Some of the wax pencils Jackson used for his drawings still remain in the hangar, stored in plastic bags. Strong also showed the paper a white feathered quill and white glove the singer used while drawing. "He did do a lot of watercolors, but he gave them away," Strong told L.A. Weekly. "He was a little intimidated by mixing colors."
At the invitation of Jackson's art mentor Brett-Livingstone Strong, who owns the collection in conjunction with the Jackson estate, L.A. Weekly visited the top-secret location, a Santa Monica Airport hangar that held Jackson's art, doubling as the studio where he made his work.
What the alt-weekly discovered was a proposed interactive monument of Jackson that the pop star -- who was completely self-taught -- thought was perfect for Las Vegas: a huge interactive structure featuring a giant bronze sculpture of himself, where couples could get married. Strong, an Australian builder who specializes in such structures, co-designed the monument-cum-chapel with Jackson.
"He wanted his fans to be able to get married at a monument that would have all of his music [in an archive, and playing on speakers], to inspire some of his fans," Strong explained to L.A. Weekly. Jackson had intended for fans who bought his sketches to get a card that could be used to hear personal messages when visiting the monument.
Jackson had also left behind numerous wax pencil sketches displaying several consistent themes: "chairs (usually quite baroque), gates, keys, and the number 7," L.A. Weekly reoprted. Jackson even did a portrait of his beloved pet monkey Bubbles's face melded into a chair. "He loved chairs," Strong told L.A. Weekly. "He thought chairs were the thrones of most men, women and children, where they made their decisions for their daily activity. He was inspired by chairs. Rather than just do a portrait of the monkey, he put it in the chair. And you see, there are a few sevens -- because he's the seventh child."
| 'I love you daddy': Prince, Paris and Blanket's personal tributes to father Michael Jackson as they unveil his charity artwork source mjjcommunity |
They may have lost their famous father more than two years ago, but Michael Jackson's children are clearly determined to keep his memory alive.
Prince, 14, Paris, 13 and nine-year-old Blanket today unveiled artwork by the singer, donated to the Children's Hospital, Los Angeles.
They were joined by their aunt LaToya and grandmother Katherine to the ceremony which saw 13 pieces of artwork containing personal tributes from the singer's children.
Jackson also favored human subjects: He created several self-portraits and images of George Washington and Paul McCartney.
Sketches included one of Mickey Mouse, a throne and a drawing of Jackson icon Peter Pan.
There was also a drawing of his famous moonwalk.
Jackson used art as an outlet amidst his child sex abuse controversies. "His interest in art, in drawing it, was just another level of his creativity that went on over a long period of time," Strong said. "It was quite private to him. I think he retreated into it when he was being attacked by those accusations against him."
His children, whose faces were once so long hidden by their protective father, seemed relaxed in the public eye.
Fast growing teenagers Prince and Paris towered above LaToya and Jackson's mother Katherine who wore a bright orange jacket.
Prince looked grown up in a all black outfit and kept a pair of sunglasses on throughout the ceremony.
Paris wore a peach coloured top under a white waistcoat, while her aunt LaToya sported a boxy white jacket over slim fitting trousers.
The works were donated by Brett Livingstone-Strong, an artist and friend of Jackson's.
'I think if Michael was here today, he would be so thrilled,' he told the assembled guests.
'I believed his talent flowed over to become an incredible artist himself. He often dreamed of having an exhibit.'
The children had written some personal messages on the paintings, with Blanket penning a note which read: 'My father's art and music always make everyone happy.'
It ended with a poignant: 'I love you daddy.'
Strong and Jackson had planned a fundraising campaign with the art to benefit Walt Disney's Big Brothers of Los Angeles (now Big Brothers Big Sisters), but Disney canceled the project after the scandal broke out.
The singer's sister, La Toya said she thought the art will bring joy to children at the hospital.
'You look at this, it makes you happy,' she said at the ceremony.
'They’re whimsical, they’re magical and there’s just joy and peace.
'I know that when you see this and the kids see it, it will bring some type of joy to them, and at the same time, I know it will bring joy to my brother as well.'
Strong, in conjunction with the Jackson Estate, will reveal more of Jackson's work in the future, and an exhibition at L.A.'s City Hall is in the works. Strong mentioned negotiations with museums for a posthumous retrospective featuring the pop star, and perhaps even building a museum dedicated to his work.
Please Note: We have placed these images as they are a public appearance, all other rules relating to the childrens privacy still stands in MJJC
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