The painting Burger, Fries, and Ice Cream at Dairy Queen was the first of Julie Green's pieces in this exhibition that truly struck out to me. It was one of the first paintings I observed, in a reddish-pink color that reminded me of the logo today. I chose this piece because Dairy Queen was something I recognized at first place and something I connected too because I have been there so many times. The gold leaf surrounding the Dairy Queen sign and the retro style of the painting, with the older cars in front of the vintage-looking building, were two of the first things that struck me. The golf leaf I believe represents a medal of honor as of sort by going to Dairy Queen as their first meal out. As if this was their reward. The older cars in the front I think are a symbol of something from the past that will live on forever. Although these classic cars aren’t around as much they are still a part of history. I didn't see further elements in the picture until I read the caption to the side that related to the story of this exoneree. The Native American buttons on the bottom, the feather in the logo, the patterns in the corner, the embroidered work "sundaes," and the feather in the logo. Ted Bradford is Native American and he is from Yakima County, Washington. Ted was convicted in 1996 of Sexual Assault, Burglary, and Unlawful Entry. Despite the fact that Bradford did not match the victim's description and she didn't identify him as her attacker, authorities decided because of his past crimes that he was the most likely suspect. His alibi that he was working at the time fell through due to a clerical error at work, leaving only his wife's intention to pick him up from work as proof. Truly a sad case unfortunate events. Bradford spent nine years in prison before being released on community supervision, and it wasn't until the Innocence Project Northwestern Clinic took up his case in 2002 that DNA evidence revealed he wasn't the perpetrator. His case was retried in February 2010 and he was acquitted. You cannot begin to imagine the pain he must have been through to be in jail knowing that he did not commit the crime. It literally took years off his life. You can't have those years back. Bradford was released almost 15 years after being charged with this crime, 9 of which he spent in prison. When he was first released, all he wanted was a Dairy Queen burger, fries, and ice cream, a standard American fast food meal. Dairy Queen is depicted in this painting, which is most likely the one Bradford is thinking about because he has no idea how it has changed in the years he has been in prison. The way it's painted reflects this remembrance. The pouring lines and fuzzy appearance of parts of the artwork give me the impression that it is disappearing. “ The body of the performer in situations where the codes that regulate everyday activity can be made explicit. “ I think this quote relates to the piece because Ted Bradford was convicted based on his past crimes alone. So his part in past crime made this one explicit but it was one he did not commit. “
One work from the exhibition Thank God, I’m Home: First Meal that stands out to me is Julie Green’s Holding Orange for Jason Strong, 2018. The painting is big, with a surface containing the entire discussion that sparked the piece, as well as a corner of another plate. The objects are put against a background of broad lines that are meant to represent a table holding plates/dishes. The main plate has detailed decorations, featuring cardinals and violets. It also features photos of orange trees, an orange-holding hand, a bacon cheeseburger, a traditional Asian building, and several other plants. The main thing I took away from my visit to this work was the emphasis on the power of choice and how their rights basically vanish once someone enters the justice system. It doesn't end there though. A lot of things change even after being in prison. You can not get a lot of jobs that everyday people can. Some go into Witness Protection to protect themselves and others, and are forced to start a new life. People who are not in the justice system take life for granted. We truly do not appreciate what we have until it's gone. It is the sad truth. It's difficult for some people to understand being denied simple rights, but this is the reality for many people who are incarcerated in the United States. It's also important to consider how vital it is for individuals who are confined to lose the same things. This piece Holding Orange for Jason Strong emphasizes how incarceration directly corresponds to a person's deprivation and absence of options, from what they can do or eat to who and when they can see, and asks issues for its audience about how this equates to justice. It is a mental block they will have to go through for a long time to truly be happy again. “ The tailor is open for business and visitors are welcome to have a suit mailed to them at the cost of its production “. I chose this quote because it represents something people can do everyday but people who have their rights taken away can’t do. That is the real meaning behind this.
BY : Jose Bejerano
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