I've always wanted to write a story or story series about the magical activities that take place in Geneva every day, behind the facades we see as we drive through town—revealing the business and industry, education and creative expression, surprise and heartache, joy and wild genius I suspect happens every day without revelation or fanfare.
That story is beyond by ability to tell, but there's maybe no better single sampling than what happens behind the plain brick walls of 409 Stevens St.
Because that is where Larry Johnson has built an art studio, where he not only creates paintings and figurative art from modeling clay and canvas, but where he presents his latest exhibit, "A Continuum."
Johnson attended St. Bede Academy, where he developed an interest in sculpture, then enrolled at Fontbonne College in St. Louis, where he served as studio assistant to Rudolph Torrini, a nationally known figurative sculptor. At the University of Chicago, he studied under Verona sculptor Virginio Ferrari and Harold Rosenberg, the noted New York art critic and author.
Johnson has continued to work as an artist throughout his life, but he was sidetracked after he tried to find a teaching job after graduate school, when he landed a job with IMB that paid the bills for 31 years. He retired in 2010, however, and has been able to devote more time to his artwork.
His works, primarily figures, can be found in the collections of the Archbishop of Toronto, Southern Illinois Museum, Illinois Valley College in Oglesby, St. Mark's Parish in Peoria, Chase Bank in Naperville, Mercy Hospital in Aurora, Holy Guardian Angel Church in Reading, PA, and numerous private collections.
His present body of work, displayed in "A Continuum," bridges his bronze relief work from the late 1980s with his present work, or "porta" series.
His works have several recurring themes, primarily the emergence of organic elements with the context of structural formats and religious themes.
"These works provide abstract glimpses of into evidences of life on many levels, including organic lyrical forms symbolic of movement, and wing-like, angelic images," says a description of the artist that accompanies a list of the show's pieces.
My favorite is the "Prayer Memorial to the Souls of Terezin," which he completed after a visit to Terezin, a Nazi concentration camp in the Czech Republic.
His sculptures range in price from $500 to $7,200.
Gallery hours are by appointment. "A Continuum" extends through Oct. 25.
To see a video interview of Larry Johnson, please visit this article.
