I have been in the Cincinnati area since 1998. Prior to that I lived in McPherson
Kansas in the middle of no where… I loved it. I think that spending my
first 18 years in the middle of a wheat field was probably the best possible
scenario for my upbringing. (even though it was a bit isolationist…) Much
of my work is still rooted in lessons learned back home. I moved to Cincinnati
after receiving a scholarship to the Art
Academy of Cincinnati. Now it is completely true that KC has a fine school,
but I wanted to see what more easterly living was like (that and Cincinnati
looked lovely in the brochures)… Of course the blemishes that stick out like
a sore thumb are very evident to me now, but every place has a negative to
the positive. Honestly living in a perfect place would be hellish for me anyway.
I left the Art Academy of Cincinnati
as it was going through its divorce with the Cincinnati
Art Museum. At that point, I was living the real life with the real job,
which happened to be at the Cincinnati
Art Art Museum. After all of this I took on a job in the social service
field, where I have been for the last five years and still remain today.
As far as my previous art career, I have tragically little to discuss, no
great awards, or venerations. (All of that I have saved for the present.)
Actually it wasn't until just recently that I have decided to plunge back
into the art world. (current
and past exhibits)
I always liked to think of myself as an academic instead of the modern artist.
It isn't that I failed at being smart, its just that there was always this
little abused voice locked up in the basement that would cry out at night
if I didn't do something “artsy.” My greatest problem is my inability to chose
medium.
In the past I have shown a great interest in taxidermy, which is still a skill
I pursue anytime something interesting is lying dead at the side of the road.
I work frequently with wood veneer, oil paint, glass, wax, watercolor, and
any other sculptural/painting/drawing medium available.
I have decided to focus on photography for now, but I will always be producing
multimedia work, particularly with wood veneer (and I do commissions!) I prefer
to keep my art closer to the “fine” spectrum, and admittedly have little patience
for art that is too abstract, or art that sacrifices craft for political impact.
I try to keep all of my work well outside of the realm of politics because…
well, I just don't care I guess. Throughout history, artists have had a tendency
to be lured in by shiny politics and have been boldly trampled over afterwards.
The devil is in the details, and fine print of politics.
JeremyJohnson@imitatingart.net
or click here for contact
info.
         |