Constance Gordon-Johnson 29.07.50 - 21.01.00
Constance Gordon-Johnson, my sister and my only sibling, was a force to be reckoned with...from a VERY early age.
Constance was hugely talented and winning art awards from the age of 12. Plus, Constance was academically brilliant and was able to skip the 11th grade all together in high school.
So, yes, it WAS very difficult living in her shadow, but as intimidating as she could be, I was always her secret admirer.
Constance pushed everyone in her sphere to be a better person - a more intelligent person and she taught all around her to care about the environment, but...most importantly to take care of and protect every sort of animal that inhabits the earth. In Constance's world animals were far more important than humans. Constance was that kind of gal. My Mom had a very old newspaper clipping from The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) that shows Constance with a pair of pliers getting a fish hook out of a duck's bill. She was successful yet surrounded by adults whom were not willing to do the same. Baffling~! The duck looked thankful and Constance was thrilled.
Her love of horses extended her entire life. As a young woman, Constance would travel to the wild west and purchase genuine silver,
(Painting in Ajo, Arizona!)
turquoise, and leather in order to make her custom made chaps for cowboys and rodeo riders on her industrial sewing machine. Sometimes it would take her up to 10 months to make just one pair of chaps and the fee was enormous ~ especially for the time. But the guys lined up, cowboys contacted her from every part of the country and she filled tons of orders. At one point her sewing machine was set up in Cowboy Corner when it was owned and managed by the original owner, Mr. George Tackett. Those were hard core country times and Constance was in her element. People would also contact Constance through the Cowboy Corner and ask if she would go take a look at a horse they wanted to purchase OR could she possibly pick out a proper horse for their son or daughter? Constance had a real way with horses...the phrase horse whisperer is overused, but that is the sense I got when I was around Constance while she was handling a horse. These requests came for years. The real reason Constance gave up making chaps was the process was too time consuming and Constance became a nomad so horse ownership did not suit her lifestyle either. Constance had other endeavours to pursue: her art.
To the amazement of her family and fellow artists, Constance took the time out of her incredibly busy life and made a will. Not many people do, but...especially artists! We were astounded and proud. Constance left a good chunk of her hard-earned money to a 'sculptor artist of merit' and this award is now proudly distributed annually through The University of South Australia Visual Arts Graduation Exhibition.
Constance Gordon-Johnson Sculpture and Installation Prize - University of South Australia
https://www.dailymotion.com By: Jimmie Chauncie
Here are a few words written and developed by Constance's family and the marketing team of UniSA:
Constance Gordon-Johnson was an artist, community arts worker, project-coordinator, designer, and educator. She established a diverse professional practice including numerous community art projects and murals, artist-in-residence appointments, as well as undertaking several significant leadership positions within the arts.
Constance graduated from The University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and throughout her study she pursued an interest in museum studies. Other study included classes in the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Memphis Academy of Arts, and Memphis State University where she earned entry with a scholarship.
The early years of Constance's career during the 1970's included managing a design and manufacturing business for several years. Throughout the 1980's, after a period of extensive international travel, she returned to the United States and undertook a coordinating role with Dulin Downtown Art Gallery where she managed all aspects of the gallery from cataloguing to community relations.
Constance relocated to Australia during the mid 1980's, settling in Adelaide. She established her reputation within the local arts community coordinating public art events and activities for the Unley Council and Eastwood Community Centre. During 1986 Constance undertook artist-in-residence positions at Mitcham Girls' School, Annesley College, and the City of Unley, developing the Unley Youth Photographic Exhibition. During the 1980's she completed private design commissions and worked on several interpretive centres including the Geo Centre Museum in Broken Hill, the Port Adelaide Visitors Centre, and the Signal Point Murray River Interpretation Centre at Goolwa.
Throughout her career Constance held several solo exhibitions in Australia and the United States, however, she was most active with private commissions and design projects. Exhibition highlights include International Year of the Child (1979), Knoxville Tennessee Mayoral Buildings, and Public Sites (1985), Constitutional Museum Adelaide. Individual mural commissions included the Parkside Community House and the Highgate shopping centre.
Constance and I were born 5 years apart and we were raised (it felt) as only children. We did not always see eye to eye, but if and when I truly needed her, she was there in a heartbeat. Constance adored my children and decided early on that Kelley and Cory would be the closest she would ever get to having children. When Constance would arrive from Australia like a tornado and interact with my kids it took forever for life to calm down after she made her exit. Constance had an impact on people and she would push you to reach for YOUR star.
I am Constance's only sibling. I am her sister, yet my name is George. WHY? When my Mother first brought me home to introduce me to Constance, Constance told her she brought the WRONG KIND home and she needed to take me back to the hospital. My Mom sharply stated, 'Well, she's not going back.' My sister replied, 'Well, her name is George'. See? Constance never, ever wanted a sister ~ only a brother and, in some ways, sums up our lifelong relationship. Deep down we were in awe of each other because we were total opposites.
Living in Australia today I am often reminded of my sister and I treasure it whenever someone speaks her name. When we had ownership of The Wheatsheaf Pub I had a corner dedicated to Constance's photos and some of her art and people would run up to the front bar and asked what our connection was...then...the stories would spill out. Absolute Magic. This country may be huge in landmass, but small in population and Constance made a real impact.
Thinking of a brilliant, talented, tough, savvy, beautiful, strong woman ~ my sister, Constance ~ on her day of birth.
I, along with many others, are missing you like mad...
Posted with pride and sadness: Blanco, The Roaming Stevens
Pegasus still flies as of this day.
Designed and built throughout a six week process by Constanza.
Please excuse all typos.
Constance was hugely talented and winning art awards from the age of 12. Plus, Constance was academically brilliant and was able to skip the 11th grade all together in high school.
So, yes, it WAS very difficult living in her shadow, but as intimidating as she could be, I was always her secret admirer.
Constance pushed everyone in her sphere to be a better person - a more intelligent person and she taught all around her to care about the environment, but...most importantly to take care of and protect every sort of animal that inhabits the earth. In Constance's world animals were far more important than humans. Constance was that kind of gal. My Mom had a very old newspaper clipping from The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee) that shows Constance with a pair of pliers getting a fish hook out of a duck's bill. She was successful yet surrounded by adults whom were not willing to do the same. Baffling~! The duck looked thankful and Constance was thrilled.
Her love of horses extended her entire life. As a young woman, Constance would travel to the wild west and purchase genuine silver,
Love of animals...was always there!
Constance's OTHER LOVE ~ TRUCKS and
her cowboy days!
(Painting in Ajo, Arizona!)To the amazement of her family and fellow artists, Constance took the time out of her incredibly busy life and made a will. Not many people do, but...especially artists! We were astounded and proud. Constance left a good chunk of her hard-earned money to a 'sculptor artist of merit' and this award is now proudly distributed annually through The University of South Australia Visual Arts Graduation Exhibition.
Constance Gordon-Johnson Sculpture and Installation Prize - University of South Australia
https://www.dailymotion.com By: Jimmie Chauncie
Here are a few words written and developed by Constance's family and the marketing team of UniSA:
Constance Gordon-Johnson was an artist, community arts worker, project-coordinator, designer, and educator. She established a diverse professional practice including numerous community art projects and murals, artist-in-residence appointments, as well as undertaking several significant leadership positions within the arts.
Constance graduated from The University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and throughout her study she pursued an interest in museum studies. Other study included classes in the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Memphis Academy of Arts, and Memphis State University where she earned entry with a scholarship.
The early years of Constance's career during the 1970's included managing a design and manufacturing business for several years. Throughout the 1980's, after a period of extensive international travel, she returned to the United States and undertook a coordinating role with Dulin Downtown Art Gallery where she managed all aspects of the gallery from cataloguing to community relations.
Constance relocated to Australia during the mid 1980's, settling in Adelaide. She established her reputation within the local arts community coordinating public art events and activities for the Unley Council and Eastwood Community Centre. During 1986 Constance undertook artist-in-residence positions at Mitcham Girls' School, Annesley College, and the City of Unley, developing the Unley Youth Photographic Exhibition. During the 1980's she completed private design commissions and worked on several interpretive centres including the Geo Centre Museum in Broken Hill, the Port Adelaide Visitors Centre, and the Signal Point Murray River Interpretation Centre at Goolwa.
Throughout her career Constance held several solo exhibitions in Australia and the United States, however, she was most active with private commissions and design projects. Exhibition highlights include International Year of the Child (1979), Knoxville Tennessee Mayoral Buildings, and Public Sites (1985), Constitutional Museum Adelaide. Individual mural commissions included the Parkside Community House and the Highgate shopping centre.
Constance and I were born 5 years apart and we were raised (it felt) as only children. We did not always see eye to eye, but if and when I truly needed her, she was there in a heartbeat. Constance adored my children and decided early on that Kelley and Cory would be the closest she would ever get to having children. When Constance would arrive from Australia like a tornado and interact with my kids it took forever for life to calm down after she made her exit. Constance had an impact on people and she would push you to reach for YOUR star.
I am Constance's only sibling. I am her sister, yet my name is George. WHY? When my Mother first brought me home to introduce me to Constance, Constance told her she brought the WRONG KIND home and she needed to take me back to the hospital. My Mom sharply stated, 'Well, she's not going back.' My sister replied, 'Well, her name is George'. See? Constance never, ever wanted a sister ~ only a brother and, in some ways, sums up our lifelong relationship. Deep down we were in awe of each other because we were total opposites.
Living in Australia today I am often reminded of my sister and I treasure it whenever someone speaks her name. When we had ownership of The Wheatsheaf Pub I had a corner dedicated to Constance's photos and some of her art and people would run up to the front bar and asked what our connection was...then...the stories would spill out. Absolute Magic. This country may be huge in landmass, but small in population and Constance made a real impact.
Thinking of a brilliant, talented, tough, savvy, beautiful, strong woman ~ my sister, Constance ~ on her day of birth.
I, along with many others, are missing you like mad...
Posted with pride and sadness: Blanco, The Roaming Stevens
Constance's signature, round glasses; I wear these today
because they make me feel close to her...
That huge hair and Constance used to walk to the main street with her big, daggy boots on, wearing her Driza-Bone's coat and many times with a cigar in her hand all the while sporting Shiseido bright, red lipstick. I'm not sure Kapunda knew what to do with her!
THAT WAS MY SISTER. CONSTANCE LIVED LIFE HER WAY OR NO WAY.
Pegasus still flies as of this day.
Designed and built throughout a six week process by Constanza.
January 2022 and thinking about Constance all these years later and how much I miss her laughter. Hope y'all are well.
ReplyDeleteYES. It is STILL tough. Marcus and I enjoyed some sweet and sentimental moments together in Constance's honour on the 21st. It IS most difficult to believe/comprehend...this many years have passed since Constance died. 😢 🙏
ReplyDelete