Artists' reception: Saturday, September 6th from 5-10pm
Jello Biafra and Winona Ryder spoke opening night
(a copy of Winona Ryder's speach can be found here.)

sixspace is honored to be hosting the exhibition Cruel and Unusual featuring the works of talented and generous artists who have joined together in the effort to raise awareness about the unjust convictions of the West Memphis Three: Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley. This exhibition, which marks the tenth anniversary of their arrest on June 3, 1993, features works based on the concept dealing with the ordeal of the WM3. The aim of this exhibition is to raise defense funds, public awareness, interest in the case, and to highlight the injustice of their current situation. The combination of case education via lectures and the impact of the artwork in Cruel and Unusual will prove to be an intensely emotional and profound statement about these wrongful convictions. It will also shed light with the public about the overall injustices in our legal system.

Participating artists range from notable and influential musicians to today’s best contemporary artists. A lecture from political activist and legendary singer Jello Biafra will take place on opening night and additional lectures, including one by the case lawyers, are being planned.

How did this benefit come to be? Not long after three 8 year-old boys were murdered and mutilated in a small Arkansas town in 1993, the newspapers were stating that the killers had been caught. The police assured the public that they were completely confident that the three young suspects they had captured were the people responsible for this horrible crime. Evidence? These police officers believed that Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley were members of a devil-worshiping cult that performed human sacrifices in the woods behind a truck stop in West Memphis, Arkansas. They managed to coerce a disjointed and error filled "confession" from Jessie, who is mentally handicapped and had been subjected to an entire day of questioning. Jessie soon recanted, but it was too late. All three teenagers were arrested and convicted. Damien was sentenced to death for the murders even though there was no physical evidence, no motive, no murder weapon and no connection to the victims. Jason and Jessie were sentenced to life without parole.

Ten years have passed, and all three young men are still in prison. Damien is still waiting for the lethal injection that your tax dollars will pay for. Anyone who has the time to look closely at this case will see exactly what happened. A serious lack of money and resources combined with ignorance and a rush to judgment condemned these three young men. There's still hope for them, and you can help.

100% of the proceeds from Cruel and Unusual will go towards the West Memphis Three Legal Defense Fund.

For more info on the WM3, please visit WM3.org

Mara Leveritt, Author of Devil's Knot will be holding a book signing at the reception.

Special Limited Edition WM3 Boards by pro skater Laban Pheidias will be available at the exhibition.