Christy Johnston
Pottery
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Christy Johnston has a lifelong love affair with art. She's been drawing ever since she could hold a pencil in her hand. Growing up in rural Colorado she acquired a sense of keen observation of the picturesque scenes surrounding her. She has always been inspired by nature and natural beauty. Later in college she fell in love all over again with ceramics. This discovery has changed the course of her life and she has been perfecting her skills for the last ten years.
Exploring the variety of firing techniques and diversity of the ceramic medium best describes wheel thrown ceramic forms by Christy Johnston. The one unifying theme is her careful attention to the three dimensional space each object occupies, which you can observe in the graceful silhouettes and the decorative details. Admirers of Christy’s work comment that her work is like a delicate treasure to hold in your hands.
She began in high fire stoneware with functional and decorative pieces suitable for food and water. They take the shape of tea pots, mugs, bowls, and vases to name a few. The purely decorative work, raku and saggar fired vessels, followed soon after and do not hold water. Her raku vessels have surfaces that include a glossy white crackle or a coppery matt glaze with gray/black accents consisting of bare burnished clay. In further evolution of style the saggar techniques use no glaze and the surface decorations are made purely from the vividly colored fumes of various combustible materials bonding with the burnished surface.
Christy has exhibited her work in galleries and exhibitions in Colorado, California and Arizona. Christy enjoys the challenge of commission work. She currently teaches art in Southern California where she also continues to be inspired by the nature of her surroundings.
Education
2008 - Long Beach State University, Long Beach, CA. Extension Credit ceramics class, Kristen Morgin.
2007 - El Camino College, Torrance, CA. Extension Credit ceramics class, Neil Moss.
2007 - El Camino College Clay Club, Torrance, CA. Matt Long, Master Ceramics Workshop.
2003 - Mesa State College, Grand Junction, CO. Bachelor of Arts, Fine Art.
Honors and Awards/Grants
2002 - Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Grand Junction, CO. Student Art Show, Three Dimensional Design 2nd Place.
2002 - Montrose Artist Guild, Montrose, CO. Annual Exhibit, 2nd and 3rd place Graphic Design.
2001 - Mesa State College, Grand Junction, CO. Ceramics Student Grant.
2002 - Western Colorado Center for the Arts, Grand Junction, CO. Student Art Show, Three Dimensional Design 3rd Place and Honorable Mention.
Professional Affiliations
Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Member- 2005 to Present.
The Artist Studio Gallery, Palos Verdes, CA. Exhibiting Artist- 2005 to Present.
San Pedro Arts Association, San Pedro, CA. Exhibiting Artist- 2006 to 2008.
Artist Open Group, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Member-2006 to 2008.
Angel’s Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA. Member- 2006 to Present.
Exhibitions
2008 - Faculty Exhibition, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
2007 - Small Treasures, Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
2007 - Holiday Exhibition, Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
2006 - Holiday Ceramics Sale, Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
2005 - 2007 Soup Supper, Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
2006 - 75th Anniversary Celebration, Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
2006 - Banning House Residence Museum Pottery Exhibit Fair, Wilmington, CA
To purchase call: 310-991-7144 or e-mail gabrielle.artistsstudio.pvac@gmail.com
