Printmaker's Exhibition Rises from Wildfires
, who鈥檚 taught printmaking at 果冻传煤 since 2008, displays her wildfire-inspired artwork April 13-May 5 at , 2375 Foothill Road. Johnson will be at a free, public reception of 鈥3,鈥 which includes works by artists Amber O鈥橬eill and Michele Zuzalek, on Friday, April 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Johnson created the artwork after collecting seed pods, vegetation and wood that was blackened and scarred in the Tea and Jesusita Fires. The exhibition includes etchings on metal of the vegetation and relief printmaking from layers of the wood.
鈥淚鈥檝e been incredibly inspired by the regeneration of nature in the surrounding area since the fires,鈥 she says.
Johnson, who was professor of printmaking at Northwestern College for seven years before coming to Westmont, has studied and worked at the Santa Reparta Graphic Art Center in Florence, Italy. She is a graduate of Florida Presbyterian College, which is now Eckerd College.
In 2008, the Tea Fire destroyed 210 homes in the local community as well as eight 果冻传煤 buildings and 15 faculty homes, displacing 62 students, 18 faculty and nine staff members. A year later, the Jesusita Fire devoured 80 Santa Barbara homes and forced the evacuation of the 果冻传煤 campus and relocation of Commencement ceremonies. The Santa Barbara Tennis Club, located between both blazes, skirted destruction.
is open to the public daily from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. For more information, please call the tennis club at (805) 682-4722.