Johnson Simon: Disability Awareness Month
This isn’t the first time I’ve written a blog about Johnson Simon. In August of 2019, Johnson moved into his first studio at the Harrison Center, and I wrote an introduction to him and his artwork. Today, as we honor those with disabilities, I am happy to be able to write about Johnson once again. I can't think of very many people who have more to teach us about living a powerful life in spite of our limitations than this wonderful artist.
In my 2019 blog, I wrote about the fact that Johnson has had Cerebral Palsy since birth, and that the limitations this has caused for him have informed his creating. As a huge sign in his studio proclaims “My Art is My Movement.” It is an example of what makes his art so powerful that he focuses so much on gesture and depicting movement in his work. He does anything but try to hide from his disability. Instead, he uses it as a springboard to bring energy and passion to the pieces he creates.
His artistic talent is only a part of what makes Johnson such an asset to the Harrison Center. He is a constant source of encouragement and positivity for those of us who work around him here. Even during the difficult days of the pandemic, his mindset has been continuously up lifting. Johnson is a constant source of inspiration for the other artists who interact with him here. Guided by his remarkably strong faith, he has overcome incredible adversity to become an example of strength for others.
I often hear Johnson speaking words of gratitude and appreciation for his life and various aspects of it. Born in Haiti, he remembers watching his younger brother go off to Preschool while he had to stay home with his Grandmother. He sometimes imagines what it might have looked like if he had never been able to move to the United States, since it would most likely mean being trapped at home doing “nothing”. This is when he thanks God for where he lives and works.
Wheelchair Madness, Acrylic on Canvas 5' x 4'
His family eventually lived in Florida, where he was able to attend school. However, because of the difficulty he had with movement, he was placed in Special Education classes that were wildly inappropriate given his intellect. (After all, Johnson Would later graduate from Western Michigan University with high honors, and eventually receive a master's degree in fine arts from Herron, where he also taught classes.) He tried to tell his mother that school was “too easy”, but English was the family's second language, and communication with school was difficult. Johnson recalls how he and his classmates were treated by other students, and his stories are heartbreaking.
Fast forward to the present time, to the studio that Johnson shares with encaustic artist Carolyn Springer, and you will be able to meet a man who has overcome obstacles in order to express his point of view and emotions with a brush in his hand. This studio is a place of joy, friendship, and serious creativity! It’s a dream come true for anyone who has dreamed of being an artist, and Johnson Simon belongs there.
Johnson recently told me about a dream he had in which he awakened one morning and his body was healed! He was jumping for joy and yelling, “I'm free!” In his dream he could run and dance, and the dream was so real that he didn’t want to wake up from it. I for one share his dream, and would love to see my friend running and dancing without any difficulty at all. In the meantime, I also thank God for his wonderful brain and for his artistic talent and ability that makes it possible for him to move the way he does in his dreams, by capturing gestures and energy with his paints and brushes.