JAMIE JANX JOHNSTON

Norml Clothing in Ottawa is hosting an interesting artistic challenge, supported by Red Bull. This visual art challenge, ask that with the use of a 12” vinyl, create the most original artistic piece possible. Any craft is accepted. Only the top 40 will be selected. Here’s the piece I created. Yes, I was one of the 40 chosen, using a mix of painting and photography. Norml clothing has been a strong supporter of my craft for many years. Nice to be part of the new location’s gallery space. Funny how I’m the only one that used a white frame.

Here I am back in Haliburton. Everybody has that one place that makes them feel like a kid again. Well for me it’s the Haliburton Highlands. Hanging out with the family. A fun change to have the grandparents down from Winnipeg for this year’s Thanksgiving celebrations. Stuck around an extra day just to take it all in. Timed the colours perfectly this year! Fall colours in Haliburton...WOW!

Algonquin park, a classic outdoor destination for any Ontarien. To be using the same setting and palette as the Group of 7, makes me think that it’s not surprising artists of this calibre got the results they got. Just Papa and I hitting the valleys, rivers, lakes and everything else this park has to offer. 

Friends (Chrysandre and Seb D) of mine have been part of this Capoeira group for some years now. They invited me to come check out this performance in a club setting. Capoeira is amazing, with lots of music, twist, turns and balance. I’d never seen a display of this kind before and I was very impressed. After the demo, the evening continued with a classic BBoy/BGirl competition. With music by longtime friend and host of Ottawa’s Timekode DJ Zattar.

My old high school De La Salle, the largest francophone high school in Ottawa, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of it’s Centre D’excellence Artistique. Within these celebration they’re honoring past student. I’m one of the selected. So, I’ll be taking part in the Spectacle Convergences: Exposition des Anciens and also taken the picture for this event.

The beautiful Emily Honneger and Geneviève Gagné invited me to come hang out during the practice run of the dance production Hit The Deck. A mix of many dance styles. A great production and visually stimulating. Strongly recommended!

Every March & April Le Jardin Botanique de Montréal lets the butterflies loose. An out of body experience seeing these little creatures float without making a sound. A beautiful setting. Get there early to avoid the line ups and have the butterflies at they're calmest.

One of my closest friends and one of the most talented people in show business today: Tricia Foster. The Album shoot for Tricia 2nd LP Commerciale... and here we are, with the help of the family, Sima, Pat, Jb and Anne, doing a photoshoot in the High School we all went to (De La Salle in Ottawa)... Funny to see how things comes full circle.

How much love can one get...  Enough to have the funniest people surrounding you!  Happy New year to all. Best of Luck in 2008!