1. JC Johnson
About The Images...
I believe people rely on photographs to form beliefs and perceptions about culture, art and architecture,
regardless of the accuracy; the physical appearance of a photograph changes when we have a personal
memory associated with the subject of the photo. Our memories, education and biases leave an imprint
on these pictures and can ultimately change its purpose as well as its appearance. My photographs are
not meant to be true documentations, such as in Not A Legend, but to depict memories; usually a
romanticized version of a place, a person, or a period of time. Often, I’m attracted to whimsical subjects
and settle on anything with a pinch of nostalgia. I started photographing my childhood dollhouse when
I started to struggle with having no job stability and a permanent home. This has led me to make more
bodies of work…all of which will probably never be complete.
My photographic series, Places, means to depict the illusion of time and how we leave our mark
through the architecture to document where we have been. My Ladies questions the identity of the
female by juxtaposing found photographs with my photographs depicted over previous time periods.
Some of the women I know well and some I do not, but I interact with them as strangers. The women
in the photos are meant to have blank expressions that counteract the notion that the viewer knows
them, knows what they are thinking, and knows who they will become. Both series use the process of
toning cyanotypes and using digital negatives.
My miniature scenes Trivializations have been designed to give a forced view of a particular subject.
By selecting a specific point of focus and manipulating the depth of field, using the tilt-shift process, I
was able to manipulate real scenes to make them look like a toy set. Inherently, the viewer believes the
images to be models – contrived spaces that are highly detailed. This last year, I have collaborated with a
writer, Kami Rice to publish a book with my images and her stories to create MicroStories. The stories
are tiny, short fiction tales that narrate the photos but are also intended to inspire you to find your own
stories in the whimsical images.
Complete Artist Statements Available on Request
www.jcjohnsonphoto.com
2. Not A Legend
Not A Legend, Series
Toned Cyanotype Prints
ArtFields 2016
2015
4. Dollhouses
A Small Glimpse of My Dollhouse, Tiny Installation
Cyantoypes, miniature hand-made books, tiny family portraits & my childhood dollhouse furniture
Gallery 113-B
2015
Courage UnMasked 2014: The Dollhouse
Head & neck cancer mask turned into a dollhouse using cyanotypes, and
wood dollhouse furniture.
2014
5. Trivializations
Trivializations: Florence, Italy
Digitally-altered print
2010
Alas, the rain had emptied the
stands of their always-present race
fans, so Penelope was forced to
charge around the usual melodic
course without any adoring gazes
to prod her forward. Today it
was simply for the joy of running
round and round that she raced.
Important, since it was never clear
who crossed the finish line first
anyway. But, joy nonetheless.
-Kami Rice
Trivializations: London, England
Digitally-altered print
2012
6. Trivializations
Rocco had heard it all before. All those colorful ants—that’s how he referred to them in his head to
make their voices seem more insignificant—had jeered at him for years. Even though this had been his
beach long before they were even a glimmer in their maker’s mind’s eye. They called him a fat slob and
complained that he blocked
their view of the horizon.
Sometimes they even threw
things at him, puffing up their
chests over succeeding
to hit a large, unmoving
target. Juveniles. On good
days, Rocco would manage
to ignore their insults, turn
his face to the friendly sea,
and welcome the waves who
whispered the secrets of
their world-wide adventures.
Secrets those rainbow ants
would never be quiet enough
to hear. Their loss and very
much Rocco’s gain. Whisper,
waves. Whisper. I’m listening,
was Rocco’s silent mantra.
-Kami Rice
Trivializations: Inishmore, Ireland
Digitally-altered print
2014
Trivializations: Cinque Terre, Italy
Digitally-altered print
2012
7. Places
Places: England in Alternative Process, Lacock Abbey & The Tower of London
approx. 4.5”x 5” & 5” x 5”
Salt Print & Toned cyanotype print
2014 - 15
The Tower Bridge in June & July
8” x 8” Silver gelatin double exposure print using a
120mm & digital negative
2012
8. My Ladies #1
5”x 6” toned cyanotype print
2012-13
My Ladies #4
5” x 7”toned cyanotype print
ArtFields 2015
2012-13
My Ladies #3
4 1/2” x 7” toned cyanotype print
2013
My Ladies #2
5” x 6 3/4” toned cyanotype print
2013
My Ladies
