Joan
Blade Johnson is a Hampton, Connecticut based fiber artist who exhibits
nationally and internationally, and teaches a variety of surface design
techniques. Her wall art is most often inspired by nature and her original
nature photography, which she expresses through textile, thread, and other
fibers as well as rogue media like: wire, metals, and various found objects.
Joan
creates her own fabric using non-traditional methods and materials such as
commercial or plant based dyes, paints, soy wax, printing, and rusting. Once
the fabric and composition is created, she enhances it with machine stitch or
other embellishment to create texture and dimension. Joan often frames her
smaller pieces for sale. Occasionally her works are stretched over prepared
canvas for hanging, but generally, they are hung tapestry-like on walls,
allowing viewers to closely examine and appreciate the textural nature of the
work.
When
not working with fiber, Joan is a Registered Dietitian, and has worked at UConn
in both Nutritional Sciences and as Adjunct Clinical Dietetics Faculty in
Allied Health. You can find her art and hand dyed silk Eco Print, and “Gem”
scarves in a number of local galleries, artisan gift shops, and at the New
Britain Museum of American Art Gift Shop.
Please
join her for a reception on Thursday, March 22nd from 4-6 pm at the Babbidge
Library Plaza Gallery on the UConn Campus at Storrs.
