David Niari: The X Factor

I love when I see art that expresses exactly what I'm thinking about:
I especially love this drawing because it's produced by someone I know and consider a member of my family. Indeed, Chicago-based artist, David A. Johnson-Niari has been my husband's best friend since middle school, and today, David's unveiling his most recent piece entitled "The X-Factor".

The pencil drawing illuminates President Barack Obama shaking hands with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Of course, the drawing is a take on the iconic photograph of Dr. King shaking hands with another beloved civil rights icon, Malcolm X.
David says that as an African American, he's been inspired by Barack Obama since the days of Obama's first State Senate run in Illinois. He shared that his, "Approach to this piece came about as a means of paying an artistic tribute to all those who have sacrificed their lives, ideals and dreams to make this kind of future possible." David also, "Wanted this history reflected in his repertoire of work as a means of honorably recognizing its impact on his life as an artist."

Amen to that.

Not all of us have the ability to express how we're feeling through creating such a beautiful piece of art. But, surely we can each put such beauty into the world through our own individual actions.