Christi Johnson
On today’s episode of The Good Dirt, Mary and Emma have a conversation with artist, teacher and “sorceress of the stitch” Christi Johnson. Christi’s art, like herself, is cosmic in nature with an emphasis on the hypnotic beauty of botanicals. Her work explores communion and connection with plants, alchemy, herbalism and the natural world as she reimagines symbols as language that are stitched slowly and methodically into fabric. Christi is dedicated to bringing meaning back to stitching in hopes of rejoining the art of embroidery with its complex and meaningful origins and encourages all to bring this unique art form and ritual back into the home.
Throughout the episode, Christi discusses her own history within the fashion industry and the lack of connection she felt to the material and the work within that industry. Mary, Emma and Christi remind us that “cheap is never a bargain” and encourage all who listen to question what “off-site” production really means as we dig into what it actually takes to produce these essential goods. Christi also dives into images as language and talks about allowing the creative process to be a conversation between you and the work that is ever-changing and not predetermined. Christi discusses her dedication to experimentation, exploration and evolution in her work, shares her dream of bringing art and meaning back into traditional craft and how giving our art power in turn allows us to empower ourselves.
Christi’s new book is entitled “Mystical Stitches: Embroidery for Personal Empowerment and Magical Embellishment”.
Listen to our conversation below!
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SHOW NOTES
1:30 - Mary and Emma catch up and talk about Mary’s plant rescue mission
Let’s get into the episode:
9:00 - Christi Johnson, sorceress of the stitch
11:20 - Christi introduces herself
15:30 - Understanding composition
30:30 - The intersection between herbs and art
34:00 - A “good” price
37:30 - Images as language
52:00 - Working with the seasons
1:00 - Mystical Stitches
1:01 - What does the Good Dirt mean to you?
Things Mentioned:
