|
Artist continues folk art tradition |
|
Monday, 19 October 2009 |
|
 By Davida Hill-Beckum
Daily Times Leader
Match stick art has been described in many ways. Some call it a depression art. Others refer to it as folk art or prison art. Bessie Johnson, Tibbee resident, sees it as much more.
The fifth of 14 children, Johnson has been exposed to art her entire life. The art of basket weaving is a family tradition that was handed down to Johnson from her father, John Wesley Deavens, who created baskets from white oak.
Johnson, who served as home economist for Clay County 25 for years, taught herself how to blend a rich cultural heritage and a contemporary artistic vision to create her own unique art form of basket weaving using pine needles, gourds corn shucks, burnt match sticks and other natural materials.
“The matchstick art form certainly gained popularity during the Depression,” Johnson said, “because it is an art form that allows artist who may not have much to express themselves.”
Match stick art has provided Johnson with the opportunity touch the lives of many, teaching classes to amateur and professional basket weavers around the country. Match stick art currently the art form affords her the opportunity to work with a group os seniors at Jones Chapel United Methodist Church.
“When we started we started as an exercise group,” said Johnson. “We learned that some of us couldn't get up if we got down on the floor. We decided to do matchstick art instead.”
Johnson says the group, which varies between eight to ten people, get mental stimulation and the opportunity to socialize during their weekly meetings.
Besides allowing Johnson the opportunity to combine her passions for teaching and art, the match stick form has provided Johnson with a few laughs over the years.
“I was teaching a class in Columbus with Community Counseling,” Johnson said. “I was running a little behind schedule so I decided I would just burn the matches after I got there. The wind was high and the smoke drifted in thru the vents. This was shortly after Sepr. 11, so there was no delay in the authorities finding out what was going on.”
Other innocent incidents involving Johnson's matchstick art has raised suspicions. During a trip to Wal-Mart, Johnson was purchasing supplies for a fairly large class. During checkout, Johnson was requested to show identification. Her baskets contained 21 bottles of glue and 21 boxes of matches.
“The cashier said the computer prompted her to ask for it. That had never happened to me before,” Johnson laughed. “I thought I was going to have to go get my birth certificate and social security card too.”
Johnson's art has been displayed all over the world. She has exhibited with the Southern Arts Federation Traveling Exhibit throughout the Southern United States and internationally in Haifa, Israel. Johnson has designed and created ornaments for the Mississippi Christmas Tree in the circle of state trees displayed at the White House.
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 20 October 2009 )
|
