The Last Supper

November 21, 2021 10:17 PM

Julie Green (NYT obituary) spent the last two decades working on a monumental art project, The Last Supper, which chronicles the last meals of people about to be executed by the state in the USA. Each installment is a plate painted with an image of the last meal in cobalt blue glaze. She planned to stop the project when the death penalty was outlawed or she finished the thousandth plate, whichever came first. She finished the thousandth plate in September and ended her own life via physician-assisted suicide a few weeks later, on October 12th. Her plates are currently on display at the Bellevue Art Museum in Bellevue, WA.
posted by potrzebie (55 comments total)

{ snapshot of the nytimes link: https://archive.md/eJrCW }
posted by are-coral-made at 10:45 PM on November 21, 2021 [2 favorites]

I've rarely seen a recently deceased person who better deserves a .
posted by someothercraig at 11:29 PM on November 21, 2021 [6 favorites]

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posted by They sucked his brains out! at 12:23 AM on November 22, 2021

The most moving of these are the ones under "Exonerated" -- in full color.
posted by chavenet at 12:32 AM on November 22, 2021 [11 favorites]

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posted by Jubey at 1:04 AM on November 22, 2021

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posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 3:34 AM on November 22, 2021

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posted by The Baffled King at 4:05 AM on November 22, 2021

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posted by kinnakeet at 4:35 AM on November 22, 2021

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posted by jquinby at 4:43 AM on November 22, 2021

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posted by Thorzdad at 4:46 AM on November 22, 2021

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posted by TedW at 4:47 AM on November 22, 2021

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posted by Dhertiiboi at 4:50 AM on November 22, 2021

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posted by Phyllis keeps a tight rein at 4:54 AM on November 22, 2021

🍽️
posted by lalochezia at 5:12 AM on November 22, 2021 [2 favorites]

Oh my goodness. Everything about this story is so moving. What a project. Thanks for posting.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:14 AM on November 22, 2021 [3 favorites]

In Arkansas in 1992, a mentally disabled man asked for a pecan pie and, because he didn’t understand the concept of execution, said he intended to save it to eat afterward. What a mission to take on, and the work is exceptional. FFS, America, we must stop this. (We won't stop this.)

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posted by theora55 at 5:15 AM on November 22, 2021 [20 favorites]

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posted by allthinky at 5:33 AM on November 22, 2021

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A thousand and one times.
posted by ourobouros at 5:52 AM on November 22, 2021 [2 favorites]

Beautiful and terrible. Thanks for posting. It feels appropriate to drop a link to the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. We must stop this. We must never give up the fight.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 6:18 AM on November 22, 2021 [10 favorites]

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posted by verbminx at 6:48 AM on November 22, 2021

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posted by brand-gnu at 6:49 AM on November 22, 2021

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There are 14 states whose names do not appear on the page. Well done to them at least.
posted by OHenryPacey at 7:03 AM on November 22, 2021 [3 favorites]

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posted by mcbeth at 7:41 AM on November 22, 2021

Jesus.
This is…I don’t have words.
Thank you for posting this.
posted by bookmammal at 7:42 AM on November 22, 2021 [3 favorites]

A bowl of peaches.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 7:43 AM on November 22, 2021

Somehow the "meal of the day" ones get to me.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:48 AM on November 22, 2021

Thank you, potrzebie. I can’t get over the released man who spent 40 minutes cradling the unexpected gift of an orange after going decades without seeing one.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:06 AM on November 22, 2021 [6 favorites]

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posted by Bella Donna at 9:17 AM on November 22, 2021

I finally understand the why of . because I can’t even imagine what to say about this.


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posted by bq at 9:36 AM on November 22, 2021 [2 favorites]

What extraordinary, steady, caring work.


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posted by marlys at 9:37 AM on November 22, 2021

Wow.

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posted by bcd at 9:55 AM on November 22, 2021

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posted by carrioncomfort at 10:03 AM on November 22, 2021

Incredible, finishing your life's work, with the most condemning outcome to it's conception, then gracefully exits our shithole planet. Should've never gotten to the thousandth plate, she deserves rest but we still have work to do.
posted by GoblinHoney at 10:12 AM on November 22, 2021 [3 favorites]

well after seeing the birthday cake (indiana) I think I will be spending the rest of my day VERY drunk indeed.

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posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 10:19 AM on November 22, 2021 [3 favorites]

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Federal - we are not telling.
posted by Dotty at 11:09 AM on November 22, 2021 [2 favorites]

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posted by leslies at 12:36 PM on November 22, 2021

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posted by lisa g at 12:37 PM on November 22, 2021

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posted by adekllny at 2:48 PM on November 22, 2021

This is incredible. Thank you for posting.
posted by warriorqueen at 3:06 PM on November 22, 2021

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posted by Oyéah at 5:51 PM on November 22, 2021

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posted by MexicanYenta at 8:38 PM on November 22, 2021

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posted by lapolla at 1:22 AM on November 23, 2021

Stunning. I plan to see the exhibit in Bellevue WA while it's still there.
posted by travertina at 10:05 AM on November 23, 2021

The one that says “no ‘special meal’ request” got me. These are so moving and say so much.
posted by sucre at 5:17 PM on November 23, 2021

Some other coverage says Green preferred they/them for pronouns, I’m surprised the NYT didn’t catch that.

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posted by momus_window at 8:51 PM on November 23, 2021 [2 favorites]

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posted by wicked_sassy at 12:39 PM on November 29, 2021