Art to Live By

Injustice Denied by Daniel Gwynn, 197th Death Row Exoneree since 1973 -“For 23 years I’ve been sitting here trapped in a box where the days just tick away, the walls closing in like a trash compactor crushing all hopes, dreams, and life. I paint to heal and survive. This is my art. This is my story.”

Art to Live By is an art exhibit organized by the Student Organization for Legal Issues Concerning Drug-Use (SOLID), Pennsylvanian's for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, Amnesty International, and other abolitionist organizations, that seeks to raise awareness of efforts to repeal the death penalty in Pennsylvania and engage the greater community in open discussion.

The interactive exhibit features artwork by activist Scott Langley, death row exoneree Daniel Gwynn, and the exhibit’s attendees. Attendees are invited to lend their own creativity to the cause by making their own postcard art. These postcards are sent to Pennsylvania legislators asking them to abolish the death penalty.

On February 20th, 2025, SOLID unveiled the exhibit on the fourth floor of Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law. Death Penalty Policy Project Director and Temple Professor Rob Dunham and Executive Director of Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Kathleen Lucas came to discuss systemic problems with capital punishment, U.S. drug manufacturers, and execution secrecy. Afterwards, SOLID led attendees in a social justice art-making exercise.

The artwork will be on exhibit for several months and students are welcome to come and view the work. If you would like to send a postcard to your legislator, cards and art supplies are available on the fourth floor. We encourage participants to create their own artwork or personal message on the blank side of the postcard. When you are finished, please return the card to the box and SOLID will send it out for you.

Legal Quagmire by Daniel Gwynn

For more of Daniel Gwynn and Scott Langley's artwork and photography please click here.