Thursday, July 29 at 7:00pm
Chagrin Arts and the Ohio Innocence Project have a powerful partnership that brings together the arts as an entry point for discussion to bring awareness, educate and tell the real-life stories of those men and women who have been wrongfully convicted. This Common Ground introduces you to Robert McClendon who served 18 years of his life in prison for a crime he did not commit before being exonerated through the efforts of the OIP. The discussion will be facilitated by Alec Berezin, a retired Cleveland attorney and an OIP Board member. In the Chagrin Arts Gallery is an exhibit called "Resurrected: The Innocence Portraits". These paintings by artist Dan Bolick captures the anger, bitterness, hope, acceptance, salvation and the ultimate resurrection of three Ohio residents who experienced this intolerable circumstance. Mr. Bolick's hope is that these paintings will raise awareness about the failings of the criminal justice system. Robert will share his personal story and what it is like to have it captured on canvas by Mr. Bolick. The hope that this Common Ground will open people's hearts and minds to understanding wrongful conviction, the devastation it causes in individuals, families and communities, while showcasing the resilience, strength, courage, and talents of OIP's clients.