email me ... emmajohnson_28@hotmail.com
A bit about me ...
My influences include the eternal quest for truth and beauty, society, property, knee injuries, hot air balloons, Lego, dinosaurs, Fleetwood Mac, museli and love.
I was conceived at Wombat Corner, the Emerald Backpackers in Victoria, by an English mother and Australian father and was born at the very end of 1984.
I built my own gallery showcasing many important works on paper at the age of six, charging one dollar entry fee. Sadly, as the main structure was bed sheets, blankets and furniture, no one could make it through the entry hole and I went bankrupt. Unperturbed, I decided an accent and a proper education was what I needed to be a success in the Art Game, so in 1992 the Johnson family moved to England.
Fifteen years later, with a mouth full of Essex colloquialisms, a vitamin D deficiency and my degree in Fine Art Sculpture, from Wimbledon College of Art I returned to my roots, to a forest covered mountain, one hour from Melbourne.
I've just finished a one year long(ish) residency at Burrinja (Dandenong Ranges Community Cultural Centre) in Upwey, Victoria. I always found the word 'community' to be important to me, but I don't think I really understood what it meant. I just knew I wanted to be a part of it. During my time at Burrinja I was completely enveloped in community, amongst so many people with so many different stories all coming together through the arts. I've found it to be an element that fuels my artwork and me enormously. My intention is to always lead an interesting and hilarious life and working with people on art projects never fails to give me that.
During 2010 I will be teaching drawing at the Sherbrook Art Society in Belgrave, doing design work for small businesses and creating Fine Art. I am also involved in the Belgrave Lantern Parade, which this year is on Saturday 19th June from 5pm.
Emma Johnson Resume
28/12/1984, Melbourne, Australia
Lives and works in Belgrave, VIC, Australia
Contact:
emmajohnson_28@hotmail.com
0449541626
Education:
2010
Provide First Aid Level 2, Morrison House, Mt Evelyn
Certificate 4 Small Business Management, Box Hill TAFE
2004 - 07
BA (Hons) Fine Art: Sculpture, Wimbledon College of Art, London
2003 - 2004
Foundation course in Art and Design, Colchester Institute, Essex
2001 - 2003
A levels in Art and Design, Graphic Products, Business Studies, Colchester Sixth Form, Essex
Solo Shows:
Dandenong Ranges Open Studios, from the Basement Studio, Belgrave, AUS
2009
another dead possum, Jarmbi Gallery at Burrinja, Upwey, AUS
Dandenong Ranges Open Studios, from my Basement Studio, Burrinja, Upwey, AUS
2008
when you go round a corner and fall into a bin, Stairwell, The Foundry, Old Street, London
Group Exhibitions:
2010
Out of the Blue Burrinja, Upwey, AUS
2009
Demolition 2009AD: A Space Odyssey. A Supernova Weekend Community Arts Festival Bonanza!!!, The Multi-purpose room at Burrinja, Upwey, AUS (Curator, Promoter, Project Captain and Art Director)
Creative Chaos Spring Festival, Burrinja Perfomance Space, Upwey, AUS
Art/Music, London, UK
Regenerate, Burrinja, Upwey. Australia.
The Bohemian Masquerade Ball, Melbourne. Australia.
Rainbow Serpent Festival , Beaufort, Victoria. Australia.
2008
Ten Years, Burrinja, Upwey. Australia.
2007
The Secret Garden Party ’07, Cambridge. UK.
Art on the Green, Cavendish Village Green, Suffolk. UK.
Sculpture Degree Show, Wimbledon College of Art. UK.
Shoes Without Laces, Wimbledon College of Art (selected and curated by Soraya Rodrigez). UK.
CurvAcube, Wimbledon College of Art (curated, promoted and exhibited in). UK.
2006
come Kande, a flat in Ealing, (curated, promoted and exhibited in). UK.
Fumar Topless, The Foundry, Old Street (curated, promoted and exbibited in). UK.
Park ‘06, Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon (selected and curated by Peter Fillingham and Katie Hallet). UK.
42 Weather Balloons, Nolia’s Gallery, Old Kent Road. UK.
Zanzibar Arcade, Trinity Buoy Wharf, East London (curated, promoted and exhibited in). UK.
2005
Remember the First Time, Wimbledon College of Art. UK.
Residencies:
2009
Artist in Residence December 2008 - November 2009, at Burrinja, Upwey, AUS
Publications:
2009
The Leader Newspaper
Free Press
Real Estate Magazine
2008
Review by Herbert Wright in le cool magazine for solo show ‘when you go round a corner and fall into a bin’
2007
Showcase, nano-mag.com
You Won’t Die If You Eat Pussy, solo project, a collection of drawings from 2006 - 07
2006
Lemur 3582, group project, Topless Collective
Download my complete CV including details of employment
Links to other inspiring sites
www.burrinja.org.au - i'm eternally grateful to burrinja and all who make it the place it is. it's motto is 'building community through arts'.
www.gabbywillmott.com - gabby is a beautiful friend of mine, and a mum with a beautiful little girl and another one on the way. she paints and her subject is often the figure and the human condition
www.alexlegg.com - i worked with alex to create the artwork for his album 'The Best-laid Plans of Chocolate Mice'. After that he came aboard the 'Demolition 2009AD: A Space Odyssey'. he was a complete legend creating all the sounds for the event and ran a small recording area where we could muck about on the microphone and record instruments, then he would mix it together and play it over the PA. he's an excellent musician, i very much recommend seeing him play.
www.sexflower.fr - my friend Arnaud De Bock from France makes videos, graphics and sculptures in very vivid colours. his characters are bulbous, twisted, melted, sexual and not from this world.
www.sherbrookeartsociety.com - beautiful gallery and studios and group of people nestled in the Dandenongs. I run my classes from here, and there are many other classes to choose from, demonstrations, exhibitions and all sorts of arty events etc
www.openstudios.org.au - Featuring Hills artists working across a range of mediums, the Dandenong Ranges Open Studios program provides a unique insight into our artists' work environments as well as their art.
www.belgravelanterns.org.au - Belgrave Lantern Parade, find out information, see photos and get instructions on how to make your own lanterns.
www.didgeman.com.au - STAX is a neighbour of mine and a very lovely man indeed. he makes didgeridoos, teaches, performs, and knows a lot about them.
www.3mdr.com - local community radio station, based in Emerald. Great for local music, chatter and people.