On Saturday, July 21st experience an intimate evening with artist, Julienne Johnson as she celebrates the release her new book Ashes For Beauty from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm at TAG Gallery (Bergamot Station).
Also opening is her latest exhibition, T O U C H M E T O U C H Y O U. This new body of work embodies the spirit of her previous Ashes For Beauty series, in which memory, texture, and fleeting connections to the world around us inform our very place within it.
Jo
hnson has an unusual approach to art, painting with her hands. She explains her process, “Mixing media has always come naturally to me. I love the texture of paint, the pliability of clay and the strength of metal. I create in a physical way, working hands on – applying, removing, scraping, sanding, sawing, soldering, pounding – I’m all over it; shape to shape and color to color until I’m satisfied with the whole.”
A driven artist, Johnson has forged alliances with accomplished curators and art critics such as Peter Frank (Huffington Post, Fabrik Magazine), Peter Maays, (LAAA), She talks about how her book came about, “During a consultation with Peter Mays, Executive Director of LAAA, (early February of 2011) he mentioned that I should seriously consider a book.” She adds, “I told him that I was about to begin that venture, and what I really needed was Peter Frank to write in it.” Johnson was able to procure Peter Frank to be the editor and the rest is history.
Her latest exhibition, T O U C H M E T O U C H Y O U was further inspired by Johnson’s recent journey to Doha, Qatar, where her work was presented along with that of thirteen other international artists. Johnson’s personal experience with Middle Eastern culture, and the unsettling emotions she encountered while in Doha, has found its way into the work: we see a mix of various materials, pigment transfers, and collage shaping itself into memories of words and presences.
The opening reception and book signing takes place on Saturday, July 21st from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The event will be held at TAG Gallery (D-3) at Bergamot Station 2525 Michigan Ave. in Santa Monica.
Enjoy a Q and A with artist Julienne Johnson the following week on Wednesday, July 25th at 7:00 p.m. , moderated by Artillery, Art Critic and Staff Writer, Ezhra Jean Black. Julienne is also available for private talks through TAG Gallery.
Also on August 4th, TAG Gallery will open its doors to a very important nonprofit organization called Safe Passages. This very special benefit event will feature the work of Julienne Johnson, Camey McGilvray and Pam Douglas, as well as live music, wine tasting, and appetizers. Each of the artists will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their artwork to this very important cause. Johnson will also be donating boxes of note cards and envelopes to be used as a give away to each guest as they leave. The benefit runs from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $35.00. Call now to reserve your tickets 818 232-7476.
