THURSDAY 4/26/2012: ROSA PARKS MUSEUM, MONTGOMERY AL, 6-8 PM: Threads of a Story Opens

HELLO MONTGOMERY. I'm excited to come & share 'Threads Of A Story - History Inspiring Art'. This Thursday April 26 from 6-8 PM Freedom Rider Dr. Pauline Knight Ofuso will join me at a meet the history & the artist behind the art. PLEASE JOIN US!
Montgomery is a pivotal part of civil rights history & two sets of powerful Montgomery mug shots of Bus Boycotters & Freedom Riders are what inspired me to paint this work in the first place. It is now 82 canvases strong. 

Every time has it's specific music & noise and I try to sing & scream it with paint (it is my better voice). There is a scavenger hunt component and if you want to really let yourself drop into this history take on the challenge - bring some friends, family, share it with your kids - that is what it is meant for. 'THREADS' will be on display through May 28, 2012 at the Rosa Parks Museum, 252 Montgomery Street, Montgomery AL 

This exhibit is dedicated to the beloved community  - let's carry on building it. 

CHARLOTTAJANSSENPRINTS.COM NOW OPEN!

 www.charlottajanssenprints.com is now open. I really am no techie so this took longer than I wanted to. I have learned a lot to say the least. For now the prints on sale are Freedom Riders as the current exhibit is up in Nashville TN.

I am very grateful for the lovely nots I have received from Nashvillians and visitors of Nashville. Here is also a link to an event talking place on November 17th in Nashville, TN:

http://charlottajanssenprints.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=45

 I'll be busy printing and painting till then

 Charlotta

Freedom Riders Limited Edition Giclee Prints For 10/6/2011 Event In Nashville Almost Ready To Order

The work below is currently on display at the downtown public library in Nashville. A link to order limited edition giclee prints of single image (in two sizes)  or double image side by side prints (in two sizes), and/or a poster prints  of one specially made multi image for the closing event with the Nashville Bar Association will be available  here within the next 24-48 hours. Captions will also be available then. Orders received by 9/30/2011 will be available at closing event in Nashville on 10/9/2011. Proceeds currently will be used to crate and travel the show. Thank you for your patience.

OPENING JUNE 18, 2011 AT 2 PM: THREADS OF A STORY, NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

PLEASE JOIN ME THIS SATURDAY IN NASHVILLE AT 2 PM FOR A VERY SPECIAL EVENT. IT'S 82 IMAGES STRONG AND TOOK ME THE MOST PART OF THIS AND LAST YEAR TO PAINT, RUST AND COLLAGE. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO WHEN YOU COME ACROSS SUCH A GREAT SUBJECT MATTER AND SUCH A GREAT VENUE. FREEDOM RIDERS, A BRIGHT LIGHT IN A BLEAK HISTORY, WELL WORTH PAINTING AND CELEBRATING ABOUT. THIS WORK WILL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH OCTOBER 9 2011. 

Threads of A Story: June 18. 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Location: Special Collections Center and Courtyard Gallery

 NASHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, NASHVILLE TN

Artist Charlotta Janssen will be at the library to talk about her powerful portraits. Film clips about the Freedom Riders will begin at 2:00, followed by the artist’s reflections on the paintings.   Sponsors: Nashville Public Library Foundation, Friends of Nashville Public Library

HERE ARE A FEW PRESS LINKS TO THE SHOW:

http://ecosalon.com/the-freedom-riders-traverse-time/

http://www.library.nashville.org/artgallery/art_home.asp

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Artist-Pays-Tribute-to-Freedom-Riders-Video

OPENING 6/18/2011 FREEDOM RIDERS at the Downtown Public Library Nasvhille, TN

FREEDOM RIDERS

Portraits by Charlotta Janssen

 Opening Saturday June 18 2011

At the Downtown Public Library Of Nashville

 615 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219

 

These heroic portraits of courage are from mug shots (normally a sign of shame and criminality) of Freedom Riders arrested in the spring and summer of 1961. 

Standing up against the injustice of segregation and institutionalized racism, that moment in 1961 there was no way of knowing what prison in Mississippi had in store, so these portraits are about facing an oppressive system with non violence and a deep mix of emotions, each in their own way: fear, joy, anger and innocence. 

Critical details such as disheveled collars, skinny ties, bows on ruffled collars still suggestive of the fifties and loud patterns that were announcing a more modern time are crucial parts too. Carefully recorded by a sovereignty commission their purpose was to ostracise those who stood up to segregation, certainly not intended for art. 

Meeting many of these Freedom Riders ( the first being Charles Jones in 2009 of Charlotte NC with whom I had a good cry in) and activists who planned this out and hearing details of their stories and the dangers they faced moved me to retell them through oil, acrylic, rust and collage, to take the observer back into that moment. These are extraordinary humans who didn't stand by idle. Freedom Rides are a miracle to me that we all need to know about and build on what they started: the beloved community. 

The work will be on display at the downtown public library through October 6 2011.