Visiting the Johnson Atelier

While attending the Lawrence Hopewell Trail celebration last month, Silvia and I struck up a conversation with Lynn, who is the program director at the Johnson Atelier in Hamilton. Further conversation and she said she gives tours in exchange for a small donation. Those of us gathered making small talk during the cocktail hour expressed an interest in such an event, with Silvia taking Lynn's electronic business card and offering to set it up.

Oftentimes these types of conversations fade away with vague "we-should-do-that" conversations happening whenever we see each other. Silvia, though, made it happen less than a month after the initial spark.

Silvia shared the invitation with other friends. In the end, about 20 of us gathered for a personal tour.

Lynn began by educating us about who the Johnson Atelier is vs. what we think they are. Most people feel the atelier is a part of Grounds for Sculpture because not only are the located on the Grounds for Sculpture property (though with their own street access), and their backyard is visible from GFS, they also have pieces of their artwork in their studio for repair.

Both were started by J. Seward Johnson, of the J&J Johnsons. Unlike most of his family, Seward had little interest in business. Instead he had a passion for business. After getting married and having a child, they realized he needed to make a living. He took one art class, was frustrated the moment the instructor talked about theory, and decided never to take another art class. He is one of the most famous American sculptors. 

JA was created in 1974 as a place for up and coming artists to work alongside established artists. Johnson fought for artists to have the right to own their own art -- a battle still going on today in the music industry with Taylor Swift.  

GFS opened in 1990 as place to showcase the work being created by arts at the atelier. Honestly, I'm still a little confused where the line is drawn, especially since the atelier website shows pictures of their other atelier located inside GFS. Our tour was at the 60 Sculptors Way location.

Lynn led us behind he scenes. Tall. Vast rooms. There were some sculptures. Some raw materials. A meticulously bright and clear room sealed off for painting. We saw maquettes (sculpture models), some of which we recognized having seen the full-size ones in person, others we hope will be turned into sculptures. With the March 2020 death of Seward Johnson, I wonder how many new pieces will be created. He enjoyed being part of every last detail down to the materials for the clothing and highlights in the hair. Details that are hard to complete without his input.

Lynn told us about traveling to Key West, Florida in early 2020 for Seward's (my words) last "brain dump" of information to help them finish some projects. He used a term like "light" (for example) which she interpreted one way, and other artists had different ways of interpreting it. Unable to talk to him again, they started digging through old materials to see when he used that term and what did he mean by it --- in this case was it the weight, or the coloring, or something else? Other than the few statues that she described as Seward's last project, we were free to take pictures throughout the workspaces, so we did. 

We saw some works in progress and some work done by students. The studio is open for up and coming artists to create alongside with professionals. Sometimes the artists submit their vision and ask the artists in the studio to create them on a larger scale. 

Many of the people on our
tour are cyclists

I found the lemonade stand charming

Local legend, Einstein

A full-sized version is in Princeton's
Palmer Square

Her dress seems to swoosh

That's a lot of dogs!

The full-sized version is in Grounds
for Sculpture

Paint room

Wow!

The room where they do repairs

Abraham Lincoln

Their backyard

Normally on the water by Rats!, this
sculpture is in the back being
winterized

Raw materials waiting to be sculpted

We noted it was very quiet in the atelier. Lynn said that's normal. They have a very small staff. As we were leaving, someone asked Lynn how long she has been with the organization. She said over 20 years. She started with Grounds for Sculpture as a ticket taker and has grown with the organization.

We were next door to Grounds for Sculpture, and since I have a Plus One membership, I suggested to Don we stop in for lunch at the Van Gogh Café. It also gave us a chance to walk around on a brisk Monday afternoon. We pretty much had the place to ourselves.