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Friday, November 10, 1989 / University Daily Kansan
3 generations cherish their artistic tradition
By Holly Lawton Kansan staff writer
For J. Theodore Johnson Jr. and his son Stephen Johnson, art is definitely a family matter.
The two Johnsons had an art show last night at their gallery at 500 Locust St., featuring the works of J. Theodore Johnson, who passed away in 1963, J. Theodore Johnson Jr. and Stephen Johnson. The celebration was called "3 Generations of Johnsons."
J. Theodore Johnson Jr., professor of French and Italian, has been an artist all his life, specializing in still life drawings. His father was a professional portrait painter and Stephen, who graduated from KU in 1987, is now a professional free lance illustrator.
"I'm definitely the amateur in all this," J. Theodore Johnson Jr. said.
he said he had planned to become a professional artist. He won a Fulbright scholarship to France for two years to study
- Stephen Johnson 1987 KU graduate
I had some wonderful classes with the school of visual arts. The art and design faculty is really superb at KU.'
medieval art and architecture. But art was discouraged as an occupation by his father, who was supposed to know better because he had been there himself, he said.
J. Theodore Johnson Jr. instead turned to languages. He still draws in the gallery, but he lets his son fulfil his artistic dreams for both of them.
Stephen Johnson lives in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y., which he hopes will be a prime location for breaking into full-time art. He works as a free lance illustrator but said he was working toward painting professionally in New York, Paris or Washington, D.C.
Stephen Johnson said the artistic tradition in his family helped to plaque his interest in art. He said he also designed at KU also influenced him.
"I had some wonderful classes with the school of visual arts," he said. "The art and design faculty is really superb at KU."
Stephen Johnson also spent his junior year in Bordeaux, France, which showed him a new side of art.
"That was the turning point," he said. "It was very influential seeing all the great works of art that France offers."
Stephen Johnson, who returned to Lawrence specifically for the art show, said he enjoyed "everything from 19th century works to American abstract expressionism." He has won several awards for his works, including best of show in exhibitions at KU and the Lawrence Arts Center.
J. Theodore Johnson Jr. and his son, Stephen, celebrate their artistic talent with a gallery show.
His work appeared in May 1987
Julie James/KANSAN
at the Society of Illustrators exhibition in New York, an annual student show that is usually not favorable to newcomers. Stephen Johnson also won the $1,000 Kirchhof/Wohlberg Award from the Society that same month.
He has drawn compact disc
covers and covers for magazines such as Time and Forbes. J. Theodore Johnson Jr., recalled his son's reaction when he was asked to draw a cover for a Louis Armstrong compact disc.
"He said, 'Dad, they want me to draw a legend!' " J. Theodore
Johnson Jr. said, "Of course it would be difficult. Everyone sees Louis Armstrong differently. But he did it beautifully."
Stephen Johnson said, "These are all special honors that I'm really proud of."
KU vegetarians try to increase awareness of animal cruelty
By Chris Evans Kansan staff writer
During Animal Awareness Days, KU vegetarians want to persuade people that animals should not be padded, knotted, punctured or worm.
sponsoring the event Nov. 13-15. On Nov. 18, the society will protest in front of the Alaskan Fur Co. in Kansas City, Mo., said Mike Lowry, the society's president.
brooded, poked, punched or wilt
The Campus Vegetarian Society is
"We're going to try to increase people's awareness of animal rights," he said.
Lowry said group members would try to educate people about their views of fur farming, factory farming and laboratory testing of animals.
"I know that there are alternatives to animal testing," Lowry said. "I think a lot of the research they do, they do just because the money is there. You just have to ask yourself if that's necessary."
The group will conduct talks and will encourage letter-writing to companies involved in animal testing.
ber, said animals should be protected from repeated testing.
Wendv Poindexter, society mem-
and over again."
"They have surgical procedures that they have done before," she said. "They need a set of rules to follow! Experiments should be documented so that they are not done over
Group members also believe that factory farming, or raising animals in a factory as products for consumption, as a violation of animal rights, Poindexter said.
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