Martin Still Speaks to Us

Artist Evolution Challenge

I joined the Delores Naskrent Artistic Evolution Challenge. It’s for a week. It ended yesterday, but I could not resist creating an abstract for Martin Luther King, Jr since today is the day to honor him, though we should honor his work and dream always. It is a dream for America.

Resources

His Words:

• Letter from Birmingham Jail
  • justice too long delayed is justice denied
  • a positive peace.. is the presence of justice
  • radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine
• An Experiment in Love — the Marginalian
  • Agape: a love in which the individual seeks not his own good, but the good of his neighbor; it springs from the need of the other person. Agape is the willingness to forgive, not seven times, but seventy times seven to restore community.

Public Domain Images

• Martin Luther King, Jr in 1963
• March on Washington, 1963 — no known restrictions
• Arrest 1958
• Martin in jail, 1964

Abstract Illustration Process

Using all the strategies discussed in my Artistic Evolution Challenge posts, I created the illustration. Here’s the replay, with a bit of zooming on the agape quote.

Reflection on the Learning While Making Art

In the readings, especially the Letter from Birmingham Jail, I learned how Martin Luther King explained the need for nonviolent protest: history shows that all the steps to achieve equal human rights had been tried over and over — including many negotiations. When those don’t work, the oppressed have no choice but to call attention to the misdeeds and discrimination nonviolently to point out the injustice– not to call out the people — but to name and show the injustice. Marching, sit-ins, strikes are nonviolent ways to put for the attention needed for change. And the quote about agape explains the meaning behind this type of protest: it is for the love and needs of our neighbors, to restore a whole and equal community. It takes loving each other just because we are all human.

Could we please, Live and let live?

#artisticevolutionchallenge #warmup4art  #abstractattitudes