CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON

What was said about Christopher Johnson when he was a senior in high school can be said of him today. What says even more about him is his discomfort with association with words like “genius.” Or “hero.”

He sees himself as simply an artist trying to make the most of ample opportunity to do his thing. At The Rogue Theatre, his professional home since 2011, that is so much.

Johnson is artistic associate, general manager and play-reading producer at The Rogue. He also serves on its board and produces all the social media content. And he acts, directs, and sometimes adapts plays.

“One of the things that I love the most about theater — as a community, as a craft, as an art — there’s nothing singular about it,” Johnson said. “It’s a great place to express your own pluralism. … At The Rogue, I use every crayon in my box, so to speak. And that keeps me happy.”

When COVID-19 hit, Johnson channeled even more talent, energy and commitment to theater and his hometown. Over a 15-month period, Johnson created 55 beautiful videos, including full-length productions, musical videos, lectures, play-readings, backstage tours, and a stop-motion animation of the balcony scene from “Romeo and Juliet.”

Because of his determination to maintain a connection to audience, the theater didn’t simply survive during the pandemic, it flourished.

There’s every reason to believe the next 20 years will be more of the same for Johnson. That’s a very good thing for Tucson theater.

And it’s also very likely another powerful word will be associated with Johnson that might make him uncomfortable: “Legend.”

Do you know an Arts Hero? Someone who works tirelessly to strengthen, improve and enhance the arts in our community?

Nominate him or her at onmediaaz.com sponsored by

The Bells of Kindness Continue to Ring

The best way to describe what Vivian MacKinnon does for Ben’s Bells Project is that she puts her whole self — the sum of all the defining parts of her life — into her work. That’s saying a lot for the daughter of an art teacher, longtime ceramist, veteran of nonprofit development, and gifted tactician.

As art projects coordinator for the organization behind the ubiquitous “Be Kind” campaign, MacKinnon coordinates the materials and volunteers to do what’s needed to produce the kindness message. This is a complex process, but consider what it takes to produce thousands of units per year of Ben’s Bells signature bells. Now, consider that process during a pandemic. How do you proceed when gathering in studios was impossible? MacKinnon figured it out. She packaged opportunities to be kind in to-go kits.

MacKinnon also applies her artistic skills to help Ben’s Bells’ bottom line. For an online auction this year, she created several pieces, including a Peter Max-inspired mosaic bench.

Everything the 26-year resident of Tucson does at Ben’s Bells is fired by a lifelong belief in the power of creative expression.

“All of us can do art,” MacKinnon said. “It’s a human need. We need to do art. … I facilitate people feeling like they can do (art) and then doing it. That’s kind of the goal where you’re sort of in the background, and they say, ‘I did it myself!’ ”

Congratulations, Vivian!