If you could choose your last meal, what would you choose? Would you choose a family favorite, most indulgent food, or a comfort food? Most of us do not know when our life will end, or when our last meal will be.
One group that does have this choice is individuals who are scheduled to die as part of their prison sentence, and on death row. Prisoners are allowed to choose their last meal, which is often called a “special meal.” According to the artist Jason Metcalf, “in most cases, prisoners have been served whatever they request. However, some have chosen to decline their last meal, while other requests such as “a cup of dirt” or “Justice, Equality, World Peace” have been denied or left unfulfilled.”
Last month, at the experimental food and art space, Thankyou For Coming, Jason Metcalf prepared, fulfilled, and served the special meal requests of death row prisoners. Some of the meals are from well-known individuals, and some of the meals were never served, and were denied. The artist did the project hoping to prompt guests to think about the significance of food in their lives. The artist Metcalf states that, “I am not looking to promote a specific agenda or perspective surrounding the death penalty or the prison system, although I am definitely interested in a dialogue happening as the project unfolds – and it no doubt will.”
During August, visitors to the space could choose a special meal from the Special Meal menu.
For the first week of the project, here are some of the selections that were served, listed with the prisoners’ names:
James Russell – An Apple
Gerald Lee Mitchell – 1 bag of assorted Jolly Ranchers
Charles Rumbaugh – One flour tortilla and water
Velma Barfield – Declined. Had Cheez Doodles and a can of Coca-Cola instead
Karla Faye Tucker – Banana, peach, and garden salad with ranch dressing
Victor Feguer – A single olive with the pit still in it
Gary Michael Heidnik – Two slices of cheese pizza and two cups of black coffee
Phillip Workman – A large vegetarian pizza to be given to a homeless person
Mario Marquez – Fried chicken, baked potato, cinnamon roll
Perry Smith – Shrimp, french fries, garlic bread, ice cream, strawberries, whipped cream
You can read more about how the project went at the Thankyou For Coming website.
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