Giving Gallery: Community in Process
Our community. Our stories. Our unlimited potential.
This is the story of a community renewed. It’s about the people who
stand up, dust off, tune in and engage every day to make sure that
everyone gets a chance at a brighter future. It’s a visual reminder of
where we’ve been and where we’re going. When we unite, we create
possibilities for others and ourselves. Please join us. We hope you like
the art. We hope you learn something new. We hope you’re inspired to
help us continue the story together.
NML Foundation Giving Gallery Giving Gallery
Video
Some of My Art
The Rock Island Series
A fictional art series that was created to reflect the lives of early jazz musicians who spent much their professional lives on the road. Traveling to and from gigs mainly by bus or train. Reflecting the good times and the bad times, the obstacles they faced, the love they gained and sometimes lost. But more importantly meeting people from different walks of life, in big cities and small towns who just loved it when they played America’s music ... “Jazz.”
America’s Only True Art Form
A visual buffet of work that draws upon the power of artists and our cultural modernity. But specifically America’s own music, Blues, Jazz and Hip Hop. African Americans have always been at the forefront of creating America's only true art forms, the most popular music genres of modern times. Putting the "J" in Jazz and “Hip” in Hip Hop music. The very fact that Africa from which most of our ancestors came, has influenced the way music is made and can be heard in African American music of the past and present. Johnson states that "this reason alone supports why I paint." The rhythmic spoken word and the hypnotic beats, created by some of the most talented African American producers, song writers, poets, musicians and performers today, has had a lasting influence on creative people world wide.
