Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW Mahalia Jackson; Catherine L. Johnson;’

 LEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHTSONG

X

X

Color of bright/jeweled yellow of the American Goldfinch

– their flight patterns + their song

in counterpoint to the Minnesota’s

clear blue summer sky/ fresh green foliage.

X

http://www.mnartists.org/artwork/leftgoldfinchflightsong-1-2-3-4-5-2016-using-my-“non-art-hand”-post-op-reconstructionjoint

X

X

Dedicated to my friend/ collector Nancy
and
to my other private collectors for her/their unwavering support/advocacy of my art.

X

X

X

  Composed with my left hand- my OPPOSITE hand.

X

X

X
X

PLEASE CLICK ON EACH IMAGE TO ENLARGE

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X

LEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHT_#1_2016_CATHERINELJOHNSONLEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHTSONG #1                               Catherine L. Johnson  2016

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X
X
X

X

LEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHT_#2_2016_CATHERINELJOHNSONLEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHTSONG #2                                       Catherine L. Johnson 2016

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X

X
X
X

LEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHT_#3_2016_CATHERINELJOHNSONLEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHTSONG #3                                      Catherine L. Johnson 2016

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X

X
X
X

LEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHT_#4_2016_CATHERINELJOHNSONLEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHTSONG #4                                       Catherine L. Johnson 2016

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X

X
X
X

LEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHT_#5_2016_CATHERINELJOHNSONLEFTGOLDFINCHFLIGHTSONG #5                                         Catherine L. Johnson 2016

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X

Creating these drawings/collages/mix-tapes/ dance charts of color in motion
is keeping me A/LIVE.
My ART HAND/ right hand/ is a reluctant bystander and gasps
at the wild renderings of my  WILD CHILD/left/OPPOSITE hand.
I can actually “feel” my brain heat up as I work.

X

I walk every day to/through Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, an Elysian field,
only a few blocks from my studio.
My English Springer, Jaspar Obi, accompanies me.
We walk or x-ski or bike depending on the season and what reconstructive surgery I emerged from!
This spring/summer it is my ART HAND this time,
so no biking or kayaking…
There is rarely any people walking through the fields of wild flowers, pasture and trees.
Solitude.
Meditative.
Solace.
Multitudes of birds swoop and sing.

X

The American Goldfinch is a favorite of mine
– its bright yellow jewel color dancing/soaring through Minnesota’s clear blue summer sky
+ through the fresh green foliage = JOY!

X

Now, the fireflies are flickering beginning at dusk!
Magical- like  celestial stars hovering above the pasture.
There are no street lights, so I place blinking red safety lights on Jaspar
and I wear a blinking head lamp.
The rhythms of disparate flickering lights creates its own improvisational LIGHT BLINK song…

X

 

Surprising.

x

Fascinating.

x

Beautiful.

X

X

https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2016/06/29/leftblushingheartinnocence-1-2-3-4-using-my-non-art-hand-post-op-reconstructionjoint-replacement-of-my-art-hand-my-art-hand-my-breathmy-wingmy-freedom-song/
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2016/06/20/leftimperialpurplered-1-2-3-4-5-using-my-non-art-hand-post-op-reconstructionjoint-replacement-of-my-art-hand-my-art-hand-my-breathmy-wingmy-freedom-song/
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2016/06/10/leftprussianblueorange-1-2-3-4-5-6-using-my-non-art-hand-post-op-reconstructionjoint-replacement-of-my-art-hand-my-art-hand-my-breathmy-wingmy-freedom-song/
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2016/05/20/leftpastelpinkrosered-1-2-3-4-5-using-my-non-art-hand-post-op-reconstructionjoint-replacement-of-my-art-hand-my-art-hand-my-breathmy-wingmy-freedom-song/
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2016/05/19/leftyellowultramarine-1-2-3-4-5-using-my-non-art-hand-post-op-reconstructionjoint-replacement-of-my-art-hand-my-art-hand-my-breathmy-wingmy-freedom-song/
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/leftspringgreen-1-2-3-4-5-6-using-my-non-art-hand-post-op-reconstructionjoint-replacement-of-my-art-hand-my-art-hand-my-breathmy-wingmy-freedom-song/
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/leftmingcobalt-1-2-3-4-5-6-using-my-non-art-hand-post-op-reconstructionjoint-replacement-of-my-art-hand-my-art-hand-my-breathmy-wingmy-freedom-song/
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2016/05/09/leftgreen-1-2-3-using-my-non-art-hand-post-op-reconstructionjoint-replacement-of-my-art-hand-my-art-hand-my-breathmy-wingmy-freedom-song/
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2016/05/17/leftyellowvermillion-1-2-3-4-5-using-my-non-art-hand-post-op-reconstructionjoint-replacement-of-my-art-hand-my-art-hand-my-breathmy-wingmy-freedom-song/

X
X

X

X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPB_tqhmNLk

Read Full Post »

“The soul should always stand ajar,

ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.”

Emily Dickinson

 

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

 

BIRDHOUSE_FREEDOM_FRONT_2016_CATHERINELJOHNSON

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

BIRDHOUSE_FREEDOM_SIDE_2016_CATHERINELJOHNSON

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

 

BIRDHOUSE_FREE_BACK_2016_CATHERINELJOHNSON

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X

BIRDHOUSE / ST. PAUL ART COLLECTIVE PROJECT SPRING 2016

 

 

X
X
X
X
X

MY BIRDHOUSE:  ALL ARE WELCOMED:
DOCUMENTED + UNDOCUMENTED BIRDS!
NO WALLS!

X

Chirp!
Very chirp!

X

Spring party  for ALL birds
back from migration on roof + outside!
GR8 amenities!
All uphold FREEDOM + IMPROVISATIONAL FLIGHT!!

X

Chartreuse paint + found branches
CATHERINE L. JOHNSON / INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST
+ Aviary Realtor

X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X

 

THE HAND: JUSTIN HEDSTROM / POET + PHOTOGRAPHER + DEAR FRIEND

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

ALLTHETHINGSYOUARE PORTFOLIO I-X 2016
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/allthethingsyouare-i-x-portfolio-summer-2014-catherine-l-johnson/

 

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW

Mahalia Jackson  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM_JRAPSwVM
http://www.mnartists.org/artwork/sparrowflymyheartfree-2010
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/sparrow-fly-my-heart-free-catherine-l-johnson-2010-deafening-despair-call-and-response-the-sparrow-is-a-symbol-of-the-beloved/

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

"Eyes on the Sparrow: All Birds Welcome, Documented & Undocumented" by Catherine L Johnson

“Eyes on the Sparrow: All Birds Welcome, Documented & Undocumented” by Catherine L Johnson
http://www.twincities.com/2016/04/19/st-paul-art-crawl-birdhouses/

 

 

Read Full Post »

X
X
X

SPARROW PRINT INSTALLATION #1_WP

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

SPARROW-FLYMYHEARTFREE_2010_CATHERINEL.JOHNSON_WPSPARROW FLY MY HEART FREE                   Catherine L. Johnson   2010

X

X

X

X

X

X

 Every wo/man must decide whether s/he will walk

in the

light of creative altruism

or

in the

darkness of destructive selfishness.

x
Martin Luther King, Jr.

X

X

X

X

X

My art has served social justice issues and humanitarian

visions of hope for as long as I have been an artist.

X

My interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary art is

a communication vehicle;

an oracle; a medium that can name the unnameable;

a channel that calls out  the full spectrum of the deepest emotions

of the human experience

with dignity; grace; humility;

beauty and acceptance.

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

 

SPARROW 2010

A COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL PAINTINGS

X

X

NOTE:

the text below is revised from the original texts

from which the remarkable

rene marie  + her band improvised from.X

X

X

“The sparrow is a symbol of the beloved.”

X

X

X

The returning sparrow is the herald of spring,

a symbol of the mother goddess, rebirth, and the Resurrection.

The sparrow denotes the gentle nature of an intellectual person.

To see a sparrow in one’s dream represents inner dignity.

Never underestimate the small

or

those who do not appear powerful.

X

X

X

X

X

The SPARROW Collection came to life in  2010

in response to the fragility,

the sirens, the uncertainty and the cherished revelations of life:

the suddenness of choking despair in tragedy to the

suddenness of passion, joy and lull when simply hearing

the living voice of the beloved.

X

The SPARROW Collection was dedicated to the people of Haiti.

X

X

X

X

X

I cannot shield myself from life- its ashen despairs

nor its sweet lullabies, its hell nor its heavens for it is life.

Fear and/or the desire to love in all colors and sound.

I believe the odyssey is to be touched,

marked by listening to and continually moving

toward and within love-

wounds are healed by love’s energy,

truth and touch.

X

X

X

X

X

Trust.

X

X

X

X

Earthquakes that shattered Haiti and Japan to its core,

Hurricane Katrina that drowned and devoured the Gulf Coast

leaving deafening despair and betrayal in its wake,

the inhumane cruelty of Ebola that melts the insides

of the afflicted like a furiously burning inferno,

snuffing their life out

– all occurs in a sudden and protracted moment.

 X

X

During Ebola’s afflicted victim’s

most vulnerable beseeching time

-their death knell,

this psychopathic virus keeps the victim isolated

from the comforting touch

of those who cherish them.

People who love

 YEARNS

to reach out

– as humanity is hard-wired to do,

to cradle their afflicted beloveds in their arms

as they suffer,

vomiting blood

– and, know they cannot.

 Ebola’s virulent contagion

SPITS at humanity’s hard-wired empathy.

X

X

 Compassionate actions occurs in a sudden moment

in response to harrowing events

– calling out the angels in our nature.

X

X

X

BLESSED are those who are called

and choose

to be

HURRICANE LAMPS

and

ACTIONS OF HOPE

in darkness

invoking God’s LIGHT and BLESSINGS

for ALL humanity.

X

X

X

X

X

Compassion sang in as a song and an action.

The recognition of a deep soul connection occurs in a moment

– it is the epiphany of love in the morning star of light

and

the sight of the evening star within the darkest night.

I believe loving another is the vesper,

the revolutionary action of

turning hell to earth to heaven.

X

X

X

X

X

Compassion and love are not words;

they are expressions of existence, action and occurrence.

It is all there waiting in anticipation to be opened, set free.

The heart is a muscle, a sweet land, a strange land of revelations.

Stepping up into the rhythm and cry of life is the dance, the hymn,

the weave, the blues, the laughter, the wail,

the morning, the night, the water and the music of the odyssey.

I believe the continuous gentle shower of compassion and tenderness,

listening with awe and kindness astounds fear so love can be released,

rise and breathe wide and deep.

Where there has been neglect and scars the heart has thorns,

WHISPER

a gentle garden.

X

X

X

Love can be an implosion, an internal earthquake…

X

X

X

X

X

Touch.

X

X

X

X

X

I listen, listen, listen to the divine

within as its prayersound murmurs,

and then I dive into its pearl…

and, with a tender grasp

and
embrace, suddenly, the prayersound emerges

as singing its song as a drawing.

Then I research to explore the image as a tuning fork

and
attend to its resonance as a symbol, metaphor, etc.

Then I decide

to go
forward in the exploratory improvisation

or

extinguish the trajectory of the vision’s flame.

X

X

X

X

X

A sparrow is and a moment can

X

X

X

X

X

Heal/thy FAITH
Heal/thy LOVE thee

X

X

X

X

X

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings,

and not one of them is forgotten by God?

Luke 12:6

X

X

X

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?

And one shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

Matthew 10:29

X

X

X

X

X

rené marie Sings the TRUTH

@ the Dakota Jazz Club

Pamela Espeland

X

5 September 2010

X

X

The second song was an act of generosity and thanks.

Artist Catherine L. Johnson was in the house,

and she had brought marie a gift:

a print from her Sparrow series and a written description

of what the sparrow means to her.

(shown above)

marie sang the first verse to the gospel hymn

“His Eye Is on the Sparrow,”

then read Johnson’s words (which were lovely),

then paused, seemed to gather herself,

and

segued into Mentor Williams’ “Drift Away,”

a song that has been covered by everybody and his sister

(“Give me the beat, boys, and free my soul/

I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away…”).

It was seamless and perfect,

 and marie transformed a soft-rock chestnut into

a song of revelation and thanks.

This may have been the moment

we all knew we had stumbled

onto something remarkable,

one of those performances

that would stay with us

for a long time.

X

X

X

X

X

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

X

X

X

X

X

Our humanity is hard-wired in empathy,

and

empathetic action is humanity’s hope.

CALL and RESPONSE.

X

X

X

Catherine L. Johnson

X

Insha’Allah

X

A brief summary of my art that was created as a responses/contributions:

https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/the-city-of-scottsdale-selected-my-pine-tree-hope-2005-as-the-citys-2012-holiday-season-promotion-hurricane-katrina-an-international-display-of-humiliation-wherewhen-the-unconscious-fortress/

X

https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/hall-of-lament-stand-your-ground-for-trayvon-martin-call-out-for-social-justice-moral-couragetruth-2012-st-paul-spring-art-crawl/

X

https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/isaiah-and-first-light-night-multimedia-installation-catherine-l-johnson-dan-choma-spring-2013-st-paul-art-crawl/

X

https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/fifteen-paintings-28-august-2013-the-humanity-portfolio-28-august-2013-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-march-on-washington-for-freedom-jobs-rev-dr-martin-luther-kings-i-have-a-dream-s/

X

https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/31/
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/peace-on-earth-john-coltrane-live-in-japan-1966-2508-japan-meditatations-catherine-l-johnson-2011/

X

https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/11-september-2001-11-september-2011/

X

X

X

X

X

SPARROWFLYMYHEARTFREE  2010  B/W  Catherine L. Johnson; Catherine L. Johnson;SPARROW FLY MY HEART FREE                   Catherine L. Johnson 2010 

X

X

X

X

X

X

Read Full Post »

IT TOOK TIME FOR ME

TO ACCEPT  

AND

 WELCOME

JAS

INTO

MY LIFE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 JAS

IS A STELLAR

5 STAR PHENOMENA,

 AND,

I AM TOLD,

 A PERFECT FIT

WITH

MY “UNIQUE” PHYSICAL

ALGEBRA,

CHARACTER+VISION.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAS

LOOOVES

 FREEDOM!

Elixir

ENERGY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOVE IS AN ENERGY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love

is

NOT

a

 possession.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOVE is a SACRED

unfolding SEA of :

“I SEE YOU!”

 
 
 
 
 Love is elegant genius.
OH!
HERE IS A

BE a U ty  FULL TESTAMENT OF LOVING

WRITTEN BY LAURIE ANDERSON
OF HER FLUID + UNFOLDING WONDROUS
ADVENTURE WITH LOU REED.
MY DEF OF AUTHENTIC LOVE!
https://catherineljohnson.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/anam-cara-lou-reedlaurie-anderson-for-21-years-we-tangled-our-minds-and-hearts-together-define-be-a-u-ty-full-love/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY I INTRODUCE TO YOU

MY

NEW

LIVE IN?

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAS

NAMED

– LIKE MY ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL, 

JASPAR OBI!

LOL!

JASPAR OBI; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON;

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAS 

WAS 

 RESEARCHED,

EVALUATED,

SELECTED FOR

CREATIVE + SYNERGISTIC

COMPATIBILITY,

 CHOSEN CAREFULLY

FROM STIFF CONTENDERS/COMPETITORS

 BY DEAR, CARING FRIENDS

AND

EXPERT PROFESSIONALS

IN THE FIELD!

THEY CELEBRATED

AS THEY ROARED:

 

WE IDENTIFIED

A DYNAMIC FIT

FOR YOU!

 

 

+

 

 

 

 

JAS

WILL BECOME MY 

INTIMATE 3 XXX DAY

 RELATIONSHIP!

 

 

 

 

+

 

 

 

 

BTW:

JAS

IS VERY RESERVED;

FOCUSED; 

INNOVATIVE WITH A ROVING INTELLIGENCE;

CREATIVE; 

STATE OF THE ART;

DEDICATED TO ACHIEVING OBJECTIVES;

 WITH AN AMAZING FORTITUDE;

LISTENS WITH GR8 SENSITIVITY:

CALL & RESPONSE;

KNOWS WHEN TO RECEDE AND COME FORWARD;

LOVES THE FACT THAT I AM AN ARTIST, DETERMINED,

 SOUL AJAR + MOVES IN MY TRUTH + EXPLORER;

 EXCITED ABOUT ME UNFURLING MY WINGS;

ACCEPTS ALL OF ME!

AND

JAS

 IS A WILLING PARTNER 

TO MOVE FORWARD TO NEW FIELDS

 OF

FREEDOM,

DISCOVERY + WONDER!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JAS

 CAN DO

 WHAT NONE OTHERS

CAN DO 

FOR/WITH

ME!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I AM JAS. YES.

I WILL BREAK CATHERINE’S SCAR TISSUE.

I WILL LOVINGLY BE ATTACHED

TO HER RECONSTRUCTED KNEE,

 AND

THEN BE TIGHTENED

TIGHTER

AND

TIGHTER

AND

TIGHTER 

BREAKING

HER FIBROUS SCAR TISSUE

AND

STRETCHING

THE RECONNECTED MUSCLES

FROM HER  #40 SURGICAL PROCEDURE

 ON 27 SEPTEMBER 2012:

TOTAL KNEE RECONSTRUCTION EXECUTED

BY THE EXCELLENT DR. MARK HELLER.

THE KNEE WAS REVISITED FOR #41 BY DR. CHRISTIE HEIKES: 

TO OPEN UP AND DIG OUT THE SCAR TISSUE

– A VERY PRECARIOUS PROCEDURE SO AS NOT TO DISLOCATE

 THE PROSTHETIC HIP INSTALLED ON 26 MAY 1999 BY DR. RODNEY PETERSON. 

 

ALL OTHER R/EVOULTIONARY PROCEDURES

 WERE CREATED AND PERFORMED

 BY HER BELOVED + THE LATE DR. MARK B. COVENTRY

OF THE MAYO CLINIC.

PREVIOUS PROCEDURES WERE  EXECUTED

BY THE  THEN BARBARIC SHRINER’S HOSPITAL,

WHERE CHILDREN WOULD SHRIEK OUT,

WAIL,

IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN,

 AND,

ALL

CHILDREN WERE SEDATED

WITH DEMEROL

IF

THEY CRIED OUT BECAUSE THEY HURT

AND/OR

THEY CRIED OUT

IN THE CHOIR

OF

EMPATHY.

 

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE

WILL CALL ME

A TORTURE DEVICE.

YES, I WILL CAUSE EXCRUCIATING PAIN.

YET, I REPRESENT

FREEDOM

AND 

I AM RIVER SHE MUST TRAVEL 

TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE HER  PRESENT SITUATION.

I UNDERSTAND

SHE IS A  GOGOGOGO  GIRL!

GR8! 

PLEASE

ASSIST ME AS SHE ACCEPTS

MY PRESENCE.

I AM DEDICATED TO HER VISION

OF

FREEDOM!

I LOVE HER BEAUTIFUL FORTITUDE

AND

HER WILLINGNESS TO WITHSTAND…

SHE WILL PREVAIL!

 

THANK YOU.

 JAS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thank you to the amazing,
 resilient, multi-faceted jewel

 rene marie.

All day, I listened to YOU/her:

STRONGER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpwCVAKhgnM&feature=related
from YOUR/her

 experiment in truth

album.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ORANGE

IS NAMED AS THE COLOR
OF

HEALING

IN
TIBETAN BUDDHISM.

 

 

+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MY ART

IS

MY BREATH

MY WATER

MY HEARTFIRE

MY SOLITUDE

MY CAPACITY TO SOAR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Ross is my dear friend and framer
– his framing is the Ginger Rogers to my Fred Astaire ( MY ART)
– a feat of upholding primal elegance.
His family  lives in Cebu, Philippines.
His husband, Ging, has two sisters who own a restaurant,
and
the women can purchase food at wholesale costs.
Jim is wiring them funds and they are purchasing food to be delivered to those suffering.
Jim’s customers are donating monies
as they request for information
on the welfare of his family and all Filipinos.
Ging is delivering food.
Jim sent me an email EARLIER today:
I just spoke to Ging.
  He was busy loading the van with bags of groceries
he and friends had made up these past days. 
Each family will receive five kilo of rice,
eight cans of meats, cans of fish and packages of noodles.
Not a tremendous amount,
but in total 120 families will know someone
actually cares enough that they would do this.
 
This was his idea to hand deliver to the families
and will drive near five hours to the north tip of Cebu.
 
  There is no publicity of assistance there as it’s not the focus of the disaster.
  But families have lost their homes as well.

He will also bring some building materials and rolls of heavy plastic to mend roofs. 
 
I am hugely proud that he is my dear companion.
  For sure I am always worried for his safety…………jim
ps any extra funds we have left over he would like to do a reach out at Christmas
to a home for the elderly, similar to the orphans last Christmas.  
 

 

+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I donated TEN of my $40 printsfrom the

SPARROW PORTFOLIO

and
they are sold through Jim’s

Ross Frame Shop in Minneapolis.

( I created the SPARROW PORTFOLIO IN response to the earthquake in Haiti)
ALL monies from acquisitionswill go to Jim and Ging’s food drive.

NO administrative costs!

 I  had transposed the  SPARROW PORTFOLIO 2010 originals into affordable prints.
They have been donated for various  fundraising efforts.

 

 

 

 

+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Dakota on Labor Day, 5 September 2010,
rene marie was the guest artist.
rene marie and her band drove up to Minneapolis
leaving Chicago from their engagement there.
I  arrived early to gift rene marie a SPARROW print with the accompanying writings.
At the time, my dear friend aka soulsista Deborah Upchurch was working at the Dakota
( Deb is now contributing her plethora of talents/skills to RES AMERICAS).
 Deborah delivered the gift to rene.
 
 
 
 
 
As I waited for my long time friend  ConniE,
rene came out with Deborah ahead of her
and
rushed toward me,
and
embraced me.
rene then stated that she and the band had read the writings
and
“Could they please have my permission use my texts to improvise upon?”

Of course, of course!

 
 
 
 
 
rene marie SANG my writings that accompanied the

SPARROW PORTFOLIO

to an astounded FULL house
at the Dakota!
She sang for 8 elegiac minutes.
Standing ovation.
People were weeping…
I was sitting beneath the stairwell with my dear friend,
renown vocalist,
Connie Evingson
and
other locally based,
amazing grace singers:
Ginger Commodore, Yolanda Bruce and Debbie Duncan.
 
 
 
 
 
 
I was shocked
as rene bowed to me
as her last poignant sung note
became
ether,
a lingering,
evanescent perfume of hope.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

WE ARE HUMANITY.

 

 

 

WE ARE HARD WIRED

TO RESPOND

WITH EMPATHY.

WHEN EMPATHY IS

PRACTICED

IT IS THE ACTION

 OF

COURAGE

COMPASSION

CONVICTION

COMMITMENT.

THE OPPOSITE IS PASSIVE

 COMPLICITY + CONDONING

WHILE

WITNESSING/EXPERIENCING

THE

SUFFERINGS

OF OTHERS,

 

 

AND/OR

 

UN/CONSCIOUSLY

 

CHOOSING

NOT

STEP UP

AND

NOT

MOVE

TOWARD

HUMANITY.

 

 

 

 

 

SPARROW PORTFOLIO 2010.

The  triptych of the 8 x 10 PRINTS are shown below:
http://www.mnartists.org/work.do?rid=258718 

SPARROW PORTFOLIO 2010 / #1; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON;

SPARROW PORTFOLIO 2010/#2; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON;

SPARROW PORTFOLIO 2010/#3; CATHERINE L. JOHNSON;

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW

 Mahalia Jackson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM_JRAPSwVM

  

Read Full Post »

CATHERINE L. JOHNSON

ARTIST SONIC / VISUAL COEUR POET / WRITER SEE/SEA BEAUTY DETECTIVEPRIEST / ACTIVIST/ SACRED TRUTH-TELLING INTEGRITY RADIANCE

CATHERINE L. JOHNSON

ARTIST SONIC / VISUAL COEUR POET / WRITER SEE/SEA BEAUTY DETECTIVEPRIEST / ACTIVIST/ SACRED TRUTH-TELLING INTEGRITY RADIANCE