This past weekend I had the pleasure of 'picking' from an artist's dream of a yard sale.
Mildred Johnson, an incredible assemblage artist, is retireing at the age of 82 & has been collecting, building, and producing all of her life.
“I honestly can’t remember a time when I wasn’t making art. As a kid I used to find scraps of wood and other junk and make my own toys, so my interest in building has been with me for a long time. I guess I’ve never really grown up – I’m still playing with found materials – and I still feel the excitement of discovery that I remember as a child.” - Mildred Johnson
Mildred Johnson, Triptolemous, found object assemblage, 21"x11"x6"
Mildred Johnson, Calliope, found object assemblage, 22"x12"x7"
Her studio(s), located in the Fort Ando's Mill in Brunswick Maine, opened their doors to starry eyed artists & collectors alike as a 'Not your everyday yard sale.' For me unfortunately, it was a perfect example of early bird gets the worm, I arrived two hours after first start, but I was still able to pick up some great papers - art supplies & a few beautiful, rusty, treasure relics.
My finds from Mildred Johnson's studio.
The cream of the crop.
I am especially excited about this BEAUTIFUL, organic, dried seaweed type, piece I found. I'm feeling particularly inspired to make a special painting just to showcase it, I can already envision it & can't wait to work on it. Score.
It is a bit sad, that that treasure trove of an artist studio is closed. Though I am confident that art making runs deep in Mildred Johnson & neither age nor retirement will stop her from seeing art in everyday objects. She certainly has left a legacy of work behind that people will be able to enjoy for years to come. Really very beautiful.
In Mildred's Studio. Image borrowed from http://shoplucilles.blogspot.com