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We must accept
FINITE disappointment,
but never lose
INFINITE hope .
—In My Own Words,
a collection of
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
sermons,
speeches, and writings
selected by his widow,
Coretta Scott King
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Learn More About
NINE Powerful Words
From
Martin Luther King Jr.
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finite / perish / monologue
content / meandering / injustice
succumb / conscientious / politic
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“ MLK
discerned
the
VIBRATION
of
EACH selected WORD
he used to
RE-WIRE
the brainbody
from the fear rooted pattern
spiral down of hopeless despair
to the risk of practicing
THE
SPIRAL UP
of
RADICAL HOPE! “
Catherine L. Johnson
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ACTIONS UP!
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THE HUMANITY PORTFOLIO
FRESHDRIEDBLOODIAMHUMAN Catherine L. Johnson 2013
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EXODUSIMFREEATLASTIAINTGOINGBACKIMFREE CATHERINE L. JOHNSON 2013
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HUMANLY POSSIBLE: THE EMPATHY EXHIBITION
IWISHIKNEW Catherine L. Johnson 2011
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THE HALL OF LAMENT:
STAND YOUR GROUND FOR TRAYVON MARTIN
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ISAIAH
FIRST LIGHT @ NIGHT
TWO INSTALLATIONS WITH AUDIO
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A STORY of THREE INDIVIDUALS
KINDNESS WARMS
HONORING INTEGRITY
IMPROVISATIONAL HUMANITY
15 January 2020
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The Ross Frame Shop
Minneapolis, Mn
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In Jim’s* own words
(*dear, dear, dear friend + my selected framer who knows the breath and dance of my art)
of his
special poignant encounter
with a
6 year old boy
on
15 January 2020.
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“A Mother and little boy came into the shop
towards closing.
I asked if she was her to “pick up”?
She said no,
her son wanted to come in to meet me and see the shop.
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I smiled and introduced myself to him,
shook his hand
and said,
WOW!
I used to have choppers (leather mittens) just like yours!
Keeps your hands nice and warm, I remember.
He smiled and agreed.
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I then told him I have been here a long time
and
some of my customers children have already grown up,
and
they are even in their 40’s now!
The mom was amazed
and
I asked her to imagine her son as a 30 year old man,
if she could.
She said she could not!
I said, “Enjoy his age now,
he’s a wonderful six
but kids have a way of growing up before you know it.”
We talked about art
and
I said I have been doing this for a very long time,
and
what’s incredible, I still enjoy what I do!
I told the little boy to find something he loves
and
try to make that happen.
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I told them their visit to my shop
made my day,
and
gave him some picture frame magnets to hold photos,
and
said they were welcome back anytime.
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This all came about from a little guy
looking out the school bus window
and
seeing me
day after day,
sometimes not,
and
wanted to know who I was!!!
Amazing! “
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Please reflect and recall what was in your mind’s eye as you read this.
Now, please, cast the individuals in the below variables.
How does the ‘casting’ shift / challenge your perceptions / your comfort zone?
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JOHN RAWLS’ THEORY OF JUSTICE:
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Jim, my dear friend and the framer, is:
black / differently-abled / white / brown / gay / straight / single / married
what age / what faith / other variables
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The Mother is:
black / differently-abled / white / brown / gay / straight / single / married
what age / what faith / other variables
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The 6 year old boy is:
black / differently-abled / white / brown / gay / straight / trans
what faith / other variables
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JOHN RAWLS’ THEORY OF JUSTICE:
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RISE UP!
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STEP UP!
WORDS UP!
ACTIONS UP!
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NOW!
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Posted in CATHERINE L. JOHNSON / INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST , tagged #840 + ELEgancE #1 / #2 2018 Catherine L. Johnson + INFInity / ETERnity + Y/OUR brEath; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , #841 + Winter SOL(soul) STICE + ELEgancE #3/ #4/ #5 2018 Catherine L. Johnson + Dedicated to the bountiful GRACE LUMINOSITY of HOLLY COTTOR on her birthday; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , #843 + 29 DECEMBER + ELEgancE #6 2018 Catherine L. Johnson + BORN/NEW/BORN + "FOREVER YOUNG"; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , #844 + ELEgancE #7 2018 Catherine L. Johnson + WONDER AWE 2019 + TREASURE HEART> GRACELOVE IS OPENDEEPWIDEIMPROVISATIONALSOARINGBRILLIANTRADICALHOPE UNFURLING COURAGE BLISS ACTION; CATHERINE L. JOH , #845 + ELEgancE #8 2019 Catherine L. Johnson + 15 JanUary 2019 + AWAKEN/WOKE/INGS + To make an end is to make a beginning - T.S Eliot. , #846 + ELEgancE #9 2019 Catherine L. Johnson + DARE to MOVE FORWARD + "...by ALL means KEEP MOVING." Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , #848 + ELEgancE #10/ #11 2019 Catherine L. Johnson + Fantastic Negrito - Plastic Hamburgers + Stacey Abrams says 'We do NOT succeed alone'; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , #849 + 12 February 2019 + Abraham Lincoln ENTERED the world + ELEgancE #12 2019 Catherine L. Johnson + Henry Threadgill's "CELEBRATION" ; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , Celebrating Henry - A Threadgill Festival; Catherine L. Johnson; , Dr. Mark B. Coventry MAYO CLINIC; Catherine L. Johnson; , Henry Threadgill and Anthony Cox; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , Henry Threadgill; Catherine L. Johnson; , Philip Bither + Henry Threadgill + Michelle Kinney; Catherine L. Johnson; on February 12, 2019|
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PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE + FOR DETAIL
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ELEgancE #12 Catherine L. Johnson 2019
An improvisational performance of gold pencil on black paper.
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VIDEO
HENRY THREADGILL
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Celebrating Henry:
A Threadgill Festival
15 February + 16 February 2019
@
WALKER ART CENTER
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Walker Art Center McGuire Theater
15 February 2019
Henry Threadgill’s birthday
Philip Bither / Henry Threadgill / Michelle Kinney (CLJ)
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Henry Threadgill / CLJ / Anthony Cox
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Anthony Cox honoring Henry Threadgill on his birthday
acknowledging Threadgill’s improvisational gifts, inspiration and his legacy.
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Anthony’s arrangement of Threadgill’s ‘Paper Toilet’.
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My maternal Grandfather,
Emil Cottor,
gifted me
Abraham Lincoln
bookends
when I was 7 years old.
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A gift before my next scheduled
reconstructive orthopedic surgery.
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My
beloved
Dr. Mark B. Coventry,
Mayo Clinic,
provided me
the life template of Abraham Lincoln
as a blueprint of living
a life of honor, respect, grace and vision
navigating
a life of adversity.
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The evening before surgery was always a time of me entering a sacred space.
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Grandpa Cottor,
after THE ceremonious “pre-surgery” dinner
my Mother prepared
attended by my sister and brothers,
Lynne, Bill Blake,
presented me
a wrapped box with satin ribbons.
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I was a wide-eyed child:
everything was wonder and awe and fear and courage.
The box was very, very, very heavy.
I opened it slowly and carefully,
rapt with anticipation,
and
when I saw
the busts of Abraham Lincoln,
I was overwhelmed with joy.
I burst out crying an ocean of joy!
Crying was not easy for me – living in body casts stifled crying.
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Grandpa Cottor KNEW Abraham Lincoln
was a signal,
a secret code,
a dynamic symbol to me.
The fact of my Grandpa’s knowing
rushed
the feelings of being seen and loved
throughout
my body.
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On 12th February,
when I was home from the hospital,
my Mother, Doris Cottor Johnson Omlie,
always had a birthday cake
celebrating
the life of my childhood hero.
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GRACE LOVE.
AWE LOVE.
WONDER LOVE.
DIGNITY.
RADICAL HOPE.
VISIONARY.
INTEGRITY.
COMPASSION.
COURAGE.
Cœur .
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Catherine Louise Johnson
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Catherine – meaning “pure, clear”.
I was named in honor of my maternal grandmother:
Edna Catherine Strand Cottor.
My Grandma Cottor was an elegant and extraordinary force of life.
She was confined to bed at 53 y/o with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Her body was frozen in the space of her bed.
Grandma Cottor’s remarkable creative intelligence
explored/ traveled the world and beyond.
Her body was frail and her presence radiated colossal.
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Louise – meaning “famous warrior, renowned fighter”.
I was named in honor of my paternal grandmother:
Florence Louise Knoblach Johnson.
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Johnson – I kept my Daddy’s last name in honor of him,
Richard Harold Johnson,
who fought for me and my rights to thrive while living in hospitals
My Daddy was killed in a car accident when he was 32.
I kept the last name Johnson in honor of my Daddy’s brother,
William Henry Johnson,
a WWII pilot, who was killed at 23 y/o in his B-17
– safely returning his crew in his heavily damaged plane,
flying over the cliffs of Dover from a bombing mission.
He ordered his remarkable crew to bail out.
Uncle Bill’s faltering plane was heading toward a farmhouse
with a family waving their arms.
Uncle Bill, at 23 years old. made the decision to avert the farmhouse
and
he went down with his plane.
I was told, multiple times,
by my Daddy’s family how they were
PROUD
that I kept the name
JOHNSON
with fortitude, grace, honor and respect
of those before me
who lived their lives known
by the name
JOHNSON.
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My beloved
– Johnson side –
cousin “sister”
and
niece to my Daddy,
Connie Cates Shella,
lived, persevered and endured
with
grace, love and valor.
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I am aware,
at my age now,
I could be my Daddy’s parent
and
I could be my Uncle Bill’s aunt.
Yet, they are forever monumental to me.
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I can only hope
I live the life
that echoes the names I was given
and
amplify the templates
I was provided as a blueprint,
a vision,
to rise
in my own life.
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NAMING
“Words are things.
You must be careful, careful about calling people
out of their names,
using racial pejoratives and sexual pejoratives and all that ignorance.
Don’t do that.
Some day we’ll be able to measure the power of words.
I think they are things.
They get on the walls.
They get in your wallpaper.
They get in your rugs,
in your upholstery,
and
your clothes,
and
finally in to
you.”
Maya Angelou
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WEARELOVEAWCCLJROLLEDDINMUDROLLEDINGOLDOVERANDOVERBEAUTIFUL
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PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE + FOR DETAIL
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ELEgancE #10 Catherine L. Johnson 2019
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ELEgancE #10 (detail *) Catherine L. Johnson 2019
*The iridescence in the graphite/black lead reflects the light and presents a luminous silver.
Graphite pencils – HB/ 2B/ 4B on black paper.
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ELEgancE #11 Catherine L. Johnson 2019
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VIDEO
Fantastic Negrito – Plastic Hamburgers
VIDEO
Fantastic Negrito says
‘I am Fantastic Negrito, but I did NOT get here alone…’
VIDEO
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VIDEO
Stacey Abrams says ‘We do NOT succeed alone’
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=RAFNEGOTIATORNEW BREEDLEADER=AWC =SONICGENIUSAWE MANRRMANWONDERCOLLABORATOR
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Posted in CATHERINE L. JOHNSON / INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST , tagged #794 + THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING , #840 + ELEgancE #1 / #2 2018 Catherine L. Johnson + INFInity / ETERnity + Y/OUR brEath; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , #841 + Winter SOL(soul) STICE + ELEgancE #3/ #4/ #5 2018 Catherine L. Johnson + Dedicated to the bountiful GRACE LUMINOSITY of HOLLY COTTOR on her birthday; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , #843 + 29 DECEMBER + ELEgancE #6 2018 Catherine L. Johnson + BORN/NEW/BORN + "FOREVER YOUNG"; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , #844 + ELEgancE #7 2018 Catherine L. Johnson + WONDER AWE 2019 + TREASURE HEART> GRACELOVE IS OPENDEEPWIDEIMPROVISATIONALSOARINGBRILLIANTRADICALHOPE UNFURLING COURAGE BLISS ACTION; CATHERINE L. JOH , #845 + ELEgancE #8 2019 Catherine L. Johnson + 15 JanUary 2019 + AWAKEN/WOKE/INGS + To make an end is to make a beginning - T.S Eliot. , #846 + ELEgancE #9 2019 Catherine L. Johnson + DARE to MOVE FORWARD + "...by ALL means KEEP MOVING." Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , HARRIS WOFFORD + POLITICO: "What I Saw at Selma" ; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; , Senator Harris Wofford + Suzanne Wofford + Dan Wofford + Dan Wofford; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON; on January 21, 2019|
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PLEASE CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE + FOR DETAIL
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ELEgancE #9
Graphite pencil on Kraft paper.
An improvisation.
The drawn graphite lines
shift
from rich black lead color
to
luminous silver
with the interplay
of
the ambient light
and
the position of the viewer
– all in relation
to the contemporaneous variables.
Dynamic.
Intimate.
Dialectical.
Performance.
Attending.
Change is constant.
Movement in stillness.
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Life is not static nor fixed.
HABITS of perception / REACTING.
Conditioned optics shaped by arbitrary convention
and
hard-wired by continuous, repetitive practice
without questioning or awareness .
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A / LIVE
VISION /ary.
RADICAL hope .
SACRED listening.
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DARE to DREAM .
DARE to ACT .
DARE to MOVE FORWARD .
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ELEgancE #9 Catherine L. Johnson 2019
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ELEgancE #9 (detail *) Catherine L. Johnson 2019
*The iridescence in the graphite/black lead reflects the light and presents a luminous silver.
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NEW BREED LEADERS keep MOVING FORWARD!
They MUST –
for it is the responsibility / meaning / life force
of their
DIVINE gifts.
Red Sea crossings.
EXODU S .
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EXODUSIMFREEATLASTIAINTGOINGBACKIMFREE CATHERINE L. JOHNSON 2013
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THE HUMANITY PORTFOLIO 2013
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Harris L. Wofford
9 April 1926 – 21 January 2019
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Blessings of luminous grace and love to our cousins:
his daughter, Susanne Wofford;
his son, Dan Wofford;
his son, David Wofford;
his husband, Matthew Charlton;
his beloved family;
to
ALL
social justice / civil rights
visionaries / activists
and
to his dedicated colleagues / collaborators,
past and present,
who
RISE FOR HUMANITY.
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NEWBREEDLEADERAWCYOUMOVEFORWARDBECAUSEYOUMUSTYOURLIFEISTORISEANDTOBESEENLOVED
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