Meet Traci Johnson: NYC Young Talent Exhibition

Returning this Spring to the Affordable Art Fair NYC is the ever-popular Young Talent Exhibition, a dedicated platform supporting emerging contemporary artists and curators.

This edition we’re delighted to present Safe Space, a new body of work from artist Traci Johnson curated by Arts Gowanus Executive Director, Johnny Thornton. This exhibition explores a world absent from injury and free from judgement, and seeks to investigate how the human mind, soul and body can be soothed by calm euphoric spaces.

Read on to learn more about Traci and their work which will be on display in the foyer of the Spring edition and also hear about the exciting initiatives Arts Gowanus is undertaking this year!

INTERVIEW WITH TRACI JOHNSON & JOHNNY THORNTON

Traci, tell us about your background and how you came to specialize in textile design and sculptural art.

TJ: I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and grew up going to the Brooklyn Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I grew up in the church as well and there, many of my talents were nurtured and unveiled. Whether it was through arts and crafts, acting, singing or dancing, I was always doing something creative in church and learned to love all forms of art.

I studied art at the High School of Fashion Industries and later at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Throughout college I became extremely infatuated with soft sculptures and started to explore various textile materials. During the pandemic I started to incorporate rugs into my practice essentially searching for solace. This became a staple within my artwork as the time went by.

Can you give us some insight into the work you will be exhibiting at the Spring edition?

TJ: The work that I will be exhibiting will take you to another point in your life. Hopefully a setting that exposes comfort, easy laughter and euphoria, often feelings that we once had as children. As the audience walks through the space I want the positive energy that surrounds my sculptures to encompass them. It’s important that the audiences share nostalgic feelings of security when they enter the space. When I create my pieces, embedding love into them is a priority and it brings wonderful growth into my life and others.

Johnny, can you give us a history on how Arts Gowanus was started and your objective as a non-profit working in Brooklyn?

JT: Arts Gowanus was started 25 years ago by a small group of artists who wanted to start an open studio tour for the artists in the Gowanus area. Throughout the years, Arts Gowanus has grown into a not-for-profit organization that works year-round to support, promote, and advocate for local artists and a sustainable arts community in Brooklyn. We nurture relationships among individual artists, arts organizations, local businesses, and the community.

I am thrilled to present Traci Johnson at the Affordable Art Fair in March! I have been a fan of their work for a long time and when this amazing opportunity was offered to Arts Gowanus, they were the first name on my list of artists to feature. I am honored to curate an exhibition for such an amazing young talent.

We believe that the diverse creativity of local artists contributes to the singularly vibrant cultural life and energy of New York City. We believe that it is critical not only for the artists, but also our society in general, that the arts continue to thrive in Gowanus. We produce open studio events, professional development workshops, public art works, artistic collaborations and exhibitions in our mission to ensure artists remain a crucial part of neighborhood identity.

You came on as Program Director of Arts Gowanus in 2019 and congrats on being elevated to the role of Executive Director in 2020! Can you tell us more about your journey throughout the arts and what your vision for the future of the organization?

JT: As an artist who has been working in Gowanus for several years, I had always been impressed by the diverse and exciting artist community that Gowanus had to offer and the work that Arts Gowanus did to create opportunities and visibility for the local artists. As I became more involved in the local arts community and volunteered with Arts Gowanus, I was thrilled to be offered the Program Director position in 2019. In this position I learned how much work needed to be done to maintain and ensure an equitable and sustainable arts community, not just in Gowanus, but in New York in general.

When I stepped into the Executive Director role in 2020 the Gowanus neighborhood was at crossroads with an impending rezoning. I saw this as an opportunity to more actively advocate for a sustainable model that will keep artists working in the neighborhood and break the ever-present cycle of artists getting pushed out of neighborhoods due to development. With the support of the community and the local government we reached a community benefits agreement for over 30,000 feet of deeply subsidized studio space in new developments; this will ensure the creative community will continue to thrive in Gowanus.

As Gowanus moves into a period of heavy development, Arts Gowanus will continue working with our community partners to ensure that this rezoning will not only keep the cultural workers thriving in Gowanus, but will be based on principles of social, economic, environmental and racial justice.

Traci, what inspires and influences you the most in your art making and how has your practice evolved over the years?

TJ: Landscapes inspire my work, whether it may be the beautiful mountains and rocky hills in upstate NY or the hustle and bustle of NYC the features always find a way into my pieces. It’s the serenity of an untouched landscape that I appreciate, how organic and strong these landscapes appear. Being able to see the stars there allows my body and mind to take up as much space as I want. While creating paintings or rugs, the frantic business from the city finds a way itself into my work. I think the overlapping and proximity of the shapes I create often represent how overcrowded I may feel in my city. Although people come here to live large, it’s often easy to live small.

My practice has evolved a lot over the years. While in school I never quite knew what kind of art I wanted to create; I always created vibrant bold colors. That was always a part of me, an extension of myself. I think through the use of the materials that I have found, I’ve really grown to love them and have been able to express parts of myself I hadn’t even known existed yet. As my work evolves, so do I. To grow everyday and to be better is the goal.

What initiatives or programs does Arts Gowanus have planned for 2022?

JT: I am very excited about our programming for 2022! Firstly, Arts Gowanus is thrilled to present Traci Johnson at the Affordable Art Fair in March! In April we are excited to present a collaborative project between Arts Gowanus & Old Stone House called Brooklyn Utopias: Along the Canal as part of our Gallery Dispersed initiative. This is a multisite exhibition by over 150 artists envisioning a better Brooklyn and will consist of an indoor exhibition at The Old Stone House and two outdoor banner exhibitions that will be displayed around J.J. Byrne park in Park Slope and in Coffey Park in Red Hook.

Throughout the rest of the year, we have several curations, art events and art fairs. The largest of our events, Gowanus Open Studios will take place in October. This will be the 26th year of the event and will have over 400 artists in our community opening their studios to the public and showing artwork in the local businesses in Gowanus.

Thank you Traci and Johnny for chatting with us about the Young Talent Exhibition and the goals na dinspiration for both of you! We can’t wait to welcome you all to our 20th anniversary celebration of Affordable Art Fair NYC (March 23 – 27, 2022) so make sure you have your Advanced Price Tickets and get ready to discover the euphoria of Traci’s installation this Spring!