C You Saturday! – October 2024
Please join us at ICA San Diego / North on Saturday, October 19 in celebration of Melissa Walter: Plexus.
This free art event in San Diego is part of ICA’s commitment to reduce barriers to contemporary art in our community.
4 PM – 6 PM | All Ages Art Activity
Dive into the fascinating world where art meets science! Join us for a hands-on project inspired by San Diego-based artist Melissa Walter. Learn how Walter uses abstraction to make complex scientific ideas—like DNA technology and its impact on justice—more accessible. Craft your own coil clay pot, inspired by the double helix structure of DNA. Unleash your creativity while exploring how art can bring science to life!
5:00 – 6:00 PM | Panel discussion w/Melissa Walter
Join exhibiting artist Melissa Walter for a special panel discussion on the role of DNA identification technology within the criminal justice system. Walter will be joined by Megan Baca, from California Innocence Advocates; Mehul Anjaria, of MBA DNA Consulting; Mike Semanchik, of The Innocence Center; and Luis Vargas, a life coach with the Anti Recidivism Coalition.
Megan Baca, California Innocence Advocades
Since 2017, Megan Baca has helped to free ten individuals who were wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit and who cumulatively spent nearly 250 years in prison. Prior to founding California Innocence Advocates, Megan worked as the Assistant Legal Director and Director of Investigations at Loyola Project for the Innocent (LPI). Before serving as a director at LPI, Megan served as a post-conviction investigator in 2017 and went on to become a staff attorney in 2018. There, Megan trained and supervised scores of law students and taught classes on wrongful conviction, and post-conviction investigation and litigation.
Mehul Anjaria, MBA DNA Consulting
In his 28-year forensic science career Mehul B. Anjaria has seen the front lines of all sides of the criminal justice system and now enjoys the challenge of bridging science and law. He is a member of the Panel of Expert Witnesses of the County of Los Angeles Superior Court. In 2009 he founded MBA DNA Consulting, LLC to assist criminal defense/civil attorneys and Pro Per inmates struggling with complicated forensic DNA issues in their cases. His previous experience includes serving as a DNA Technical Leader in a law enforcement crime laboratory and co-founding and directing the first DNA laboratory in California accredited under ISO/IEC standards. In 2017 he began working as a consultant on post-conviction cases.
Mike Semanchik, The Innocence Center
Michael Semanchik is the Executive Director of The Innocence Center (TIC), a national organization focused on freeing people who were wrongfully convicted, raising awareness about these cases, and supporting those who have been exonerated. Throughout his career, he has helped free 12 innocent people who together spent more than 200 years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. One of his most notable cases was helping exonerate NFL player Brian Banks, which earned him the Attorney of the Year award from California Lawyer Magazine in 2013. Michael has also spoken at schools and appeared in the media to discuss his work dozens of times. He is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Luis Vargas, Anti Recidivism Coalition
Luis Lorenzo Vargas is a life coach with the Anti Recidivism Coalition of Los Angeles conducting workshops at the California Men’s Colony State Prison in San Luis Obispo. He works to empower incarcerated individuals to become better people and find meaning in their life, and to change the culture inside of prison. Luis is a certified Alcohol Drug Services Specialist and holds an AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Math and Science, and Arts and Humanities. He is passionate about working with youth and minorities at risk and helping those that find themselves in the position he once found himself: lost and desperate. He aims to start his own foundation to help make this world a better place.
6 PM – 8 PM I Music
Enjoy curated tunes!
4 PM – 8 PM | Food, Drinks and Socializing
Come for contemporary art, including Manuel Alejandro Rodríguez-Delgado‘s Futuros Itinerantes, and stay for bites, drinks, and community.
We hope to C you there!
ICA San Diego / North
1578 S El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024
Saturday, October 19, 2024
4:00 – 8:00 PM
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RSVP to attend C You Saturday!
ICA members receive free drink tickets.
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