Collaboration with poets JK Anowe and Laura M Kaminski

scavenger l from flickr

scavenger

I’m delighted that “Scavenger,” from the Eternal Childhood series, is part of this collaborative submission with poets JK Anowe and Laura M Kaminski at Poetry Life and Times. If you get a chance, take some time and read their poignant words.

“Story” Opens Next Tuesday!

Melissa D Johnston-Tenuous-Story-OTPH

If you’re in or near the Charlotte-Lake Norman, NC area next Tuesday evening (November 17), come see me! It’s the opening of “Story.” The opening is at Old Town Public House in Cornelius, NC and starts at 7:30 p.m. Here’s the Facebook invitation.

The name “Story” refers to the stories told by the visual images in and of themselves, the mini-fairy tale-like stories (and fables) I’ve written to accompany the Eternal Childhood series (a series that features children in fantastic, magical, or dreamlike scenarios/places), and my own account of healing childhood trauma, which I’ve never talked about publicly before. Monday will recount the beginning of my healing journey, discussing six works of art in relation to it. Discussion of more art and more of my journey will follow in two more receptions–one in December, one in January. If you’re in the area, come out!

 

Nighttime Playground

I’ve been a little behind in posting the images from the iPhone Eternal Childhood series to the blog. Here’s one I did a couple months ago: “Nighttime Playground.”

Each night, the Moon kisses secretly the lover who counts the stars. ~~Rumi

nighttime playground

Eternal Childhood: Looking Forward, Looking Back

Another iPhone creation for the Eternal Childhood series. Looking into the past for its own promises, fulfilled–or maybe not quite fulfilled–can be an endless process, an endless regress that may not reveal any new wisdom–and we might miss the promise right in front of us, smaller at the moment, but glowing brightly, ready to lead on.

Looking forward, looking back

Eternal Childhood: The things we carry

“The things we carry” is another piece in the Eternal Childhood series, which explores the magic not just of childhood, but of being human itself. A magic we could experience if we could but glimpse ourselves and the world differently for even one moment.
Melissa D. Johnston-The things we carry

Eternal Childhood: Phases

image

A recent iPhone creation, using one of the photos I took last Sunday at Jones Bridge Park in Norcross, Georgia. It’s a part of a new series, Eternal Childhood, which explores the magic of childhood–a magic than can exist in every moment, even for adults.

“Resolve to be always beginning—to be a beginner!” –Rainer Maria Rilke