Julian Roary (2002-2015) and Ian Roary (2005-2015)
While too many of remain glued to national events with people none of us are likely to meet, and more and more black men are gunned down by police, more families are slaughtered by the head sperm donor, and more tiny tots die by playing with unsecured guns, I have been stubbornly carrying on with this crusade. I will continue to portray those whose lives many people don’t even want to know exist. The third complete show is being put up. There are a few groups who have actually caught on to what I do. Except for one, none are fellow artists. Mothers of Murdered Sons and Daughters, Circles of Voices, Newtown Action Alliance, Sharp Dressed Man...why am I the only painter to come to these events?
Looks like the “Art World” has a few cocoons it has to emerge from if any of us are serious about making a difference.
Robert Joseph 1985-2004
Heading this squad are brothers Julian and Ian Roary. Two eager, typical American boys, these brothers were still discovering the awe of life despite hard times. But when the man they called “Dad” lost yet another temporary job, rather than ever admit that he as a real man could not take care of them, and do the unmanly thing by asking for help. (which included Mom), he took his new shotgun, killed both boys, then killed himself.
Only now with the spread of social media and pages like Hood 2 Hood memorial page, are we becoming aware of how many
young black males die by gun. Robert Joseph wouldn’t be surprised. This was arequest from his mother. Whether their boy died twelve days ago or twelve years ago, the pain will not be softened until the outside world recognizes their life. I think Robert Joseph would rather be driving a Corvette than end in the situation he did. No idea who shot him.
The same goes for David Julian Walker. He was a genuine Independence Day baby. One can only imagine what turning 21 on the 4th of July involved in celebration. Perhaps now that he was legally an adult he hoped to do this every year. Someone shot him the following March before he could turn 22. I do not know who shot him either.
David Julian Walker (1982-2004)
This second exquisite watercolor by my friend and fellow artist Ash Masrani brings out the wistful side of another very striking young black man
in an unsolved case from 2013. He nicknamed himself “Tommy Buns”. Id be curious to know why he got that nickname, but there is no way to find out now.
If, as in the case of father Matthew Wood Jr, and his son Kimani Johnson, you are members of a notorious gang like the Black Guerilla Family, you have to be aware of every detail of your surroundings. One has to keep senses sharp and on the lookout for the tiniest signs and signals, and have a thorough understanding of secret codes within ordinary language .
According to police, father and son had driven up to a city corner and were preparing weapons with which to shoot at a group across the street when police gunned them down first by firing 56 shots at them.
Brian Sims (1988-2013)
Had he lived two more days Kimani Johnson would have turned 19. If only they could have been a father-son team of archaeologists. They could have explored for hidden Central American ancient cities by having a thorough grasp of every aspect of the terrain…spotting the tiniest signs and signals...and understanding secret languages that would have led them to discovery.
So much wasted potential.
When the face of young mother of four Miriah Barnes first captured my attention it felt like she was firing a lot of passionate and deep questions at me. Her questions are vital to why I’m on this crusade.
Questions like: What about my life? What about my liberty? I’m a born American woman!
Matthew Wood Jr. (1973-2016) and Kimani Johnson (1997-2016)
Where is all this freedom that’s supposed to be my birthright? All this talk about hair, hair, hair! Did anyone give a damn for even a minute about my mind? Why struggle so hard for 27 years only to get gunned down on my own stoop before I could find out if any of this was worth it?!
That’s how she met her shattered end. The shooter still walks out there.
I don’t know the answers to those questions. But she is portrayed as the 21st century version of liberty, taking the torch from the 19th century past and hopefully lighting the way for us for common sense gun safety measures.
If you listen to Bessie Smith sing “Young Woman Blues”, it’s like the song was written with Miriah and women like her in mind.
Miriah Barnes (1988-2015)
Who Am I? died January 1987
It’s sad enough when so many shooters go unknown. But when the name of a victim is not even known, the poignancy doubles. Who was this young Asian man who was shot, bagged in plastic, and left on a state road in Harford County MD during a frozen day in January 29 years ago?
He is the first John Doe to join the march. I bring him to the light in the slender hope of somehow discovering his identity. Just in case there is at least one man or woman about 40 years old out there who still wonders in the back of his or her mind what happened to Dad.
Imagine you’re a mother starting out a year with three fine sons, hearty and healthy lads all just entering the first bloom of manhood.
When 17 year old Reginald McFadden (1987-2005) was gunned down by an unknown shooter in February of 2005, the loss of this energetic, eager lad, with his interest in learning how to design computer video games, was a blow that rips the heart of every family who loses a child to violence.
When the same scenario tore the life out of Randolph McFadden (1986-2005) just six weeks later in mid March, the agony was fourfold. At 18 years old, Randolph was killed by a shooter unknown for a motive undiscovered.
For 20 year old Linton McFadden (1984-2005), the strain of trying to continue his first job as a file clerk while mourning the loss of two kid brothers must have been immense. That ended when he was set upon by two armed robbers in May, and he too died.
This is not the twilight zone. This is my city eleven years ago. The only change is that we have better records through blogs and social media.
I have met and communicate with their mother. I meet quite a few mothers . This artist is coming out of her cocoon and attending the Mothers of Murdered Sons and daughters, Moms Demand Action, and JC Faulk’s Circle of Voices. This crusade is meant to bring not just victims but the people who loved them together. Little by little ordinary people seek out each other outside the groups they’re used to. We are melting boundaries.
This is what I will continue to do as my little action in our quest to get the gun sense this country needs.
Reginald McFadden (1987-February 2005), Randolph McFadden (1986-2005), and Linton McFadden (1984-2005)
