I suppose a better title for this would have been The Immortal Legend of Kenny Brown because the fact is he was a living legend and when someone like that moves on there is a certain type of magic that happens. The thing about legends is, we often don’t realize how special they are until they are gone. It’s taken me a long time to put this post together and even longer to begin to think of words. The images in the following gallery are a mixture of ones from the day after, the memorial, the tattoo convention in Richmond recently, and a few of my favorite images of Kenny that I have taken over the years for good measure. The most important thing I have learned while putting these images together is that if you wanted to know the type of person Kenny was, you will find it in those photographs. There is sadness, no doubt, but there are smiles, hugs, love, humor, compassion, and everything in between. All of the things that made Kenny the amazing person that he was. I can’t think of better ways to describe someone who meant so much to so many people.
The truth is that Kenny’s legacy was always way bigger than any one physical body. He was larger than life in every way. While we may have lost him physically we all gained something very special with his passing. Each and everyone one of us is left with a little bit of his spirit on the inside. That type of energy doesn’t fade and does not burn out. Kenny’s artwork is displayed on bodies all over the world. If you were lucky enough to have artwork by him then as you live the rest of your life you’ll carry him with you through your triumphs and failures. If you carry memories of him then you will experience the same. When he randomly pops into your head or something reminds you of him or maybe you hear a laugh that’s so similar to his iconic cackle it makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. As time goes on and his work is touched up by friends all over, his spirit will be reborn again and again. Anytime anyone tells a story of the famous Woodbooger his spirit will continue to live on and continue to grow. I look forward to the tales as they become a little bit taller over time and the sniffles turn to laughter, hugs, and cheers to the memory of a legend.
I loved Kenny because he was perfectly imperfect. He had a way of looking at you and speaking with you that made you feel like you were the only person in the room. He had a way of celebrating you through your wins and comforting and encouraging you in your losses that only he could. The last few years I grew much closer to him as our conversations expanded from more than just art, but to life, regrets, demons, and everything in between. Kenny never claimed to know the way, but he was happy to help folks out who may have become lost from time to time. He felt deeply and sincerely and that is shown by the company he kept and the people that he loved. He understood that he wasn’t perfect and extended that love to anyone who sat in his chair or who needed to get something off their chest. Kenny planted seeds in all of us (Kenny would laugh at this line) and I think I am most looking forward to watching those seeds flourish as we all continue to carry his memory forward in the things that we do. I look around and see so many artists from all different mediums who have been influenced or touched by him (another laugh). I am more than proud and honored to have had a person like Kenny in my life. He changed me while he was here and I have definitely been changed by his passing. While there is pain there I know that he wouldn’t want us moping about for too long before we got back to being rad and fucking killing it. It doesn’t matter if you were a new friend, old friend, a new enemy or you’ve just heard tales of the Legendary Kenny Brown. He loved you and he loved life to the fullest. Live wild, Stay Free, and hug the ones close to you and tell them you love them every day just like Kenny did.
I love you.
I miss you every day.
I promise I’ll finish that book :)
Kenny Brown Forever <3
