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Interview: Jenny Johnson September 19, 2005
1. How long have you been a resident in Siskiyou County and what brought you here?
My family (husband- Sid, and 16yr old daughter- Jessi) and I moved to the area 9 years ago. We are ranch managers from the Rocky Mountain areas of Wyoming and Montana. Now we are managing a beautiful ranch (south of McCloud) for some wonderful people; we could not pass this offer up so we uprooted our 25 year old roots. Our new roots are set deep and strong.
2. Can you give a short explanation of your specialty or your artistic medium?
My schooling (Art, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma) and main production has been in the ceramic venue and I have a strong education and interest in the graphics too. Many times I combine them, such as in the Peace Mural. I notice opportunities to apply my artistic passion so I get involved in many volunteer and paid "artful" projects.*
3. How long have you been making art (professionally and unprofessionally)?
Since I graduated from University of Tulsa in 1975. I am certified to teach Art, K-12, I have taught kindergarten through College, and community art in Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Florida and California.
4.Is art your full time career?
My art is a full time job part of my life but not always my livelihood.
5. What else do you do as a profession?
My husband and I share the responsibilities of managing a ranch and others in the past. I also teach art. I have managed a secluded, classic, Rocky Mountain guest ranch and managed several horse boarding, riding, and lesson stables. I have coached "English" riders and horses, and judged professionally.
6. Have you had any special mentors that have influenced you and your style?
I have met people who have inspired me with their drive and character in making their art a lifestyle. Rudy Autio from Missoula, Montana is a ceramic mural artist. His work began taking the ceramic mural art boundaries off the charts a long time ago.
7. Can you talk a little about your experience as an artist in Siskiyou County? (In other words, what is unique about being an artist in this area?) (Pros and Cons) (economic, cultural, physical/geographic)
If one has talent and energy, there is a place for them within the arts in this community. Being a smaller population allows "a big fish in a little sea mentality" which allows more artists to get their confidence up. Still, the cultural bar is high enough because of the kind of people that live here, that it keeps in "check" with the quality.
There are folks moving into the area, many of them big supporters of the arts and many of them artists, established and still producing. It is a thrilling place to live because of that. It is a beautiful and still peaceful place to live; so far- without the cancerous momentum of growth that many places like this evolve into. Hopefully our community, new and old, will maintain SOLIDLY HIGH environmental and social/cultural standards as we inevitably grow.
Our local public schools seem to have open arms to artists to aid in their programs, many times finding funds to make it more than a volunteer project. There is a constant flow of local adults enthusiastically enrolling in artistic activities.
8. Do you feel like living in Siskiyou County has influenced your art? What aspects have you drawn inspiration from?
Special people have inspired me. My partner, Donna Bringenburg has helped me realize new heights of public art. We dream together of our next trip and we are thinking big.
9. Do you feel like art in Siskiyou County has any prominent trends or patterns? If so, how do you see your own art in relation to these?
I can not say if it is a local, national, global, or just my maturity, or certainly a "need" for expression in the violent times occuring. Artist are thinking more about how their work effects the "whole picture," and how it can be meaningful in a healing way to an individual or community. This seems to be a trend among some of the arts happening around Mt. Shasta.
Also, there is a definite trend in the drama/dance and music venues in this community. The influence they give to me is the opportunity to use my talents and skills for unique purposes like sets, or masks, or costume, or makeup etc.... all of this is art, and all of it is important and fun.
10. Are there any other things you would like people to know about the relationship between your art and the place that you live.
I live in absolutely one of the most beautiful places on this planet. It influences me in everyway everyday or I would be dead.
It is not only the place I live, it is the "times". Yipes! If there ever was a grand need for reaching out to the parts of human souls that create and do good, it is now.
11. If you had to describe your style in a few words how would you do this? First 5 words that come to mind?…
Playful, poetic, risky, tangible, alive.
12. What is it about making art and the creative process that you find most interesting or are most passionate about?
I know it is a basic element and unique in every human to be creative. Everyone should realize this and nurture this. Our society's problem solving would be WAY, WAY different if we tapped into our creativity all the time. I am lucky that I take this part of myself seriously, and I am passionate about helping others tap into theirs.
Our culture is wrapped up in living for quick rewards. Some art processes are very long until the final product is finished, especially in ceramics. In conceiving something as big and as long term a construction as the Peace Mural, the process explodes to the surface. You have got to breath and send fresh energy and fresh attention to each consecutive step, feeling the reward and pleasure with the hour's of work each requires. The final product will come in due time and that will be good too, but that isn't what all this artsy stuff is about.
13. Do you teach art in anyway or are you interested in being a teacher?
I seem to always be teaching, I love it.
14. Is there anything else you would like people to know about you that we haven’t already discussed?
I am trying to open a co-op studio where artists can work together in a big space. Presently we are looking in the town of Mt. Shasta. I am going to set up my own studio equipment, (wheel, kilns, tables, tools, glaze ingredients, etc.) for use, and a few other individuals are donating equipment too. We just want to have a space to create, share and get inspired. We want a space away from our everyday chores of work and home. We know we will have to pay for this space and supplies but we want to keep it as low as possible so we need enough members to balance that. If you are interested call me- 964-2975.
I may offer some workshops in this space as well.
15. Do you have one particularly interesting story about your adventures as an artist? The most unusual work you've done, the hardest work, the most interesting commission, celebrities you’ve worked with, your biggest success story or biggest failure, or your earliest memory of making art.
The three collaborative handmade ceramic murals I have done, like the Mt. Shasta Community Peace Mural, have been the hardest and the most uniquely interesting. I don't know if they are my biggest successes, these murals belong to large groups of people really.
A guy called the other day from Florida. He was an old friend of my husband's we hadn't heard from in 20 odd years. He had bought some mugs from me in the early 80's. He had one left and was nervous he was going to break it. He sent me an e-mail with photos of the "last mug" from every view, with descriptive measurements so I can duplicate this set. He said he could not possibly have his morning coffee in anything else. Soon as I can I am going to give this order a shot. This is likely a success story of mine.
When I was in my senior year of college (1975) I had to spend a semester student teaching. They typically send you to a local school in Tulsa where I was going to school. In no way was I going to end up teaching for real in Tulsa or another big city so I cut university red tape and got a position student-teaching on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. That was "where" and the kind of teaching I desired; I could see no point in spinning wheels in suburbia. I boarded a Grey Hound bus in St.Louis where I was raised and rode for 72 hours in order to get to Riverton, Wyoming. I went on to be the art teacher at this K-8 school and I feel to this day that it was the absolutely best art teaching job on the planet. I have many, many great stories. I stayed in the area for the next 20 years but because I was young, and had to experiment, I quit this great teaching job to be an artist. I have taught in many other locations and kinds of schools since then, but that first job in the Wind River mountains was the best.
While at Arapahoe School (in Wyoming) I was painting alot. Regarding one of their annual ceremonies I was asked to paint a portrait of the "oldest living Arapahoe" on the reservation for each year. That was a status that changed hands regularly. I painted two portraits and they still hang in the main hall at the school. They honor the two elders by keeping these portraits up, but honestly I feel it was my honor to paint them and to see them still hanging this day. The elders I painted were Francis Sitting Eagle and Scott Dewey. These people were the real celebrities.
16. Is there any way you would like to see your county arts organization better assist you?
I can say first hand that the Siskiyou Arts Council is top notch of its kind in Art Organizations. If I can imagine a better way that they can assist me, I know they will listen and consider it.
17. Because of current trends in funding for art programs, all SAC involvement is done through volunteers. Is there anything that the SAC is doing that interests you and that you would like to help us with in the future? Some options: art walk volunteer, teaching program, becoming a member…
Yes, the teaching program.