Whirlwind Summer

Okay. Deep breath.

We have spent the last 30 days traveling. 9 states and coast to coast. What a whirlwind!

Needless to say travel has had its challenges and really helped me practice patience.

BOSTON & PROVINCETOWN, MASSACHUSETTS

We flew to Boston and took the “Fast Ferry” which we now like to call the “Puke Ferry” as that's what most people were doing due to the rough seas. Key travel lesson: Find the humor in the hard things or they can feel insurmountable!

We had a great week freezing our butts off in Provincetown where we met up with friends and family. We went to see the criterion collection 50 year anniversary of Pink Flamingos as a family and took up an entire row of seats. I sort of remembered watching it as a kid, (yes I did say kid). If you haven't gathered I grew up in a very progressive family, or rather, in the "Filthiest Family Alive" as we lovingly refer to ourselves.

James and I also got a look at the Ken Folk’s Mary Heaton Vorse House which was wonderful but nothing like my fabulous designer father’s interior design work!

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

Next on our adventures was a round trip all intensive drive from Florida to Baltimore and back to deliver our art works for our upcoming shows at Gallery Blue Door.

I love driving state to state and created a photography project to keep me occupied. Something about public rest stops intrigues me. A place that everyone goes. stay tuned for more to come from this project.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

We stopped in Richmond for art walk and really enjoyed ourselves and bought a piece from Brian Gordon (@undenuandtheflyingmachine) which we love so much!

We like to show our gratitude for our supporters by supporting other artists and buying their art. We have a wonderful collection of art works from around the globe hanging floor to ceiling in our Florida home.

POINT REYES, CALIFORNIA

We headed back to Florida for a bit before we headed to Point Reyes, California with family to honor my mother’s wishes and scatter her ashes in the Pacific Ocean. For those of you who have followed the process of my mother’s battle and passing, I want to thank you for the compassion and support you’ve shown along the way.

To lay her ashes to rest in the ocean was a meaningful experience that I wanted to share for those of you who have been on this journey with me.

Back To Baltimore For HAVANA, CUBA

We opened James show on 7/16/2022 and it was received with great praise! Thank you to everyone who came to see his beautiful Havana, Cuba photographs!

Gallery Blue Door: Havana, Cuba. A Photographic Essay

If you missed James opening at Gallery Blue Door in Baltimore please follow the link above to see Gallery Blue Door hours or come see it when Henry and I open our shows on August 13th, 2022 4:00-6:00pm.

JOAN MITCHELL EXHIBITION

While we were in Baltimore for James’ gallery we went to see the Joan Mitchell exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art which was truly amazing. She was a fearless and inspired abstract artist of her time! Reflecting on her work, I thought about the local artist scene in Florida. I see a lot of painters attempting to recreate J.M.’s style of paintings.

I might be a little controversial here by saying I think a lot of them are missing the point. The sheer size of her canvases are monumental, while the bold and emotional brush strokes evoke a powerful intensity that can not be reproduced or mimicked. These artworks were created at a specific time in history and were truly unique to her.

My take away from the show is to use every little bit of my life's emotions and channel them into my art work with a feisty fearlessness and to continue to push myself to find my own unique path in my creativity.

The show is up for another month, go see it!: Joan Mitchell | Baltimore Museum of Art (artbma.org)

Upcoming Shows

That’s right! My father Henry and I will be opening shows together at the Gallery Blue Door on August 13th.

Gallery Blue Door: Eye Contact

Gallery Blue Door: Interior ~ Exterior - Celebrating 50 Years of Sketching

Opening Reception: August 13th, 2022 4:00pm-6:00pm
Both Shows Run: August 13th, 2022 - October 29th, 2022

WELCOMING EMILY CASEY!

In the meantime I’d like to extend a very special thank you to our newest gallery member Emily Casey. She joined our team in the spring and we are so happy to have her with us! I call her the MOD (“Mistress Of Diamonds”) but in actuality she is the Amanda James Gallery manager and it is thanks to her that we have been able to do all this traveling!

She is a great art consultant and amazing on the boutique side so please don't hesitate to reach out to her should you need anything or have any questions about what we have available in the Amanda James Gallery or Amanda Johnson Studio boutique.

UNTIL NEXT TIME <3

James and I are back in Florida for a few weeks before we fly back to Baltimore for the Blue Door Gallery openings on August 13th. This much travel has left me feeling winded, like I’m somehow catching up with my own mind. With that said, I don’t take any second of it for granted.

Travel tires me out but it also teaches and changes me. I feel more compassionate and understanding towards people. I’m grateful for my adventures and for how they better me as an artist and a human being.

Phew! Ok. One more deep breath. Keep an eye out for more communications about our upcoming shows. In the meantime, hug the ones you love and appreciate the highs and lows of your adventures together.

Love,

- Amanda J.

amandajohnsonstudio.com | (561) 270-7832

P.S. I’d love to hear about your summer adventures in the comments below!