Artist C. Steve Johnson, photo: Tim Knox
Modern Art on Cat Island
The Conceptual, The Illuminated and the Mundane
new paintings by C. Steve Johnson
May 7, 2011
Last Saturday, C. Steve Johnson presented his latest body of work at Charlie and Cathy Johnson’s stunning waterfront home in Cat Island. It was a spectacular evening with good friends, famed local artists and our favorite USCB scholars in attendance. The intimate environment was a refreshing way to look at and appreciate art. The work sparked great curiosity for its conceptual nature, in other words, for being far removed from the “Lowcountry marsh scenes” we often see in our precious downtown galleries.
Steve relocated to Beaufort from New York City in 2007. A year ago, after doing several shows in NYC, Miami and Berlin with his art collective The Fantastic Nobodies, he finally decided to articulate a conceptual body of work based on his take on the topics of his Southern experience: domesticity (a gorgeous set of black and white knives, the last one unfinished… adorn Cathy Johnson’s traditional-modern kitchen), spirituality (Buddhist mandalas and sacred titles abound) and form (a silhouette of a pair of sandals is so-abstract-yet-so-clear it plays with the viewer almost as a visual psychological test). As a trained sculptor and wood craftsman, Steve also dedicated much time to the art of framing each piece with a custom, unique approach. The work is at times minimalistic, graphic and full of poetry, literally.
Artist C. Steve Johnson has lived and worked all over the world, but he is best known in New York City as one of the Williamsburg pioneer artists of the mid nineties. His recent shows include: Living Frame II at brot.undspiele Galerie, Berlin, America’s Most Unwanted at 33 Grand Gallery, NYC and A Heart Happening at The Margulies Foundation, Miami 2009 & 2010. Steve is also the Enrichment coordinator at E.C. Montessori & Grade School in Lady’s Island, where he is committed to an arts-infused early education.
The great news is that we will soon see the work in a public space downtown, for the public to appreciate, but in the meantime, the show will be up for viewing and for sale until May 21 in Cat Island. Prices range between $200-$2,000. Please contact: steeljawbone@yahoo.com • 646-229-8877 • 843-522-9659
2010
SANDWICH BOARD SERIES by C. STEVE JOHNSON MARGULIES FOUNDATION, MIAMI, FL
2009
FANTASTIC NOBODIES MARGULIES FOUNDATION, MIAMI, FL
2008
HOMEBIRTH ARTS COUNCIL OF BEAUFORT COUNTY, BEAUFORT, SC MEDIA: SUPER 8 FILM TRANSFER TO VIDEO ACRCHIVE: http://web.mac.com/josefinablanc/iWeb/homebirth
2007
CONTRAGOLPE. REENACTING A FAILED OPERATION MARX ALLEE 87, BERLIN, GERMANY. PALACIO DE LA MONEDA, SANTIAGO, CHILE. MEDIA: OIL ON WOOD TRYPTIC HTTP://WWW.CONTRA-GOLPE.ORG/
FILMS WITH JONAS MEEKAS GITINA ROSE, BROOKLYN, NY MEDIA: SUPER 8 FILMS
A GATHERING OF FRIENDS THE RED PIANO TOO GALLERY, ST HELENA ISLAND, SC MEDIA: OIL ON WOOD
ART AUCTION FOR NAMI (NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS) THE RED PIANO TOO GALLERY, ST HELENA ISLAND, SC MEDIA: LIQUID SILVER
WHITE BLACK FLAG, THE STATE SUSPENDED QUIETLY KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE MEDIA: PHOTOGRAPHS
THE BIG GOODBYE, A MUSICAL GLASSLANDS, BROOKLYN, NY
STILL LIVING, WORKING, COOKING AND DYING IN BROOKLYN GLASSLANDS, BROOKLYN, NY MEDIA: MURAL
DUMBO ART WALK SEPTEMBER ’07 BROOKLYN, NY MEDIA: PHOTOGRAPHS, PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS
2006
100 YEAR GALA: YMCA OF GREENPOINT BENEFIT AUCTION SUPREME TRADING, BROOKLYN, NY MEDIA: PHOTOGRAPH
THE MUSEUM OF MODERN MUSICAL MEN: A 10 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE OF C. STEVE JOHNSON MESEROLE STREET STUDIOS MEDIA: SCULPTURE, PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, POEMS, PERFORMANCE, FILM, PHOTOGRAPHS, MIXED.
TENTS, WITH CHRIS MARTIN SIDESHOW GALLERY, BROOKLY, NY MEDIA: SUPER 8 FILM
WAR IS OVER SIDESHOW GALLERY, BROOKLY, NY. MEDIA: DRAWINGS
THE REPUBLIC OF CONEY ISLAND BROWN, NYC, NY MEDIA: PHOTOGRAPHS
IN BETWEEN RITUALS ZEBULON, BROOKLYN, NY MEDIA: PERFORMANCE ART
SONGS AND STORIES WITH XAVIER BECERRA AND MAX YAWNEY ZEBULON, BROOKLYN, NY MEDIA: PERFORMANCE
2005
ARTESANO, PAISANO, BEANER EL CHILE VERDE, BROOKLYN, NY MEDIA: PAINTINGS, POEMS, DRAWINGS, LIGHT SCULPTURE.
CHEAP ART COLLECTIVE WILDFIST, BROOKLYN, NY
2004
FANTASTIC NOBODIES SUPREME TRADING, BROKLYN, NY MEDIA: PAINTINGS, POEMS, DRAWINGS, LIGHT SCULPTURE, PERFORMANCE.
C-SQUAT WITH XAVEIR BECERRA PINK PONY, NYC, NY MEDIA: LIVE MUSIC
SOUNDS WITH THE CASH AND XAVIER BECERRA FREE 103.9 RADIO MEDIA: LIVE MUSIC
CHEAP ART PARTY COLLECTIVE THE MIGHTY ROBOT, BROOKLYN, NY
2003
LOST AND FOUND CIRCUS PAINTINGS FIFTHCOLUMNNTH GALLERY, SANTIAGO DE CHILE
2002
OPEN MIC SERIES NO EXIT CAFÉ, CHICAGO, IL MEDIA: PERFORMANCE ART, COMMUNITY SERVICE
LIGHT SHOW NATURE GALLERY, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA MEDIA: CHANDELIER CONSTRUCTED OF OLD CANS FOUND IN SUGAR HOLLOW, ANTLERS AND CANDLES
THE DISAPPEARING ACT WITH DANIEL BLOOMBERG THE MUD HOUSE, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
GERILLA FILM UNIT STREETS OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA MEDIA: GRASSROOTS FILM COLLECTIVE
2001
CHEAP ART COLLECTIVE WILDFIST, BROOKLYN, NY
2000
JEEPS, CLUB MEMBER SINCE 1996 FOUR WALLS GALLERY, BROOKLYN, NY MEDIA: FILMS AND SLIDESHOWS
1999
INTERNATIONAL PAINTING SYMPOSIUM HRADEC NAD MORAVICI MUSEUM, CZECH REPUBLIC MEDIA: SCULPTURE
THE FIGHT OF YOUR FEARS VENICE, LA MEDIA: TRUMPET, IN OUT-DOOR LIVE MUSIC COLLECTIVE
1998
THE AMBERWAY SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM HRADEC NAD MORAVICI MUSEUM, CZECH REPUBLIC MEDIA: SCULPTURE
CHEZ MESZ CABARET MESEROLE STREET STUDIOS, BROOKLYN, NY MEDIA: PERFORMANCE
1997
TRUCKLOAD OF TROUBLE, FILM ON THE ROOF WITH MIKE BALLOU AND STEVE MACDONALD MESEROLE STREET STUDIOS, BROOKLYN, NY MEDIA: FILM
HORSEY SHOW PINK PONY, NYC, NY MEDIA: MIXED
1994
BOW TIE CHAIRS FROM THE ARTS & CRAFTS MOVEMENT THE BLUE GALLERY, LONDON, UK
PAINT AL’S CAFÉ, LONDON, UK
WATERCOLORS MUSWELL HILL BAKERY, LONDON, UK
1993
BROKEN RECORDS ARTIST’S STUDIO, LONDON, UK
Stay Connected