#44

I took the Target gift card given to me at work last week for purposes of buying myself a Thanksgiving turkey ((who the hell buys Thanksgiving turkeys at Target??)) and donated it to the toy drive for kids in local hospitals. Now sick kids can buy shoddy but stylish home furnishings and lightsabers!!

#43

After shooting the video for "Enseña Ecuador" I decided to become part of a project called "Arteducarte" and teach art classes on Tuesdays at a public school (tomorrow is my third class but in the last two we have already worked a lot). I have two 6th grade classes and right now we are working on a photography project in collaboration with their Language class. The students will be making photo sequences to tell a story (inpired in the work of Duane Michals). They have already created their story boards and tomorrow they will be photographing... I'm seriously nervous about the potential disaster this can be (keeping track of them running around the school). I will keep sharing photos of my wonderful students and their wonderful projects. For now, all I can say is thank you J&J for being incredible mentors. The only way I can do justice to all that you have done for me is by sharing what you have taught me. Love you!

#42

Julie's Kindness Project (Part 1)

I produced, shot and edited a video for "Enseña Ecuador" (the Teach for All chapter in Ecuador) with the collaboration of my dear cousin who helped me with the second camera and the editing, and the help of two friends who recorded the track and mastered the audio. We made this video almost pro-bono (our travel and food expenses were covered). Since the chapter is relatively new (two years), Enseña Ecuador is an organization with limited budgets. The experience shooting this video was amazing, throughout the entire project I was reminded of J&J (especially when one of the hard drives broke and we lost all the footage, ugh how many times you guys told me to have backups...lesson learned, promise!) I was moved by all the stories, especially of those who teach. This experience inspired the Part 2 of Mari's Julie's Kindness Project.

#41

The Julie Project- helped raise money to help this artist get well.

#40

Today I reflect on what it means to lead my non-profit organization Grow It Forward, and how, by our mission, I personally work to connect community and pay it forward. I believe it is an inherent attribute, and it is my responsibility to share gifts of time, treasure, and talent with the world around me...and perhaps to inspire others to become self-aware of the world around them.

This morning I shared a simple gesture of compassion. I had went out for breakfast with my parents at a local restaurant. The waitress sat us down and took our drink order and scuttled away. At the table across the aisle, I could see an elderly man, by himself, finishing up his meal. I watched him place his hands upon the table and trying to leverage himself to stand. But the table, not quite sturdy enough, kept tilting and his plate and other items on the table were close to slipping off the table. I quickly stood up and went to the man's side and asked if he'd like help getting up. He asked if I could hold the table down; however, he still seemed quite weak to stand. So I placed my arm under his and helped him rise. I then grabbed his walker and asked if he wanted help with his coat. He quietly said "Thank you, I have Parkinson's" and then went on his way.

I honor those mentor/teachers before and among me, who have helped guide me to be a kinder and more compassionate being.

#39

#38

Have been seeing a few of these, thanks! Hoping to set up a special fund soon to pay for photo supplies for students, as they're getting too $$$.

#37

I took a group of students to Chicago to visit the Art Institute and the SOFA show. Three students were full scholarships based on need--a part of the Julie Kindness Project. A good time was had by all. Thank you Julie.

#36

Here's one to get to today! Know many folks who were helped out by food pantries!

#35

 had a fantastic time at the Chazen Museum of Art. I saw a Picasso, Salvador Dali and many more amazing works of art. Nothing was as moving as turning the corner and seeing a Shimon Lindemann.

#34

Hollywood Autopsy at Merlyn's.

#33

#‎juliememorial‬ energy found its way to sisters at Silver Lake.

#32

ulie's Kindness Project Part 1and 2: I gave these struggling street musicians $50 each in honor of my dear friend Julie ShimonLindemann.

#31

The Lakeshore Artists Guild gave a gas card to a stranger at The Haven today. On Sunday we also reflected on how an artist's body of work lives on. The Art world, and Manitowoc in particular, lost an important artist when Julie Lindemann died. We were grateful to be able to take part in Julie's Kindness Project.

#30

#‎juliememorial‬ In process of cultivating perfect act of kindness that includes a bit of humor that would make Julie and Johnie smile...in the meantime, I'm trying to be nice to people and animals.

#29

 Kindness Project: today I will try harder to appreciate what still IS, and not to pine for what WAS.

#28

While i understand the reasons for the kindness project, i can't and won't do it! I actually really wanted to be with a lot of people who knew julie and to grieve and celebrate her life together...sorry to be so blunt about it!

You and Dan Barry like this.

Comments
Shimon Lindemann Total transparency! You did it by not doing it! You damn post-structuralists.

#27

Kindness Project:

So this has been a tough one for me. For one I feel like I have noticed how self-interested I really am (which is not necessarily a bad thing, I think some people hide their interest in themselves because of insecurities, social expectations, etc...). But it is truly important to connect to others in a way that can create exponential growth of good things, and I think to some extent I have lost sight of that. So I have tried a few things. I want to spend more time with my parents, so I went to some Jew services with my mom, and watched football with my dad. But I feel stressed out trying to find the time to work on own personal projects, so maybe I do things with other people but my mind is elsewhere. I want to continue to spend time with my parents and my friends (whom I sometimes look over in favor of spending time alone), but in a more genuine manner; really ask about them and find interest in their lives instead of growing tired of old conversations that I make little effort to influence. So I am going to continue to work on this.
Also me and my co-creator Art decided to have a bakesale to help raise funds and awareness for our travel show, "Dane and Dash". This kind of relates back to my first sentence in that my first idea for the kindness project was to have a bakesale for my own webseries. Yes I know it sounds super selfish, but actually it was something me and Art had been talking about for a while and I thought it would be something fun and productive to do with my best friend. I had put off to committing to it before mostly because it seemed like a lot of work, and I am already working a lot. But the kindness project has reminded me how easy it is to do things when you just do them. This project is so great because of its infinite effect; I may have done specific things because of the kindness project, but its true impact on me is very broad, and this broad influence expands far past me and lingers in the wake of my actions.

#26

To Julie's Kindness Project:

While I have what some perceive as a heavy care load, do not think of my work as kindness. I love the people I care for. Julie’s project had me think about how I could be kind in ways that are more difficult. Unfortunately, I found that I was exhausted to reach beyond my immediate circle. In fact, I had developed a bunker mentality out of resentment towards the outside world, due to daily judgement or unkindness from others, which I told myself were part and parcel of caring for those with disabilities, but I felt existed even under normal circumstances.

I started small—by acknowledging how I felt, being more assertive when possible, and then letting the little resentments go. When I do this, I can focus more on the good things and I am better able to recognize kindness from others. This has given me more energy to participate in community efforts or reach out to strangers in obvious need on a daily basis. Time is always an issue, but I am better able to pause for something that takes an extra moment. I knew Julie just a bit “back in the day” and always admired her confidence and upbeat nature. I am happy to contribute to this kindness project in her memory. Sorry if it's a little confessional.

#25

My sweet Mom on her 80th birthday, Feb. 2013. Got an email from her yesterday...

Andy:

Last night Mary and Ed's daughter came with a plant and some
cake on her way home from work in GB. She was so sweet.
What is her name == it was not Becky or Rachel -- it was the one I
have only seen about 1 or 2 time before. Very nice -- said they all
like you so much. We do too! At any rate I need to get an immediate
thank you off and need her address and her married name and her first
name. Sorry to bother you but must do this
stat as it was a very nice thing.
Have a good weekend. Mom

Sarah gets a ‪#‎juliememorial‬
(oh yea,if you don't know, johnie is my stage name)

#24

I didn't do anything nice yet. But i haven't kicked any dogs or small children, so it's only a matter of time.

#23

When Julie died LU junior Willa (left) wrote me that her, Ridley, and Noah would do ANYTHING for me! (although Noah might dispute 'anything'. Molly is new to the gang, but a real sweetheart as well.)
Man this helped me in a huge way, it's such a privilege to work with such beautiful folks!!! That's a
‪#‎juliememorial‬
right there but there's more to this. These people reside at the LU Artistic Expression House, a place for them to live and work. But they were majorly downgraded real-estate wise by the university this year, now they only have beds for half their members and they're busting at the seams. There's a desperate need for our art kids to have a place to work, and a whole bunch of affordable commercial real estate close to campus. It's time to brainstorm a solution. Would it be viable to donate a building to the university with the stipulation that it would be used by the art house as long as the organization exists? How open is this city to live-in lofts? Would we need a storefront building with apts? Who would have the resources/influence to get this to happen?
This project could really help to put visual arts and conservatory collaboration at LU on the map, and would not require the million$$$ that most projects around here do. Lets put all-positive energy into this and help it happen!

#22

Julie Kindness Project:
A woman whose husband ha a progressive degenerative disorder came over for a studio visit. I gave her some small masonite panels and cherry pie, and we did an extensive walk through of my art. She told me the next day that she had gone home, full of energy and painted for the first time in years. So I bought her some gesso, gave her some small panels and sandpaper so that she had some new surfaces to paint on. A natural act of the kind done in the manner of Julie’s kindness.
I have been thinking of acts that challenge my natural acts of kindness, ones that I want to contribute to JandJ kindness. The hardest of all is to be kind when I don’t feel kind. So today, I put kindness in my heart towards those whom I don’t naturally feel kind towards. A challenge that I will try to pursue everyday, as this Will be challenging.
I also reflect on the kindness that others have given to me, and that is vast. It spreads, is received and spreads again.

#21

Dear JandJ, I did a few things with your project in mind. The last thing I need to complete is figuring out how to be as gracious a host as you two were together. That has always tripped me up. If anyone needs a hot and a cot, I need the practice.

#20

Julie's Kindness Project
I am a caregiver for my husband who has multiple sclerosis. I am making an effort to show more patience and thoughtfulness.

#19

Julie Kindness Project: Gave a good used car to someone who really needed it.

#18

Julie's Kindness Project: Get A Job, September 11, 2015

We have listened to a schoolmate's parent share her frustration at trying to find a job for the past two years. She reached out and asked if anyone was willing to give some suggestions on how to improved/strengthen her resume. Despite it being an exceptionally busy week preparing for classes I carved out the time and completely revamped her resume. Let's hope it gets her the job.

#17

Julie Kindness Project:

We donated part of the money we would've spent traveling to Julie's memorial to the survivor of a sexual assault in the Willy St. neighborhood, and part to someone who had a medical crisis recently.

Several conscious acts (so far) of being kind to people we've found annoying. In truth, far more difficult than donating money, but more meaningful and heart-expanding.

We hope to make these acts part of the fabric of our lives as a way to honor and remember Julie.

#16

Didn't press my rat rod push mower into use until this week.
All summer Jim, who rents Carol and Jere's house mowed it for me, so i could tend to Julie.
Jim lost his first wife to cancer.

#15

Put Julie birthday celebration energy into an almost anti-celebration celebration with a someone where i was secretly celebrating how intensely i believe in this person and how good it is to believe and celebrate that. (apologies to G. Stein)

#14

Julie’s Kindness Project

Media: Ink and Pencil
Artist: Unknown
Title: Penguin Year: 2015

Went to a garage sale. Instead of the usual lemonade stand the young boy was selling his art. He said “Do you want to buy my art for 10 cents? It’s called Penguin”

I’m proud to the owner of this masterpiece and I happily paid more than the dime for this lovely item.

#13

#12

My small contribution to the kindness project has been set in motion.

#11

Me too. Three projects underway here. Two completed today, the third is gonna take some time.

#10

I am participating in Julie's Kindness Project, which is a beautiful tribute. Upon doing such an act in Julie's memory, once, twice, maybe many times, I shall remain silent and unnoticed by most. Just know that it is done and Julie will know too....

Thank you for your awareness and hope to fill the world with KIND!

#9

Julie's Kindness Project

I didn't know what to do to, so I started to contemplate on what Julie meant to me and what she did for me. And lastly, what could I do to honor her.

Feed Someone: In the morning while in the drive-thru i purchased the lady's breakfast in the car behind me. her expression was priceless, her mouth was open and in complete disbelief that someone paid for her food. I waved and drove away.

Help Someone in Need : Next, I had a co worker who was getting their motorcycle tire fixed and needed a ride to the office. He approached me to request a favor and of course I helped out. It required me to get to the office an hour early but it seemed like the right thing to do.

Provide Support: Another friend signed up to do the Al's walk, so I sponsored her family and gave a donation. Charity giving seemed like a simple thing but no one else gave them a sponsored donation,what's wrong with people? Some times a simple jester makes someone's day!

Give Encouragement: My other friend's wife just diagnosed with breast cancer, I am offering my strength and prayers and friendship. Sometimes a kind word or card helps the healing.

#8

Tim Branson and I are meditating powerfully on you, Johnie. Words escape me to express the depth of sympathy I have for your epical loss.
I think the memorial idea you two had is beautiful and when we figure out how we will express it, we'll post it here. Meanwhile, I know it's been a long, long time but our casa is your casa in Chicago anytime. Love and peace.

#7

I plan to participate in Julie's Kindness Project. But in the meantime, I've finally gotten to a place where I feel ready to share my thoughts about Julie: Her sharp intellect and emotional acuity were a rare and inspiring combination. I will miss her, and clearly I'm not alone. My thoughts have been with Johnie since the moment I got his email.

#6

I did not know either of you personally but your collaborative art work documented a segment of the population that I was a part of... I am contemplating the act of kindness to put forward... My partner and I are sitting at a diner when a total stranger (a cancer specialist)bought us breakfast.. The world is small and crazy... I will pass it forward and tag the movement Julie's act of kindness

#5

A giant influence in my life. And always will be.

#4

Wow, I am shocked because I had no idea that Julie Lindemann was ill with cancer. She died the day before my birthday and I just discovered today!

Julie was warm, beautiful, intelligent and an amazing photographer. Julie and her partner Johnnie were teaching at MIAD when I attended 1990-1994. They were an inspiration and it was an honor to have them as teachers. I remember visiting their studio in Manitowoc and seeing their work at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Their classes were always the most interesting and thought provoking! I am blessed to have known Julie. I will always remember her beautiful heart!

Shimon Lindemann, My heart aches for you Johnnie!

#3

Associate Professor of Art Julie Lindemann, an award-winning photographer, lost a courageous battle with cancer Tuesday, August 25. She was 57.

Julie Lindemann, 1957-2015

Lindemann shared a tenure track appointment at Lawrence with John Shimon, her artist collaborator of more than 30 years. Their close collaboration led to works of remarkable originality and a memorable, distinctive style.

As contemporary artists who used old-fashioned photographic techniques, Lindemann and Shimon combined intellectual and creative energy to tell incredible human stories through their powerful portraits of ordinary people, especially native Wisconsinites, revealing the complexities of human nature.

Lindemann was deeply admired for her ability to see potential in all of her subjects, the sensitivity for which she dealt with them and for her masterful use of historic photographic processes. Incredibly generous with her time and ideas, she was a popular faculty member and students loved being taught by her and working with her.

Lindemann and Shimon joined the Lawrence art department in 2000 in a joint appointment as visiting instructors. Five years later they were appointed to a shared tenure track appointment. Their courses were always team-taught, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative teaching. Fully embracing the power of liberal arts education, Lindemann and Shimon were recognized with Lawrence’s faculty award for Excellence in Creative Activity at the college’s 2012 commencement.

Their photography has been featured in more than 90 solo and group exhibitions in venues ranging from the Art Institute of Chicago to the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego and are part of 15 permanent collections, including the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Wisconsin State Historical Society.

Their work was showcased in the 2014 major exhibition “We Go From Where We Know” at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan and most recently, a retrospective covering 30 years of their work — “There’s A Place: Photographs by J. Shimon & J. Lindemann” — was featured at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend.

In December 2014, Mary Louise Schumacher, the art critic of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, honored Lindemann and Shimon as Wisconsin’s Artists of the Year.

In May, Lindemann and Shimon were recognized for their creative accomplishments with a Wisconsin Visual Art Achievement Award, which honors artists who have contributed to the wealth of creativity in Wisconsin.

A native of northeast Wisconsin, Lindemann grew up on a farm in the small Manitowoc County town of Osmond. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in social documentary photography from Illinois State University.

She began her professional career at the Milwaukee Art Museum and later enjoyed success as a freelance photographer, racking up an impressive list of clients that included the New York Times Magazine as well as Fortune, People and Men’s Health magazines, among others.

She and Shimon coauthored five books and catalogs of their work, the most successful of which was their artistic tribute to the aluminum Christmas tree chronicled in the book “Season’s Gleamings.” The book generated national attention when it was published in 2004, resulting in stories in the New York Times and USA Today and featured segments on CBS’ “Sunday Morning” and CNN.

A memorial service celebrating Lindemann’s life will be held on a date and place to be announced.

#2

Julie's Kindness Project: Support the Unexpected, August 29, 2015

After reading through a friend's post seeking funding I went against my instinct and contributed money to help reach their goal. This individual had done so much good for the community and is a person of integrity. He made the humbling choice to ask the community he served for so many years to return the favor. It made me feel better as a human being to make the donation. Everyone needs a little help sometimes.

#1

Ali Scattergood

Its been a little over a week since Julie’s passing and I haven’t until now felt I was in the right head space to share anything about it publicly. Frankly, I still can’t wrap my mind around this, but I firmly believe its better to share your thoughts of gratitude and appreciation rather than worry if the words you use to share those feelings is perfectly articulated. So here it goes…

I still clearly remember one of my first major interactions with Julie and Johnny. It was my freshman year and I had wiggled my way into a tutorial with two juniors led by J&J, we titled it “The Art of the Documentary”. Well, technically they titled it that; I had nothing to do with the content or syllabus. I was just an enthusiastic and curious freshman. In 10 weeks we were to study the ‘masters’ of the documentary medium; Werner Herzog, Maysles Brothers, Errol Morris, and Ken Burns. This was my very first professor-student impression of them. The impression that if I or another student was eager to learn and pursue something in film or photography, they would go out of their way to provide and support us in those academic and artistic explorations.

This experience was the launching point for my career at Lawrence and my professional career after Lawrence. That tutorial reaffirmed my eagerness to study film, and after that point I went on to request and be granted J&J as my academic advisors, to take over 15 classes with them in my four years, and have Julie be my honors in the arts independent study project advisor.

Being an honors project advisor means they literally guide you through each step of the honors thesis process at Lawrence. This is a year long process where you write up a proposal for the project you believe is above and beyond the ‘senior experience thesis’ that all senior art majors are required to do. She guided me through the proposal, my project development of creating a 12 photo, one short video and a book as my solo show for this project, and supported and guided me as I wrote the 25 page supplemental paper for the work. Supporting me while I wrote the supplemental paper means she literally edited around 20 drafts. I’m sure most would have given up hope in me after 2 or 3. I then went on to defend this in front of 5 faculty members all through different departments of the University. I would not have been awarded honors without her. Frankly, I would not have stayed at Lawrence without her.

After my years at Lawrence we continued to swap emails about good books to read about contemporary photography or Werner’s most philosophical outlook on filmmaking; keeping me motivated and passionate about film even in some of my hardest times right after graduation.

I received the message that she had passed while I was on location for our current film project. It was a very surreal moment getting the news while in this situation. Julie had introduced me to the Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and now I was Assistant Producing a documentary for the man. After reading the email on my phone, I looked around the car with a heightened awareness for my surroundings. I was surrounded by some of the most talented filmmakers in history and I was a respected part of their team to create this film. Reflecting on my years with Julie and where I am now my heart filled with joy. This joy is the kind of feeling that I wasn’t sure ever existed. The type of joy in your heart where you know you’re living your dreams, with no regrets for the decisions you’ve had to make along this journey.

Thank you Julie. Thank you for giving me this gift. I would not be where I am today without you, and would not know what it feels like to push my passions in life to their limits. I will take you with me on every artistic adventure I pursue, holding joy in my heart knowing that maybe one day I’ll be able to pay it forward.

With love,
Ali

P.s- Julie- I know you’re reading this somewhere and I’m sorry for all my run-ons.

Hello All,

The following is a somewhat unconventional approach to a Memorial for Julie, in which you may choose your level of involvement. Know that after a retrospective, a monograph, a lifetime achievement award, tributes, and testimonials she found the idea of a memorial gathering a bit excessive and embarrassing. In her last months she was interested in the notion of kindness and the power of being kind in a thoughtful and intelligent manner. There are no real ‘rules’ here, just suggestions of how this idea may physically exist. Most importantly your approach to this project needs to originate in your own heart.

There will be no public event; the idea is for the spirit of Julie to travel outward into the world rather than to stay cramped up as a memory inside of us. You are being asked to divert the resources you would have put into traveling and attending a memorial into this project. This will be a relatively simple, four-step process:

Julie’s Kindness Project

Identify: Come up with a deserving person/people unknown to Julie who is/are in need of a kind, outward gesture. This could be your neighbor, your grandma, the people at the hospice facility on the other side of town, or, on a larger scale a service organization.

Calculate: Really think about the time and resources you could have invested in attending a memorial gathering such as: Putting gas in your car, traveling, sitting and listening to memories of Julie, chatting and nibbling on snacks. Maybe you would have ordered flowers, contributed to a legacy fund, sent johnie something, or even bought yourself a new black leopard sequined jacket in honor of the occasion.

Activate: Don’t just consume; this isn’t about purchasing gifts. Use your resources along with your time to perform a kind gesture. Prepare a special meal for someone you wouldn’t have otherwise. Put a new battery in the financially challenged person’s car you recently jump-started. Help your friend’s kids build a safe, sturdy tree house. The possibilities are endless, and can be simple or elaborate, as long as you push the boundaries of your kindness threshold.

Share: Put something about the experience on our Facebook page (Shimon Lindemann). Tell the whole story, give a short description, write a poem, take a video, or be obscure with an uncaptioned snapshot. Invite others to participate by tagging them in comments. See how this idea can grow. You may use the hashtag #juliememorial. During this exercise, don’t reminisce about Julie. Instead, remember the kindness that Julie inspired and wanted to see in the world. This starts with Julie, but leads to something new.