On Thursday, July 7, Stumptown Art Studio is featuring an exhibition by guest artist Dennis Johnson. The opening reception for “Enduring Landscapes” takes place from 6-9 p.m. during the regular Whitefish Gallery Night and will be on display through July 31. His work includes paintings and printmaking relating to “Enduring Landscapes”.
“My work is an extension of the road I have traveled, exploring landscapes both rural and urban,” explains Dennis. “Communities where I have lived, from the Midwest to Florida, the San Francisco Bay area to Montana, have all influenced my work and vision. Each unique community provides opportunities to explore and to grow as an artist. It is the recurring themes of familiarity, cultural and historical context, and iconic representations of contemporary rural and urban landscape that I find most fascinating and inspiring. Through my work I hope to encapsulate the place I am depicting, not merely visually, but emotionally, with the integration of text and diverse media.
Each community I have lived, worked, or visited continues to present unique opportunities for exploration and growth as an artist. I hope to share with the viewer the themes of familiarity, cultural and historical context, and exploration, that have so influenced my development as a professional artist.”
The week following the opening reception, Dennis will teach a linoleum printmaking workshop. It takes place on Thursday, July 14 from 6-9 p.m. and continues on Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This workshop is suited for ages 16-adult and beginners are welcome. A similar workshop was held last year as well.
Birds, Bears and Bitterroot is the theme of the workshop. Students will practice the basics of carving and printing on unmounted linoleum, then learn how to transfer and carve the image into linoleum. After images are carved, they will print the finished image. At the end of the workshop, everyone goes home with their carved linoleum, an individual print and a poster of everyone’s prints together.
All supplies are included in the $150 workshop fee. Students are encouraged to bring images based on the theme Birds, Bears and Bitterroot. For more information on this special workshop please email Dennis at art@dennisjohnsondesign.com.
Dennis Johnson has an MFA degree in printmaking from the University of South Florida, Tampa Florida. He is a board member of the Artists Council at Palm Springs Art Museum, member of the Los Angeles Printmaking Society, and Printmakers Network at the Riverside Art Museum. Dennis has exhibited nationally and internationally and has won numerous awards in juried exhibitions. His work is in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, St. Louis Art Museum, and Museum of Contemporary Art in Madison, Wisconsin. Dennis is an instructor at California State University of San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus, and College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California.
The workshop is being held at the non-profit community art center in Whitefish. To register and for details please call 406.862.5929, stop by 145 Central Avenue or visit the website at www.stumptownartstudio.org
Stumptown Art Studio was founded in 1995 as…”A place where children and adults may come to express their inherent creative nature, to learn about the world of art…” The opportunities there include classes and workshops, field trips, out reach art programs with the Van Gogh art mobile, a clay co-operative, local artist sales, exhibits, public art and community events. Open 7 days-a-week, the art center offers pottery painting, glass fusing and mosaic making on a walk-in basis for everyone to take part in.
Whitefish Gallery Nights 