Life of the CREATIVE GEEK

Family The young and the... not so young;) A father and son pic. "What attitude?" Young cuz schools his Uncle Jason on the proper way to play Spades! Mikayla... apparently shy??!! Jason got spanked in spades...  Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, the kids learned a game Aunt Caroline called, Spoons.     Deasia and her father, Damon My nephew, Siraj el-Bey! I really enjoyed seeing my family. It was great seeing faces I hadn't seen in awhile-- unbelievable seeing how the little cousins grow so fast. I'm tempted to post some old pics... I'm holding some for ransom!

Gordon Parks (11/30/1912 - 03/07/2006) I had a mother who would not allow me to complain about not accomplishing something because I was black. Her attitude was, ‘If a white boy can do it, then you can do it, too—and do it better, or don’t come home.’” ...and he did do it well. A photojournalist with an amazing eye. One of my favorite photographers who documented early social wrongs. His most recognized photo is of Ella Watson, standing in front of the American flag holding a mop and a broom. Taken in Washington DC  American Gothic  speaks loudly of the bigotry African Americans faced in the 1940's.   As a photographer for Life Magazine, an esteemed position that allowed Parks to encourage readers to see a different view of the world through his lens. Often times a gritty, hardcore glimpse into the world, his images were an awakening, --it created conversation. From snapshots of a sick child-- Flavio in Rio de Janeirio to Harlem gangsters called the MidTowners, he became a ge

copyright: Marika N. Johnson 2011 Who am I? I was born the daughter of music, raised by hip hop. It was 1986, when I bought--well, when I asked my parents to buy my first tape... RUN DMC.  Monumental, one because I distinctly remember my Dad asking, "What the hell is this Raising Hell crap?" and my mother saying to him... "Charles, thats that new rap stuff." A pivotal moment that shaped the person I became. All connoisseurs of hip hop are-- (or rather, they should be) lovers of ALLLL types of music. Music is the universal language of the human race. A bond can be created over a simple beat. A smile emerges through a harmonic undulance and even tames the most savage of beasts. It was the best of times, new, groundbreaking--this thing called Hip Hop. The making of ME. This pic of Doug E. Fresh was taken front row at Club Merienda. I don't go out often but was honored to see an icon in such an intimate setting. I was invited by a wonderful friend and arti

     ENCOURAGING STORIES SPONSORED BY HOMECOMING COFFEE AND GIFTS AND THE BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE AND MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GRANT FROM BIRMINGHAM CULTURAL ALLIANCE/KRESGE ARTS  READ AND SEE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS IN THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE BY THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS .   Marika Johnson of Pleasant Grove with her daughters Maia Johnson (8) and Nadia Johnson (6) who became homeless after the April 27th tornado are shown with the artwork they have in the exhibit during the opening reception of "Encouraging Stories," an exhibition of wriitten and spoken word, music and visual art by members of Birmingham's homeless community at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011. The exhibit runs until January 22, 2011. (The Birmingham News/Jeff Roberts) What the images were about... I took a more light hearted side to the events that occurred. I have found that not all horrific events equal tragedy. It depends on what you t

"Birmingham--the world rather, lost a true pioneer. An indomitable spirit that paved many a path for us 'colored' folks. He was the fire, that the movement needed. Thank you Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth " for all that you contributed. --mj  Photograph/graphics by Marika N. Johnson//original Shuttlesworth photo by S. Schapiro TROUBLE IN BIRMINGHAM (CLICK FOR FULL ARTICLE WRITTEN BY NPR) A 1961 CBS documentary called Shuttlesworth the "man most feared by Southern racists." It was Shuttlesworth who asked Attorney General Robert Kennedy to protect freedom riders, and the last thing Connor wanted was federal intervention. And trouble was coming. Shuttlesworth was laying the groundwork for something bigger. In 1963, he persuaded the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to bring the civil rights movement to Birmingham after a dispirited campaign in Albany, Ga. Shuttlesworth told  Eyes on the Prize  he thought Birmingham could make a difference."You k

       As an artist, there are many things that I would like to share about shooting this guy... Bill Gunnz of Murc Camp is one of those people who anyone could shoot with ease. No pulling teeth here! The attitude comes through this ONE image. Confidence-- that "whatever, I'm in f--- it mode".        He reminded me of Travis McCoy, all tatted up, but more Lil Wayne persona (no disrespect). So I was fairly thrilled at the thought of shooting something different. I don't want to shoot the "same ole"... so it was fun. Good for me! -mj

These photographs of the beautiful Karen "Jazz" Harris were taken not for her looks alone-- but for the arresting HOTNESS of her earrings!! Those large eagle wings gracing her earlobes were headturners! I thought they were a unique find... I call this pic "An Ode to Ear Jewelry--and Karen Harris" Real Life/Sunni Patterson Show/10.15.11 --mj

Sunni Patterson by Marika Johnson I took this photo of Sunni Patterson during Birmingham's Real Life Poets fundraising event.  Its been photoshopped... a little added to the background, but overall its her intrinsic beauty shining through. This sister really has a way with words. Righteous artistic verbiage. -mj