Richard Phillips said he didn害羞草研究所檛 mope much during the 45 years he wrongfully spent in prison. He painted watercolours in his cell: warm landscapes, portraits of famous people like Mother Teresa, vases of flowers, a bassist playing jazz.
害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 actually think I害羞草研究所檇 ever be free again. This art is what I did to stay sane,害羞草研究所� the 73-year-old said.
Phillips could be eligible for more than $2 million under a Michigan law that compensates the wrongly convicted , but the state so far is resisting and the matter is unsettled. So he害羞草研究所檚 displaying roughly 50 of his more than 400 watercolours at a Detroit-area gallery and is willing to sell them.
His paintings are precious to him, but he said he has no choice: He needs money.
Phillips was released from custody in 2017 and, in 2018, became the longest-serving U.S. inmate to win exoneration. He was cleared of a 1971 homicide after an investigation by University of Michigan law students and the Wayne County prosecutor害羞草研究所檚 office.
Phillips is showing his work at an art gallery inside Level One Bank in Ferndale, a Detroit suburb. A reception was planned for Friday night.
害羞草研究所淎re you the artist? God bless you. Beautiful,害羞草研究所� a bank customer said while admiring a painting of five musicians Thursday.
Phillips said he bought painting supplies by selling handmade greeting cards to other inmates. He followed a strict routine of painting each morning while his cellmate was elsewhere. He was sometimes inspired by photos in newspapers and liked to use bright colours that didn害羞草研究所檛 spill into each other.
But a cramped cell isn害羞草研究所檛 an art studio. Phillips said prison rules prevented him from keeping his paintings so he regularly shipped them to a pen pal.
After he was exonerated, Phillips rode a bus to New York state last fall to visit the woman. He was pleased to find she still had the paintings.
害羞草研究所淭hese are like my children,害羞草研究所� Phillips, a former auto worker, said during a tour with The Associated Press.
害羞草研究所淏ut I don害羞草研究所檛 have any money. I don害羞草研究所檛 have a choice. Without this, I害羞草研究所檇 have a cup on the corner begging for nickels and dimes. I害羞草研究所檓 too old to get a job,害羞草研究所� he said.
Wayne County prosecutor Kym Worthy supports Phillips害羞草研究所� effort to be compensated for his years in prison. Michigan害羞草研究所檚 new attorney general, Dana Nessel, is reviewing the case. It害羞草研究所檚 complicated because he has a separate disputed conviction in Oakland County that害羞草研究所檚 still on the books, spokeswoman Kelly Rossman-McKinney said.
Phillips害羞草研究所� attorney, Gabi Silver, who has helped him adjust to a life of freedom, said the paintings are inspirational.
害羞草研究所淭o suffer what he has suffered, to still be able to find good in people and to still be able to see the beauty in life 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 remarkable,害羞草研究所� she said.
Ed White, The Associated Press
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