Indira Freitas Johnson

Indira Freitas Johnson (born 1943) is an artist and nonviolence educator. Johnson was born and raised in Mumbai, India and received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Mumbai in 1964, and a four-year diploma in Applied Arts from Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art in 1964.[1] In 1965, Johnson was awarded a grant to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she received a Master of Fine Arts in 1967.[2] Johnson was invited to teach graduate level classes at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Ceramic Sculpture in 1998 and at the Rhode Island School of Design in Public Art in 2001.

Johnson is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including the Governor’s Award for the Arts, Kohler Company Arts and Industry Grant, Arts ConText, Rhode Island School of Design Museum and the Pew Charitable Trust, Arts International Travelling Fellowship, Raven Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council.[3][4]

Johnson’s work is represented in numerous major public and private collections including: Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, Asian American Arts Centre in New York, Rhode Island School of Design Museum in Providence, Mobile Museum of Art in Mobile Alabama, State of Illinois Building in Chicago, Ankor Consultants in Brussels, High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Arkansas Arts Center and Decorative Arts Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas, University of Illinois Law School in Carbondale, Illinois, SHARE in Mumbai India, High Museum of Art in Atlanta GA, Air India Corporation in Mumbai, India, Kohler Company in Sheboygan Wisconsin, and Garden/Varelli in Mumbai India.[5]

Public art projects

As an artist, Johnson’s identity has evolved as part sculptor, cultural worker, peace activist and educator.[6] Her numerous studio art work and community engaged projects explore an array of social issues including the cultural dimension of domestic violence, leprosy health education, labor, the environment, gender, peace, nonviolence and literacy.[7] They follow the “call and response” tradition that is prevalent in many cultures. She puts out a call and the community responds so that the final art -work is a hybrid that depends on and is completed by community interaction.

Her public art projects include:

Selected solo exhibitions

Selected group exhibitions

Residencies

Additional work

In 1993, in response to ethnic violence in the world, Johnson founded Shanti Foundation for Peace, whose mission is to use the processes of art to help people understand that their individual action can make a difference in the world. Since then Johnson has been teaching art and nonviolence decision-making skills to children in Chicago and Evanston area public schools.[15]

In addition, she has shared creativity and knowledge with numerous groups including Chicago Historical Society, Loyola University, Chicago, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN. She was a Round Table Presenter at the 4th International Congress of Educating Cities, The Arts and Humanities As Agents of Social Change, Keynote speaker for Drawing Art Together, Sponsored by Getty Center for Education, a panelist at Daughters of Revolution: Gender, Ethnicity, Art, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH 1992, Multi-Ethnic Voices and Main Stream [sic?] Aesthetics Chicago International New Art Forms Expo. Chicago, 1990.

References

  1. Weigel, Jenniffer (2013-11-09). "Indira Freitas Johnson, Evanston Artist: Artist-sculptor wants her works to promote peace, and inspire social change". Chicago Tribune.
  2. Weigel, Jenniffer (2013-11-09). "Indira Freitas Johnson, Evanston Artist: Artist-sculptor wants her works to promote peace, and inspire social change". Chicago Tribune.
  3. Ross, Suzanne (September 12, 2013). "REVISITING THE BUDDHA: CHECKING IN WITH INDIRA JOHNSON". The Raven Foundation.
  4. Smith, Cindy. "Indira Freitas Johnson Hand in Hand; Opposition and Unity". Parkland Art Gallery. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  5. Weigel, Jenniffer (2013-11-09). "Indira Freitas Johnson, Evanston Artist: Artist-sculptor wants her works to promote peace, and inspire social change". Chicago Tribune.
  6. "Indira Freitas Johnson". University of Michigan, School of Art and Design. November 12, 2013.
  7. "Indira Freitas Johnson". University of Michigan, School of Art and Design. November 12, 2013.
  8. "Haein Art Project". Art Oxygen. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  9. Yo-rim, Cha. "Temple project promises journey of self-exploration". Korea Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  10. Brachear, Manya (2013-06-05). "100 Buddhas rise from vacant lots".
  11. McKean, Lise. "Indira Johnson". Lise McKean. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  12. ""Growing Peace" - Indira Johnson's fields art project in Oregon, IL". Asian American Arts Centre. 2011-07-13.
  13. Michener, Julie (2009-02-17). "Dale and Mary Mrnak Memorial Visiting Artist shares art's role in social justice and peace-making with community". St. Kate's News.
  14. "I Can't, Yes I Can: Discovering Strength, Shifting Perceptions". Marketplace: Handwork of India. 2013-06-19.
  15. "Shanti Foundation for Peace". Chicago Community Trust. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
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