Patrick Henry Johnson: A World of Color
Patrick Henry Johnson is a 53 year old artist from St. Petersburg, Florida. He moved to the city of Los Angeles over thirty years ago, and has found his life's work drawing inspiration from the millions of people living throughout LA.
"Come on in! Watch the cat though, she's tricky and will try to sneak out the door." Patrick Henry Johnson welcomed me into his home studio on Washington Blvd with open arms. In an effort to be professional, I extended a handshake that he promptly dismissed for a more appropriate bear hug. In his "Phree Ya Mind" t-shirt and paint splattered jeans, PHJ gave me a tour of his studio, decorated with his favorite pieces in his "From Servitude to Freedom: A Manifesto" collection.
"From Servitude to Freedom: A Manifesto" is the centerpiece of the collection.
The "Manifesto" collection is a series of paintings that depict derogatory words, racial slurs, and misconstrued meanings. PHJ chose the words in these pieces to educate people about the true definitions of these words, as they come out of the Webster dictionary.
"All of these words say STAY AWAY. That's the one thing they have in common. The slurs are also alike because are used to dehumanize sentient, living beings and take away their humanity. That way, it's easier to see them as less or insignificant. This tactic has been used by our government for a long time, especially in the military during times of war. Soldiers are taught to view the enemy only as a problem, it's easier to kill that way."
"WAR!"
PHJ's Manifesto collection pieces are all written with his left hand (he is right-handed), and should be read with a mirror. The plaques are large and heavy, much like the words they hold.
"I added blood and metal to WAR! because that's what I feel when I hear that word."
Attached (but not pictured) to the bottom of WAR! is a single military boot with a Henry Kissinger quote fashioned on the side of it.
A few of PHJ's favorite works are the pieces are Cracker!, Terrorist! and Religion.
"Cracker!"
Out of respect for all, I will warn that there are offensive words listed below (which is the point) without abbreviation or substitution. Out of respect for the artist, I will not censor his work.
Cracker! Reads:
“Originally the white slave driver who would crack the whip. Used to refer to those of European ancestry. A slur and should be avoided. It is used with disparaging intent. Offensive. Synonyms: white devil, Mr. Charlie, wasp, Y-T, Ghost, Wetdog, Snowflake, Cave dweller, Niggerlover, sheet head, Blanco, Uncle Daddy, Nigger Magnet, Aryan.”
"When I had an exhibition of these paintings, a lot of people left angry. No one wants to read the words they've been avoiding their whole life. But I think conversation creates clarity, and we've got to start somewhere."
Terrorist!
"Today, we misuse the word terrorist all the time. At the top of the painting are nine nails, followed by eleven nails (if you're viewing the painting in the mirror). That was a true act of terrorism, and often what comes to mind, but there are so many other forms of terrorism that our government is responsible for perpetuating. I used Jesus Christ as an example of a terrorist because he fits this dictionary definition."
"Religion".
"Religion had a lot of people upset. This piece is paired with WAR! and that seems to get people riled up because they don't like when their religion feels threatened. I'm not threatening, I'm being honest. It's the truth that many wars have been fought over religion, and that should not be forgotten."
While I was sitting on the floor of PHJ's studio, his four-month-old kitten Jedi stole my pen, and scratched several holes in my notebook. She's a black and tan-brown tigress, and keeps PHJ company while he paints.
"I didn't even know I liked cats. I wanted a dog, but my girlfriend, Misty, talked me into getting a kitten. She knew better than me though, because I am absolutely in love with Jedi. She'll pop out from behind the paintings or out of a box and I'm like 'damn, Jedi do you ever quit?' She always wants to play."
PHJ's studio assistant, Jedi, having her way with my notepad.
Jedi and I became fast friends, and remained on my lap for the majority of my time with PHJ. While we talked, we shared a bottle of Spanish red wine called Crucillon. Jedi did not partake in the consumption of alcohol.
When I asked him what he had lined up for his next project, he told me he was planning a trip to Colombia and Peru with some friends to try Ayahuasca.
For the sake of themes, here's a dictionary definition of the plant.
noun
1.a woody South American vine, Banisteriopsis caapi, of the malpighia family, having bark that is the source of harmine, a hallucinogenic alkaloid used by Amazon Indians.
Ayahuasca is South American plant known to contain relatively high levels of the psychedelic drug DMT. Ayahuasca effects last from 4-8 hours usually, and 'retreats' usually involve several days of usage.
“Ayahuasca is an Amazonian plant mixture that is capable of inducing altered states of consciousness, usually lasting between 4 to 8 hours after ingestion. Ranging from mildly stimulating to extremely visionary, ayahuasca is used primarily as a medicine and as a shamanic means of communication, typically in a ceremonial session under the guidance of an experienced drinker.”
"I've given it a lot of thought, and with my ongoing quest to open up my mind, I decided that an Ayahuasca retreat would be an incredible way to do just that. My friend, Angel, is an experienced Ayahuasca drinker, and goes on these trips twice a year with groups of twelve. I don't know a lot of the other people going, but I think that could enhance my experience in a good way. I'm so interested to see where my mind can go, and what I can create when I return from the trip (literally and figuratively)."
PHJ doesn't know what he'll find in Peru, but believes that his art may be significantly changed after his first Ayahuasca experience. He's gone through artistic changes before, during his transition away from surrealism.
"I used to want to be Salvador Dali. I painted surrealist scenes transcending time and space, and then I realized I was only recreating someone else's vision. I had to step away to create my own, and that's when the Manifesto began.
Pictured above is part of the Manifeso collection, "Nigger!", and below is a Dali-esque painting featuring a man named Stephen.
"As you can see, the styles are very very different. I loved painting surrealism, but it came to point where it didn't feel authentic anymore."
The lower painting was one of my personal favorites in the studio because of the story of it's origin. I asked PHJ who the man was, and he said that he was just a drawing until the man found him in real life.
"I was just sketching a face at my sons' chess lessons, and they asked me who I was drawing. I said it was just a person, but they didn't believe me. They said he had to exist, so I told them we would find him. I made a game out of it, and we decided to find Stephen in real life. I didn't know his name was Stephen yet though. Over the next few months, my kids would ask 'Daddy is that him?' and I'd say no, not quite, but one day, and I know this sounds insane, he actually appeared in my life. My son told me "DAD THAT'S HIM!" and I looked up and was actually shook to see my drawing in real life. I got out my sketch pad, and asked the man to look at it. It was unreal. He was like 'yes, that does sure look like me'. I was thrilled that this was happening, and then he told me his name and said that we'd been brought together to talk about life. It was so eerie, but one of the best days. And that's how I met Stephen."
Meanwhile, I'm sitting on the floor across from him, jaw agape, holding Jedi, wine in hand, wondering how the hell that was possible. There's no way he made it up, it was too sincere, and I don't think this man tells lies anyway.
In addition to PHJ's phenomenal pieces displayed throughout his home and studio, he has painted a collection of murals scattered throughout Los Angeles. His most recent (2011) and best known mural is called "The Elixir", located at 4213 Crenshaw Blvd.
"The Elixir".
"The Elixir was an incredibly emotional painting for me to finish. The silhouette is of my ex-girlfriend, Kyron, and painting her this way helped me let go. We are great friends now, and she loves the mural, but at the time there was a lot of emotion surrounding this project."
PHJ has three other large murals in Los Angeles, and one at Berendo Middle School located at 1157 Berendo Street. The other murals are titled and located at the following:
"Pentagon" 51st and Central Ave.
"The Dream" Starbucks on Washington Blvd. and Crenshaw.
"Creation" Liemert & Degrane.