Last Meal: Ruben Cantu, the first painting of my continuing series on capital punishment has toured to Houston, TX and is currently on display at M2 Gallery. It was one of 55 pieces chosen for exhibit in Justice For All? Artists Reflect on the Death Penalty and was originally exhibited at the Lombardi Gallery in Austin in May of last year. (A show that the Austin Chronicle proclaimed “nothing short of powerful.” )Ruben Cantu was seventeen years old at the time of the offence for which he was wrongly convicted. After sentencing, he wrote to the people of San Antonio:“My name is Ruben M. Cantu and I am only 18 years old. I got to the 9th grade and I have been framed in a capital murder case." His last meal consisted of barbecue chicken, brown rice, refried beans and sweet tea. His request for bubble gum was denied.
His innocence is now widely accepted; it is believed that a close family member who fled to Mexico was the actual perpetrator of the crime.
All jury-selected works for are available for viewing on the Justice for All? website and include audio statements by the artists.
My continuing series of paintings protesting capital punishment is regularly updated on the last meals page of my artist website.
My continuing series of paintings protesting capital punishment is regularly updated on the last meals page of my artist website.
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