Johnson Simon discovered his artistic talent in first grade, when classmates would remark that drawing as well he did was difficult, yet he made it look so easy. It was a point of pride for Johnson, and it also gave him a sense of hope. Johnson has cerebral palsy and wasnāt able to move as freely as other kids. He wanted to dance, wanted to play football, but his body wouldnāt allow it.
What his body did allow was artistic expression, which Johnson, 29, has continued with into his residency at the Stutz Artists Association. His art, along with that of other Stutz artists, will be on display at an open house April 26 and 27 at the Stutz Business and Arts Center. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Stutz Residency Program, which began in 1997 and has given more than 30 emerging artists a year of studio space and mentoring.
Johnson said his artwork is a combination of abstract and realistic, and that because of cerebral palsy, itās difficult to replicate a brush stroke. That isnāt necessarily a bad thing, though.
āIf someone sees my artwork, they can see itās a Johnson original,ā he said.
Because of his physical limitations, Johnsonās art focuses on movement. He studies dancing, walking, swimming and even sky diving and then tries to translate those movements to his canvas. Johnson said itās as though heās doing those things, but through art.
Johnson said art has given him a purpose. It helped him work through depression and doubt, and, as a bonus, heās also good at it.
āIām not just someone who has a disability,ā Johnson said. āIām an artist. Iām someone whoās gifted with a wonderful talent.ā
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Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick.
OPEN HOUSE
When: 5:30-10:30 p.m. April 26 and 1-5 p.m. April 27
Where: Stutz Business and Arts Center, 212 W. 10th St.
Cost: $16 advance tickets at the Stutz business office, 1060 N. Capital Ave., Suite C200, or at stutzartists.com. Tickets are $20 at the gate. Tickets are good for both days.