reconstruction: the new machine

Building the new system

Domestic Systems

Breaking point

Breaking point

A man ain't nothin' but a man

Racing the steam drill

The steam drill beaten

Celebration

John Henry lays his hammer down

He died with his hammer in his hand.

New Hazlett - JH plot

Additions to New Hazlett Theatre's rep plot for the CSA series production of JH. Drawn in Vectorworks 2014