CSB/SJU art professor’s pottery featured in New York Art Gallery

A College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University art professor brings his "mysterious and beautiful pottery" to The Big Apple.

Samuel Johnson was chosen as one of three artists to exhibit his work at the Jane Hartsook Gallery in New York, New York. The gallery opened on Friday, Oct. 24.

Adam Welch, director of the Jane Hartsook Gallery, called Johnson last April to invite him to be a part of his upcoming exhibition. Welch's goal with this unique gallery was to put together three differently skilled contemporary potters in one exhibition.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be part of this exhibition," Johnson said. "The Jane Hartsook Gallery is dedicated to exhibiting ceramic arts and challenging preconceptions about the medium."

Johnson does just that in his work.

"I make pottery for use," said Johnson. "The work that I make is dark and rustic in appearance, and celebrates both the process of shaping wet clay and its transformation through fire.  The pots in the exhibition were not glazed. They were put into the St. Dennis Frandrup wood burning kiln, and over the course of a firing, marked by wood and heat, melting ash and charcoal.  The resulting patina of natural hues and irregular textures, creates quiet surfaces that seem more like shadow that scorched earth."

Johnson has participated in over sixty-eight exhibitions and this upcoming exhibit at the Jane Hartsook Gallery in New York will be his sixty-ninth.

"I feel very fortunate to be able to promote the CSB and SJU art department though this exhibition," said Johnson.  "It's a strong department and I'm proud to be a part of it."

Johnson's work will be on display at the Jane Hartsook Gallery through Saturday, Nov. 22. The public is invited to a reception on Friday, Nov. 14. The artists will give a public demonstration of how they make their pottery on Saturday, Nov. 15. For more information on the gallery contact Brad Parsons at 212-242-4106.

To see more of Samuel Johnson's work visit Johnson's website or attend the CSB and SJU Art Faculty Show on Friday, February 6 through Monday, March 20 at the Alice R. Rogers Gallery & Target Gallery on the SJU campus.