Every work of art allows its creator to communicate in some way with the surrounding world. Whether it’s a drawing on a sketchpad or a grand sculpture, each work is an individual expression or message to be interpreted in many different ways by the observer. In other words, it’s meant to build connections.
Local artist Sandra Kay Johnson said her work is all about finding connections: connections across time, connections that unite mankind, and connections that help her identify her own place in the world. With her work, she’s made connections all over the tri-counties area, and in doing so, she created her place in several spaces in the world. From downtown fountains to office windows, Johnson’s work in sculpture, silk, and stained glass has spoken to observers in a variety of settings.
Her current project is a large bronze casting for Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara. She’s working on it in her Arroyo Grande studio.
“It’s a 4-foot sphere covered with a giant bouquet of objects that are symbolic for hope and joy and abundance and truth and courage and generosity,” she explained.
The symbols are done in relief along the outside of the sphere, with images of oranges, swallows, ivy leaves, bird nests, and the like representing the concepts. The work is held up by an engine hoist while she applies the various plants and animals in wax before it goes to the foundry. Johnson said the piece will be of the Flemish genre of painting and will be placed in the cloister garden of the new Cottage Hospital facility.
Johnson was one of 100 or so artists chosen from 400 entries when Cottage Hospital sent out a call.
“Of course, I happened to get the biggest piece,” Johnson said with a laugh.
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Johnson has lived on the Central Coast for more than 35 years, studying art, teaching, and raising a family. Her art ranges from two dimensional to three dimensional in a broad range of mediums.
Her work has included silk paintings exhibited at the Smithsonian, a 6-foot-wide bronze Matilija poppy fountain in downtown Ojai, and a sphere sculpture in the Creek Walk in San Luis Obispo. She also created the steel and silk birds flying overhead at the SLO airport.
Johnson is a part-time lecturer at Cal Poly and Hancock College and teaches students from elementary school, up to the university level. She also conducts silk-painting workshops at her studio in Arroyo Grande.
Sande Hooten met Johnson when Hooten took her botanical watercolor class at Hancock. She said it’s been a remarkable thing to see the piece take shape, and she was inspired by Johnson’s talent.
“I’m amazed we have an artist of this caliber teaching at Hancock,” she said. “What a treat for us locals.”
Johnson said her current work for Cottage Hospital has been a feat. She was notified in March and thought she had a year to complete the piece, but she expects it to be finished around October.
“Every day I just dig away at it. Every day I’ve been putting in 12-hour days. All I can do is work as fast as I can,” Johnson said, seeming to express that the task is more pleasure than work.
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In fact, the workload is beneficial to her in a personal sense.
Johnson said it’s her own struggle to make her work that keeps her responsive to the rhythm and flow of her own life’s path. The rhythm and flow allow her to find empowerment and sanctuary.
“My hope is that my paintings and sculptures communicate these ideas and feelings,” she said.
Arts Editor Shelly Cone flows with the rhythm. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 26 – Jun 2, 2011.
