California based Print Maker in Residence

You may have seen artist Mark Johnsen riding around town on the blue Ventana bike these past few weeks, sometimes with Jeffrey the big black dog.  Mark has been the first artist-in-residence at the local Ventana Creative Collective gallery and boutique shop on Kitchener.
 
Mark’s first New Zealand show Horizons East is inspired by his love of nature and features what seem to be familiar mountainscapes, regardless of the originating hemisphere.  “Big Sky” presents a perfect blue atmosphere fading to the horizon with a bold, beautifully stark mountain claiming the open space.  It feels inviting, yet daunting, as only mountains can be, and so comforting, relaxing and massive all at once.
 
Several of his large format “rock” monotype prints stem from a charming childhood memory.  To create a sensation in his local neighbourhood, Mark bought shiny polished rocks at a local rock store which he then buried around the yard.  Invited kids would come over and dig up “treasure” everywhere they scratched—quite a delightful backyard event!  You can see the same joy and wonder shining through Mark’s current works of art.  Each rock has a beauty and personality all its own.

 
Monotype and chine-collé are Mark’s primary printing methods.  He has learned his art craft from master printers based in the San Francisco Bay Area, teachers with decades of knowledge of papers, inks, acid baths, paper tooth and what it takes to be known in the print world.  From this wealth of print tradition Mark brings a dedication to preserving arts that are less frequently taught in an all-too-quickly moving modern and digital-based world.
 
Mark’s work has been featured in North Face stores throughout Japan as well as several solo shows in the United States.  He has enjoyed his time in Martinborough and has made many etchings of our local landscapes while in residence.  Ventana owner Auriga Martin reports that, “Mark will be back.”
 
To see more of Mark’s work or enquire about New Zealand-inspired prints, please visit his website www.markjohnsen.net or stop in to Ventana before the 7th November to see the ‘Horizons East’ show.