Drawn Lines // Stacie Johnson

About

Her works are influenced by her Gen Alpha daughter, by her participation in the movement for housing justice, and by daily life. We invite you to experience a central making space complete with embellished gallery walls, alongside these abstractions. During the course of the solo exhibition, Johnson will use the storefront space for activating conversations about hyper-local politics, public education, and the housing crisis as it relates to this very neighborhood. 

Johnson’s work is decisive in its formalism. Her mirror-based abstractions take on bold patterns reminiscent and in conversation with Stuart Davis, Marilyn Lerner or Knox Martin. This exhibition will reveal a recent shift in Johnson’s work where she for the first time embraces painting as a way to communicate a political message. Johnson states "there is a connection between free time used as an artist, as a parent, or an activist -- and the privilege of free time in general.” Having lived in Bushwick for almost 10 years, Johnson has shifted from being a participant in Bushwick’s art community to getting involved in local political issues. Living in rent-stabilized housing and enrolling her daughter in public school are two examples of everyday life that are seeds for political action and now also research for her paintings. 

The title of the exhibition "Drawn Lines" refers to a painting Johnson is making that is specific to the location of the gallery. Showing a map of a .5 mile radius around Elijah Wheat Showroom, a new painting depicts the overwhelming number of gerrymandered district lines that dissect and divide the neighborhood. 

Other paintings on view, although abstract, are “inspired by the energy of living in this dynamic and almost dizzying city, as well as the process of making art with children, and seniors,” both which she has done in varying capacities at the local level. At the center of her exhibition, she will have a station where anyone on street level in the neighborhood can join in on the process of making art.   

We are pleased to present the work and programs with Stacie Johnson by supporting additional events Stay tuned to our website and Instagram for a specific schedule of programming slated for Sunday afternoons at the gallery.