Plan A (There is no Plan B)

Johannah’s most recent mosaic series celebrates the beauty of the natural world, continuing a theme from the earlier Nature and Endangered Flowers series.

We are thrilled to be showing these three mosaics among  a selection of Johannah’s work at Gallery at 23 for the month of April. Located across the street from the Maggie Walker statue on Broad St. in Richmond, this gallery features artwork exhibitions by new and established Virginia artists.  “Take Care” features Johannah’s mosaic artwork about environmental and social justice .


The mosaics in this series are inspired by the sense of awe I feel looking out at the waters, mountains, and forests on this beautiful and singular planet we call home. And that’s just it, it’s the only one on which we know we can survive and thrive. If we continue to mess it up as we have been, there is no plan B. (Or as I’ve seen on signs at environmental demonstrations, “No Planet B.”) These works are a celebration of our world, and a call to reawaken our connection to our home.

The first piece in this series is “River Journey.” This piece is comprised of several lengths of blue and green mosaic laid out side by side. “River Journey” is inspired by the James River, the river we love running through the center of the city we live in.

Drinkable water represents a tiny portion of water on earth, yet human activity has poisoned much of that water. The panels in this mosaic represent the legs of the human journey in our relationship with water. As we travel this journey, the health and quantity of the water and the landscape around us may change, and different periods of crisis or improvement may last for different lengths. We don’t know in advance how many different legs this legs journey will encounter, but like a river, history carries us ever onward.

“In the Mountain’s Shadow” was the second piece in this series celebrating the beauty of the natural world. This artwork consists of a rugged mountain silhouette in white with black shadows below and a tiny moon and stars above. “Mountain’s Shadow” was inspired by rocky mountain ranges like the Himalayas of south Asia and the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, so different from our own ancient and softly rolling Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

This mosaic represents those dark periods of life that feel inescapable in the moment. Right now, the health of our world is in a very dark place that often feels hopeless. The moon and stars represent the hope of light and a different future.

The last piece in this series is “Such a Perfect Day.” This piece consists of a horizontal triptych, a series of three pieces meant to work together to create a whole image. Puffy white clouds float against a blue sky over a line of evergreen trees and a golden field. “Perfect Day” is inspired by early summer days, golden days when the sun feels warm and perfect and a soft breeze stirs the trees.

The title for this mosaic comes from the Lou Reed song of the same name, a song used frequently in soundtracks to add a touch of foreboding to those similar golden days. With climate change already wreaking havoc in our world, those beautiful perfect days now come with a sense of foreboding in real life. How much longer can we expect to experience such perfect weather? Let’s savor those days while we can, and work towards the hope of more in the future.

7th Annual Art Scientifique

Johannah is excited and honored to have two pieces accepted into the 7th Annual Art Scientifique, hosted by Chris Sorenson Studio and sponsored by California State University Fresno - College of Science and Mathematics. 

A little bit about the show: "Art Scientifique was created to celebrate the beauty that is often found as the result of scientific inquiry. This unique crossover show represents work not only from artists but scientists as well. The artwork displayed represents the wide and diverse nature of science from Astronomy to Zoology and everything between."

The mosaics by Johannah in this show are "Mitosis/ Cell Division" (top) and "Rod & Cones/ Photoreceptor Cells" (bottom). The show opened this week and runs through the end of March. If you happen to be near Fresno, CA this month, stop by and check it out in person!

UPDATE: “Mitosis'“ won first place in its category!

GROWTH group show

This group show has been such a phenomenal experience! We worked with four other artists to create the work for this show, then installed it in a gallery at Crossroads Art Center. Though we didn't design any of the work collaboratively, it all flows together beautifully. The colors, the styling, the mood... right down to patterns and texture.

{Click on any of the images to enlarge.}

We called our show GROWTH in honor of the new spring and the natural themes and materials in much of the group's work. The show features the work of six artists:

GROWTH will be up at Crossroads for two more weeks. All the work in the show is for sale. If you are local to Richmond and haven't had a chance to stop by, you have until May 8. This show is best experienced in person, so stop by if you can! Crossroads is open 10-6 M-Sat and 12-4 on Sundays. If you go, let us know what you think!