I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤
♡. under1000skies
☼ A “Giftivism” Initiative ☼
We are photographers,
writers, artists & advocates
serving and connecting
homeless creatives.
Gems 4.37
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Tag Archives: John Olander
Gems 4.29
I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤
Photo by Picmonkey
Tell Us a Story
The theme for February and ongoing throughout 2018 is “storytelling.” We are always looking for your story, poetry, photo and art submissions. Here’s the Submission Guidelines post from earlier this month: Tell Us a Story.
Changemaker JohnnyO
JohnnyO of Denver and Nicole Huguenin, (Dream Together) one of our most generous contributing photographers.
Big shout out to JohnnyO in Denver who has some amazing stories to tell (coming soon). Johnny was recently featured in Channel 9 KUSA Denver News reading one of his poems, Climb Again. When I spoke to John on Tuesday, he told me some wonderful news. He has secured a venue in Denver for two different Gallery shows which will feature the art and writings from under1000skies. One show will be in March and and the other in June. These venues are quite expensive and exclusive but Johnny was able to get the venues pro bono! This is amazing news. Johnny has been passionate about helping spread the word about under1000skies since he learned about us a couple of years ago. As more information becomes available, we’ll share it here with you. Kudos to Johnny O and deep bows of gratitude for your enthusiasm, kindness and creative vision.
♡. under1000skies
☼ A “Giftivism” Initiative ☼
We are photographers,
writers, artists & advocates
serving and connecting
homeless creatives.
Gems 4.17
I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤
What Is Equal?
It is non-existent, that is “What it is”.
There is no such thing as equal.
God dealt the cards and one can only
play the hand which they are dealt, regardless
of the obstacles. Fair or unfair.
The biggest “offenders” feel no shame, they know no guilt.
They embrace only their own bigoted double standards.
Asking someone to resolve problems that they not only perpetuate,
but don’t even acknowledge, is a fruitless waste of your precious breath.
You are either of a mind of equality or you are not.
Few are persuaded to do an about face.
Children of all races, creed and colors are not BORN haters.
THEY ARE TAUGHT.
Those thoughts and beliefs of inequity become their values,
No matter how injurious they may be.
”What Is Equal” Copyright © John Olander 2018.
All rights reserved. Graphic Art by John Olander.
Used with permission. Thank you! ♡
Gems 4.16
I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤
Big congrats to Johnny O whose poem “Climb Again” was featured on two news stories in Denver last week:
KUSA News, Denver CO: Inside Hard Times Writers Workshop
“Although they’re just words, they are words coming from somewhere unexpected with the hopeful consequence of changing people’s lives for good.”
KUSA News, Denver, CO: Featuring John Olander Jan. 14, 2018 Reading “Climb Again”
“SOUND ON: What would a homeless person write if given the chance? John Olander shared a hard-hitting piece of poetry with us.”
THANK YOU JOHNNY O
Thank you Johnny for allowing us to feature your beautiful poetry since last year on under1000skies. We’re so grateful for our connection and for your friendship. Thank you for contributions to your community and for your kindness and enthusiasm in all our interactions. Please keep writing and sharing your poetry. The world needs your voice.
☼ You’re a shining light. ☼
With gratitude and love,
A “Giftivism” Initiative
We are photographers,
writers, artists & advocates
serving and connecting
homeless creatives.
Gems 3.70
I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤
You Can’t Protect It
When you live out of bags,
It’s tough to keep things straight.
Especially because, typically, they are
All sorts of Opaque.
Where’s this? Where’s that?
I thought it was in this one.
Dammit, what a bitch this.
Rummaging is no fun.
Oh well, I’ll tear everything completely apart
And stack all my bags like a fine work of Art.
Without my phone and charger, I’ll be hosed.
No work for me today, I suppose.
Searched every zip compartment in my artful stack.
Only to discover, once again, my phone got jacked!
When you live out of bags,
It’s tough to keep things straight.
Especially because, typically, they are
All sorts of Opaque.
Where’s this? Where’s that?
I thought it was in this one.
Dammit, what a bitch this.
Rummaging is no fun.
Oh well, I’ll tear everything completely apart
And stack all my bags like a fine work of Art.
Without my phone and charger, I’ll be hosed.
No work for me today, I suppose.
Searched every zip compartment in my artful stack.
Only to discover, once again, my phone got jacked!
-John Olander
John Olander, known to his friends as “Johnny O” is a self-employed change-maker currently living in Denver Colorado. He has been “on a camping trip” for over ten years and understands life on the streets better than most. Yet this hardship has not made John bitter, only better. Nearly every day when he is not engaged in a search for food or shelter (from 4am until nearly midnight), John is helping others on the street. About one-third of John’s day is spent on transportation — on buses, subways, and walking to find jobs, food and shelter for a single day. Yet through all this, John has taken the time to be supportive and submit poetry for under1000skies. I’m so grateful for our connection. Johnny O and I became friends about a year ago when he became one of the first supporters of under1000skies. He is very dear to us all here, and we look forward to more creative content from Johnny in the years to come.
May you find joy every day,
☼ A “Giftivism” Initiative ☼
We are photographers,
writers, artists & advocates
serving and connecting
homeless creatives.
Gems 3.63
I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤
Poem “Boy Oh Boy” by Johnny O. Photo “Some Kinda Blue Love Supreme” by Niki Flow
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Gems 3.62
I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤
Poem “The Wow In Now” by Johnny O. Photo “Verdant” by Niki Flow.
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Gems 3.61
I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s another light-filled ¤ Gem ¤
About John Olander
John Olander, known to his friends as “Johnny O” is “a self-employed change-maker” currently living in Denver Colorado. He has been “on a camping trip” for over ten years and understands life on the streets better than most. Yet this hardship has not made John bitter, only better. Nearly every day, when he is not searching for food or shelter, John helps others on the street.
Thanks so much again, Johnny O, for submitting today’s beautiful and wise poem.
With deep thanks and lots of love,
☼ A “Giftivism” Initiative ☼
We are photographers,
writers, artists & advocates
serving and connecting
homeless creatives.
This Week under1000skies 12May17
I hope you’re having a beautiful day. ♡
Here’s what’s happening ☼ under1000skies ☼
“Want Ad” is part of a short-story compilation called 12 TALES coming soon on Amazon as an eBook. 12 TALES takes place over 12 months, a story for each month, with one central hub, Sadie’s Diner (“Thin Threads.“) We’re pledging 50 percent of the profits from the sale of Twelve Tales and 100 percent of the profits from ELANTHIAN LOVE SONGS to the purchase and shipping of artist packs for homeless creatives. Special thanks to “Johnny O” (John Olander), Denver poet, artist, photographer and change-maker, for the critical review of “Want Ad” and encouragement. ♥
♡. under1000skies
=) A “Gifivism” Initiative (=
We are photographers,
writers, artists & advocates
serving and connecting
homeless creatives.
under1000skies 