Chris Johanson's Kaleidoscope World.

I love Chris Johanson's amazing artwork and I'm inspired that, even in the somewhat demoralizing commercial world of advertising (my working girl's, real job), it has given me the opportunity to approach Chris for a project we are launching for the beautiful new Academy of Arts and Sciences. I rarely get this opportunity (it's usually more about retouching an already too perfect face) and I am reminded of the fortunate bits of inspiration my job offers me up on occasion. There's a new exhibit of Chris' work in San Francisco right now so I'd be so pleased if y'all ran out and saw it. If you aren't in the area, there are pieces of Chris Johanson's work all about and everywhere, so I think you'd find yourself quite happy to discover him out there, as well.

"The show is about how I am 39 years old and how all this time went into making right now. The pictures in the show start at age 24 and go to age 39 at 6pm on March 8th, 2008. It is about human communication dealing with dealing through paint. It is about personal mind control as a coping mechanism to be better at co-existence. About language to communicate in order to know of serenity. It is about cancer, death. Life. Serenity. Life. Order. Chaos. Recycle. Health food. Life. Bright colors not to draw an insect to a flame to be harmed but show possibility. Its about unfinished business and the inability to do everything. All things. Endless choices. Serenity there. Animal, plant, insect. The main reason I had to do this is this is my daily ritual to make pictures is to contemplate life and death, world and place is part of my religion. It is true. I believe. Sooner or later both ways all the time." -- Chris Johanson


Jack Hanley Gallery
Though April 12, 2008
395 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94103