Charlie J. Johnston: turning life into art
“Turning Life into Art, an exhibit of paintings, natural history collections and detailed sketch books by naturalist Charlie J. Johnston, opens Saturday, Feb. 29, in the Special Exhibitions Gallery on the second floor of the USU Eastern Museum.
Johnston served as the curator of exhibitions at the Science Museum of Minnesota and the first national interpretive specialist for the Fish and Wildlife Services. He was an artist and naturalist for the Lee and Rose Warner Nature Center of Minnesota and Oregon’s West Eugene Wetlands Partnership.
He was selected as the artist in residence for the Grand Canyon National Park – North Rim in 2007. He has had solo exhibitions in Moab, Salt Lake City and galleries in Oregon, Minnesota and featured in the Alaska Parks. Johnston splits his year between Alaska and Utah painting, journaling and exploring the west with his wife Elaine.
“I made my art an integral part of my life and my careers,” he writes.
Eastern’s Prehistoric Museum is located at 155 East Main Street, Price, Utah, and features fossils and artifacts from Utah. It is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
