Faculty Profile

Martha Johnson: In the Pursuit of Honesty

Martha Johnson, painter, sculptor, set designer and teacher believes that honesty is the most important quality an artist can have. "It is important to peel away the layers and put the judgmental part of myself to the side," says the candid instructor. And it's equally important to her that students find their own visual voice, which is why she hesitates to touch their work. "They have to find the solutions to their artistic problems - that way they will be true to their own style of working."

She graduated from the Fine Arts Program at Guelph University and has successfully ventured into many arts related fields. She's been the art director for an advertising agency and has designed sets and costumes for Desrosier Dance Theatre, Canadian Stage Company and Necessary Angel Theatre Company. She designs garden and home furnishings for Holt Renfrew and recently designed a restaurant in Guelph called "The Bookshelf." Part of her plan included an 80 foot long landscape which she painted herself.

Martha especially enjoys the challenge of working outside of her comfort zone - she believes that creativity comes out of chaos. "I love the feeling of moving through chaos into creativity. At one moment nothing makes sense and then with a few strokes of the brush, it all comes together. At that point you almost watch it unfold." For Martha it is the process itself that is transcending. The work of art at the end is a bonus - she calls it a "gift with purchase."

Encouraging people to work outside their comfort zone is something Martha is also doing with corporate executives in the school's Beyond the BoxTM program. She does it as well with Seniors at the Forest Hill Place Retirement Residence where the plan is to soon exhibit the paintings of some newly inspired octogenarians.

Currently Martha is working on a series of figurative paintings - portraits of Canadian people who are important to her because of their advocacy for human rights. She began this project by creating a large red dressing gown that each person will wear for their portrait. Her first subject is Ian Scott, former Attorney General with the Provincial Government. She looks forward to painting well-known feminist Judy Rebick, in January. In addition to teaching and painting, Martha is a regular guest on CITY TV's CityLine where she guides the viewers in making art and nature based garden projects.

Martha truly believes that genius exists in everyone. "We just need to overcome the obstacles that get in the way." Martha models commitment, honesty and a willingness to take risks.

Martha Teaches:

Robotics (9-14 yrs)
Monday 4:30-6:00 pm

Taste of the Arts
Monday 7:30-10:00 pm

Acrylic Painting
Wednesday 7:00-9:30 pm

The Human Figure in Sculpture
Thursday 7:00-9:30 pm

Home Decorating Arts
Friday 12:45-3:15 pm

Every Wednesday afternoon, four children from the nearby Metro Toronto School for the Deaf, two hearing children with a deaf parent and seven hearing kids dash up to the third floor to begin their Art and Sign Studio class. The class is taught by Vanessa Vaughan, a well-known deaf artist, actor, writer and film maker, and artist Susie Whaley, who teaches Senior Kindergarten at the Avenue Road Arts School. Susie has a deaf niece, who inspired her to learn American Sign Language and to create sign language art such as ASL clocks and magnets. You can see Susie's work at www.signlanguageart.com.

Together Vanessa and Susie bring high energy and enthusiasm to the Art and Sign Studio.

Take a peek into the Art and Sign Studio:

It is early. Class will not begin for several minutes but students are already seen getting their imaginations pumped-up! Some are playing games by the window, others are drawing at the table and a few are prancing about in their chosen costumes of the week from the dress-up chest!

Vanessa and Susie are scurrying about prepping and getting equipped for the young creative minds as they march in one by one. All of a sudden, the lights flicker on and off! Everything stops; all is still. The kids look up and see Vanessa sign: Circle time! The commotion returns as the children gather and sit in a circle waiting to review the signs learned in previous studio sessions. Last week, the project was to create a 'Cosmic Mobile' so the class is now practicing the signs for stars, moon, rocket, birds, clouds, planets - anything that is found high up in the sky!

Today the class will be creating life sized self-portraits embracing different emotions. Eager hands rise up in the air as the children enthusiastically offer, both vocally and in sign language, every emotion they can think of! Happy! Excited! Shy! Sad! Mad! Glad!

Vanessa and Susie are now asking the young artists which colours they associate with the various emotions. One child associates yellow with anger, another blue with happiness.

Off they go to begin their self-portraits. Both the deaf and hearing children are laughing and chatting with one another, gesturing and signing as they work. Before we know it, the lights flicker again! It's time to line up to go home!

The artists parade downstairs with a new masterpiece in hand to present to those waiting for them.

The Art and Sign Studio is melting away the language barrier as the children gain confidence and become more comfortable with one another.

Vanessa Vaughan, Instructor

Oh Baby!

The year 2000 brought on a baby boom here at the Avenue Road Arts School. We welcome all the new members of our extended family.

Congratulations to instructor John Viljoen and his wife Natasha who gave birth to baby Michael Ross on October 2/00 and instructor Elyssa Katz and her husband Jay Tabac. Their baby, Alden, was born on August 12/00. Congratualtions also to Mary Wilson and her husband Kerry Stirton who brought baby Callum into the world on September 29/00.