OFF TO CONNETICUT...

...well, not me personally, but more Last Meals paintings are on the move!

Crossroads II
Explorations of Social and Environmental Issues
Conrad Mallet Gallery
Hartford, Conneticut
June 7 -30

3 pieces have been selected for this show - above from left to right - Last Meal: Stanley "Tookie Williams, Last Meal: Cameron Todd Willingham, and Last Meal: James Colburn (last exhibited at Gallery Gachet in Vancouver) For complete artist statements on these 3 paintings check out the Last Meals section of my website.

W LIT COMING TO GALLERY GACHET

There's nothing better to an artist than good news in their inbox (well, except pehaps a cheque from the gallery and a new tube of paint) and news of an upcoming show is the best kind of all for me.

No details as of yet, but my series of lightboxes will be on display at Gallery Gachet in November. I'm really excited to be bringing my Woodwards artwork to the Woodwards neighbourhood and will keep you up to date as it gets closer - count on it!

Postcards from Kaslo

Back from the Kootenays

Returned home from the Kaslo and my show at the Langham Cultural Centre late yesterday afternoon. It's great to be back, but my walls seem much barer than usual.

The Langham is a heritage building restored by a group of Langham artists and residents in the early 1970's -- their hardwork and perseverance not only created a physical cultural centre but the legacy of a vibrant and committed community of artists of all disciplines who devote as much volunteer time and energy to booking its many performances and gallery shows as they probably do to their own artistic practices. Everyone we met was friendly and open and went out of their way to make us feel welcome (they also put a lot of effort into making sure my opening reception was a success.)

Around sixty people turned out, and as the evening lengthened, the music got louder and much wine was consumed. Enough wine eventually (if not other sundry substances) that a couple of patrons took turns plunging the gallery into darkness to enjoy the illuminated light boxes all the better. I'll post some pictures at a later date.

An extra special thanks to everyone on their board (especially Regina, Kendrick, Anne & Emily) for all their hard work in putting the show together and, of course to Dan for all of his patience plus all the driving to and from.

Taking \Vancouver on the road & getting out of jail free!

It's been a busy couple of weeks but I've got 2 shows in April for those of you in a travelling mood!


\Vancouver

Langham Cultural Centre
Kaslo, BC
April 6 - May 5

Building on last year’s Britannia Gallery show, this solo exhibition features new cityscapes and lightboxes that continue to explore themes of ordinary beauty and how it relates to history and memory within our communities.

I will be on hand for the opening reception on Friday, April 6 from 7-9 pm, so if you're in the Kootenays with no plans for Easter weekend, you know where to be.

All new work is available for viewing online in my cityscapes section.

And for those of you craving California...

Get Out of Jail Free
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Gallery

San Francisco

April 1 - 30

Last Meal: Stanley ‘Tookie’ Williams, the fourth painting in my continuing series on capital punishment will be shown as part of the Get Out of Jail Free exhibition in San Francisco. It will be on display April 1- 30 at the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Gallery with an Artists Reception on April 12.

From my artist statement -

The execution of Crips co-founder Stanley Tookie Williams in 2005 raised international debate in regards to the question of redemption vs guilt. A notorious gangbanger who later went on to write children’s book warning about the dangers of gang life, Williams was denied clemency by Governor Schwarzenegger for his refusal to admit guilt in the murders of which he was convicted. Williams refused the privilege of a last meal and instead had a bowl of oatmeal and milk.

Students Tour Death Penalty Art Show at Alternative Spring Break

Students on Anti Death Penalty Spring Break toured the Death Penalty Art Show at the Texas State Capitol this past week and videotaped the artworks on display (including Last Meal: Ruben Cantu) as well as met with State Representative Borris Miles. Rep. Miles was the official responsible for the recent art show controversy when he illegally removed two artworks he deemed to be offensive.

- Kate MacDonald

Letters to the Editor About Death Penalty Art Show Controversy

Click here for a comprehensive list of articles about the Death Penalty Art Show Controversy at the Texas State Capitol.

The Austin Chronicle has another letter-to-the-editor in this week's edition about the art exhibition I participated in at the Texas State Capitol in which State Representative Borris Miles illegally and inappropriately removed two works he considered offensive.

IF STATE REPS CAN STEAL, WHY CAN'T THE REST OF US?

Dear Editor,

As an artist, musician, and writer, I was horrified by state Rep. Borris Miles’ action in stealing artwork from an anti-death-penalty exhibition at the Capitol and the legal and public apathy in its wake [“State Representative: Let’s Hang the Artist,” News, March 30]. I brightened, however, when it hit me that, if all I have to do is adopt a stance of righteous indignation, change some language, and abuse my position as an elected official (two out of three ain’t bad), then I, too, can not only publicly confess to stealing but get away with it with nary a raised eyebrow! Thanks to Mr. Miles and the trend he has set, I can now realize my lifelong dream of marching into the nearest Hallmark store and confiscating every glittery, heavy-lidded, huge-craniumed Precious Moments figurine on the shelves, stating that they offend my sensibility as an artist on one hand and as a human with a brain and a modicum of good taste on the other. I shall stash them in my studio and, when confronted, stand tall and proud, declaring that because I have decided for the rest of you that they are tacky and inappropriate, I stripped them from public view on my own initiative. Many of my friends who regularly compliment the emperor’s new clothes would agree with me. Once I start to feel the heat, I’ll simply say I gave the Precious Moments figurines back to a Hallmark employee, who will deny having them, and no one will “seem to know where [they] have gone” at press time.The sad truth is that there never would have been an issue if Mr. Miles had taken five minutes to go to the information desk and inquire about the nature of the exhibition.And I’d be arrested and jailed if I took Precious Moments figurines, because people care about Precious Moments and collect them, whereas what Mr. Miles took was just a couple of anti-death-penalty paintings that don’t matter, made by some chick from Portland, Ore., and some black guy on death row. Right, Mr. Miles?

Yours in fear for what’s left of our First Amendment rights,
Jennie Kay Snyder

- Kate MacDonald

Controversy at Death Penalty Art Show

LAWMAKER TAKES OFFENSE TO CAPITOL ART DISPLAY

Execution Images Removed by Houston Legislator

By W. Gardner Selby
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, March 13, 2007

State Rep. Borris Miles removed two pieces of art from public view in the Texas Capitol Extension on Monday, calling them appallingly objectionable, especially with children milling about.
Miles, D-Houston, removed a color painting showing a black man hanging from a rope. In the background, another black man stands behind bars. Miles also removed a black-and-white illustration showing a man tied to an electric chair with the inscription "Doing God's Work."

The Capitol "is no place for this display," said Miles, who is African American. He said the pieces will stay in his office until someone claims them.

The works were part of an exhibit put up by the Texas Moratorium Network, which is seeking a two-year moratorium on executions.

Scott Cobb of Austin, president of the group, said he intends to speak with Miles.

"The purpose of the show is to spark civic engagement around the issues of the death penalty, particularly the risk of executing an innocent person," Cobb said.

In an e-mail to colleagues, Miles wrote, "I was greeted with these images as I walked through the halls of the extension this morning with my two children, ages five and eight. I consider them to be extremely inappropriate and highly objectionable. Capitol exhibits are supposed to serve a public purpose or be informational in nature. These pictures were hung with no accompanying text or explanation.

"I have spoken with staff at the State Preservation Board regarding the process for selecting exhibits and the oversight responsibility for items selected for display. I am sending these for your review and comment on the pictures and the process by which items for public display in the Capitol and Extension buildings are selected and approved."

Miles later called the displayed works "an innocent mistake." He added that procedures are needed for what goes on display.

Julie Fields, spokeswoman for the preservation board, said the agency does not edit exhibits properly sponsored by legislators — in this case, Rep. Harold Dutton Jr., D-Houston. Dutton did not immediately return a call for comment.

Last Meal: Ruben Cantu at Texas State Capitol

I'm proud to report that following the success of the Justice For All? show at Gallery M Squared in Houston, Texas, Last Meal: Ruben Cantu was one of only eleven pieces chosen for exhibit at the Texas State Capitol building in Austin.

From my artist statement on this piece-

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.

Cantu's innocence is now widely accepted; it is believed that a close family member who returned to Mexico was the actual perpetrator of the crime.

...travels to the city most likely to execute

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.

Justice For All - Video of Selected Death Penalty Artworks

The Texas Moratorium Network has created a video of the artwork featured in last month's show Artists Against the Death Penalty at Gallery Lombardi in Austin, Texas, including my painting Last Meal: Ruben Cantu.

Kate MacDonald

Curator Discusses Death Penalty Art Show

Thanks to Scott Cobb and the Texas Moratorium Network for posting this video of Annette Carlozzi (Senior Curator of the Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art) introducing the Justice For All? Death Penalty Art Show and explaining the jury decisions in regards to the artwork selection.

The Justice For All? show opened at Gallery Lombardi in Austin, Texas last month and features my painting Last Meal: Ruben Cantu, the first in my continuing series of paintings about the death penalty. From my artist statement -

"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 was the actual perpetrator of the crime."

Last Meal: Ruben Cantu was one of 50 pieces of artwork chosen from over 300 international entries.



Kate MacDonald

Death Penalty Art Show Opens May 6 in Austin, TX

Justice For All? Artists Against The Death Penalty
May 6 -22, 2006
Gallery Lombardi
602 West 7th Street
Austin, Texas

Going to be in Austin? Then pop into Gallery Lombardi and check out Justice For all? Artists Against the Death Penalty where my painting Last Meal: Ruben Cantu is one of 50 works selected from over 300 international entries.


Last Meal: Ruben Cantu is the first in my series of paintings that reflect on the death penalty. The second painting in my continuing series protesting capital punishment, Last Meal: James Colburn will be exhibited closer to home when it appears in the World Mad Pride show at Gallery Gachet next month.

Kate MacDonald