smells i see
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      • identity theft: erasure
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      • identity theft: rice bearers (2021)
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      • wild bird food: special mix
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      • confined: NOW
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    • Otis College Residency: 2018 >
      • identity theft: erasure
      • black +
      • seabird nest
      • orange is new black
      • taglines
    • Repurposed Objects: 2013-2019 >
      • america take a knee 4 me
      • stick a fork in it, it's done!
      • chain master
      • planting seeds
      • crippling crutches
      • Lotus: Out of Focus
      • Furious Flowers: Birmingham '63
    • Re-purposed Objects: 2010-2012 >
      • Sleepless in Rwanda
      • Screwed
      • Nigeria: Soiled, Soaked & Silent
      • currents (diptych)
      • Tobacco Road
      • Sole Soldier
      • Domino Effect / Foreign Policy
      • Mapping: Between the Lines-Redlining-Bluelining
    • Visual Poetry >
      • windows
      • Furious Flowers: Birmingham '63
      • stick a fork in it, it's done!
      • confined: history re-mixed: an uncivil guide
      • crippling crutches
      • gaza math
      • Sleepless in Rwanda
    • Gallery: Abstract Paintings >
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      • Green Mountain
      • Liberty
      • Shadows
    • Gallery: Representational Paintings 2008-2010 >
      • Furious Flowers
      • Freedom's Call
      • The Gathering
      • Marooned
      • Unspoken
    • Gallery: Representational Paintings 2006-2007 >
      • A Cry for Peace
      • Contemplation
      • Chains
      • Crossroads
      • Spirit Dancer
      • Hope
      • Tanzanian Waterfall
      • Quiet Storm
    • Furniture >
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        • "Aladdin Lamp" Redwood Burl Clock
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        • "Firebird" Redwood Burl Clock
        • "Fire" Pendulum Clock
        • "Pterodactyl" Pendulum Clock
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    • Otis College of Art and Design L. A. Summer Residency 2018 (video) >
      • identity theft: erasure
      • black +
      • seabird nest
      • orange is new black
      • taglines
      • @ Work L. A. Summer Residency 2018
    • Caversham >
      • About Residency
      • Residency Video (2009)
      • A Conversation in Poem
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    • History Re-Mixed
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currents
(diptych)

Picture
currents I
Photo by Eric A. Waters
Assemblage: Satellite dish, KOMALU, model train tracks, e-waste , paper, plexiglas, photo, memorabilia
H 48" x W 60" x D 7"
(2011)

Railroad tracks and underlying templates denote depots along the Underground Railroad as well as the great migration of African Americans from southern cities and states to northern cities and states. The book cover and spine of "The Remarkable Advancement of the Afro-American" aka "Progress of a Race", published in 1897, written by William Crogman with an introduction by Booker T. Washington, highlights the importance of education in African Americans lives during the period following slavery. The copy of an envelope in the upper left and lower right corners are scriptures and prayers of the wife in the photo, scanned from an actual envelope and enlarged. Circuit boards are a metaphor for the currents in African Americans lives from the time of their ancestors being shipped throughout the African Diaspora till today. Currents of water, electricity, air, events, travel and time. Circuit boards also represent the "brain" power of computerized devices and are metaphors for the intelligence, strength, creativity and power of  African Americans in their struggle for freedom. And last but not least, circuit boards are metaphors for, "Currents", threads running through all of our lives connecting us to each other. Photo: African American family circa 1897, Galilee (aka Harmony), Mississippi.
Picture
currents II
Photo by Eric A. Waters
Assemblage: Satellite dish, KOMALU, photo, e-waste, paper, model railroad tracks, plexiglas, acrylic paint
H 48" x W 60" x D 7"
(2011)

Railroad tracks and underlying templates denote the great re-migration of African Americans from northern cities and states to southern cities and states, highlighting education and HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges & Universities). The poem in the upper right corner is taken from the book "The Remarkable Advancement of the Afro-American" published in 1897, written by William Crogman with an introduction by Booker T. Washington. The poem is, We Are Rising, by Rev. George C. Rowe. Circuit boards are a metaphor for the currents in African Americans lives from the time of their ancestors being shipped throughout the African Diaspora till today. Currents of water, electricity, air, events, travel and time. Circuit boards also represent the "brain" power of computerized devices and are metaphors for the intelligence, strength, creativity and power of  African Americans in their struggle for freedom. And last but not least, circuit boards are metaphors for, "Currents", threads running through all of our lives connecting us to each other.  A graduate’s tassel represents the importance of education in African Americans lives in their efforts to become free.  Photo: African American family circa 1997, Atlanta, Georgia.
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  • Home
  • Bio / CV
    • F. Geoffrey Johnson's Artist CV
    • F. Geoffrey Johnson's CV Addendum
    • Poetry Bio
    • Fine Art Bio
    • Artist Statement
  • Art Gallery
    • Confluence Exhibition New Works (2022) >
      • identity theft: erasure
      • identity theft: i.d. bracelets-no i.d.
      • mend
      • writing about trees is difficult
      • gone fishin'
      • identity theft: rice bearers (2022)
      • blanket statement
    • series: identity theft (2017-2022) >
      • identity theft: erasure (2018)
      • identity theft: i.d. bracelets-no i.d.
      • identity theft: washington
      • identity theft: jefferson
      • identity theft: johnson
      • identity theft: scars
      • identity theft: rice bearers (2021)
      • identity theft: unlocked
    • series: environment: capped >
      • seabird nest
      • wild bird food: special mix
      • disappearing B's
      • bottlenose dolphin
    • series: confined (2017-2022) >
      • confined: NOW
      • confined: requiem for katrina
      • confined: c miners
      • confined: history re-mixed
      • confined: tears
    • Otis College Residency: 2018 >
      • identity theft: erasure
      • black +
      • seabird nest
      • orange is new black
      • taglines
    • Repurposed Objects: 2013-2019 >
      • america take a knee 4 me
      • stick a fork in it, it's done!
      • chain master
      • planting seeds
      • crippling crutches
      • Lotus: Out of Focus
      • Furious Flowers: Birmingham '63
    • Re-purposed Objects: 2010-2012 >
      • Sleepless in Rwanda
      • Screwed
      • Nigeria: Soiled, Soaked & Silent
      • currents (diptych)
      • Tobacco Road
      • Sole Soldier
      • Domino Effect / Foreign Policy
      • Mapping: Between the Lines-Redlining-Bluelining
    • Visual Poetry >
      • windows
      • Furious Flowers: Birmingham '63
      • stick a fork in it, it's done!
      • confined: history re-mixed: an uncivil guide
      • crippling crutches
      • gaza math
      • Sleepless in Rwanda
    • Gallery: Abstract Paintings >
      • Elements
      • Giants of Jazz
      • Green Mountain
      • Liberty
      • Shadows
    • Gallery: Representational Paintings 2008-2010 >
      • Furious Flowers
      • Freedom's Call
      • The Gathering
      • Marooned
      • Unspoken
    • Gallery: Representational Paintings 2006-2007 >
      • A Cry for Peace
      • Contemplation
      • Chains
      • Crossroads
      • Spirit Dancer
      • Hope
      • Tanzanian Waterfall
      • Quiet Storm
    • Furniture >
      • Redwood Clocks >
        • "Aladdin Lamp" Redwood Burl Clock
        • "Buffalo" Redwood Burl Clock
        • "Firebird" Redwood Burl Clock
        • "Fire" Pendulum Clock
        • "Pterodactyl" Pendulum Clock
      • Redwood Tables
  • Poetry Gallery
    • eight years
    • a note to hip hop
    • gaza math
    • word
    • Hate the Game
    • Outside the Box
    • Art of War
    • Changing Times
    • Missing Pictures
    • Extinction
    • i know Haiti
    • who am i
    • words for sale
    • A Conversation in Poem
  • Residencies
    • Otis College of Art and Design L. A. Summer Residency 2018 (video) >
      • identity theft: erasure
      • black +
      • seabird nest
      • orange is new black
      • taglines
      • @ Work L. A. Summer Residency 2018
    • Caversham >
      • About Residency
      • Residency Video (2009)
      • A Conversation in Poem
  • Books
  • Fine Art Reproductions
    • History Re-Mixed
    • Hate the Game
  • Original Art Purchase
  • News / Events
    • Current/Future/Past Events
  • Photo Gallery
  • MY LIBRARY: Art Reviews, Books, Catalogues, Pamphlets, Ephemera
    • Elevate: Art Above Underground
    • The Dream Continues...
    • A Long Time Comin'...
    • 9.5 Theses on Art & Class
  • Contact
  • Browser Instructions