Seeing the Big River: 'The Nature Paintings'

There are many ways to experience the big river. In this regular feature well "See the Big River" through the eyes of FMRs Artist-in-Residence, Peter L. Johnson. Peter works alongside FMRs staff and volunteers as we strive to protect and improve this cherished community asset.

Peter L. Johnson

Artists statement

"A new body of work, 'The Nature Paintings,' are on exhibit as part of Sediments: Seeing Lake Pepin at the Lake Pepin Center for Art and Design now thru September 4th in Pepin, Wisconsin. I set up an en plein air studio in Father Hennepin Park in Minneapolis and at a vibrant trout stream on the Wisconsin side of the Big River south of Maiden Rock. In the studio I only used the tools, materials and medium that I found on site to work in, with and in support of the water as we made our artistic marks. Buckthorn berry juice, algae, gasoline-infested river water, and native wildflowers were just some of the 'paints' in use. ... [The exhibit] is a great excuse for a drive down the Wisconsin side of Lake Pepin on an August weekend."

About the artist

Peter L. Johnson draws upon his varied background as a documentary photographer, solo street performance artist, painter and social activist to create the overall tenet of his artistic practice, Seeing the Big River. His lyrical photographs, collected "specimens" and gasoline-infested Mississippi Mud paintings discover beauty amongst the damage we do to our environment. Learn more at peterljohnson.com.