Christi Johnson

Cosmically-crafted textiles by artist Christi Johnson are the kinds of eye-catching creations that lift your spirits from the moment you see them. Johnson’s incredibly unique and meticulous style is deeply rooted in the notions of higher consciousness and serve as tangible representations of an inner world captivated by color and light. Her company Mixed Color offers Johnson’s custom-made textile goods made of natural materials and plant dyes. It also doubles as an educational resource for textile artists or anyone interested in learning about the process. With her gentle demeanor and fascination with the delicate process of transformation, Johnson’s textiles are a result of a life spent searching for something bigger than herself. Her inner and literal journeys took her from Florida to California and ultimately led her to residing in the Catskills Mountains, where The Dandy originally met her at a local clothing store. We spoke to Christi Johnson about a ton of topics, from her feelings on the current state of the world to how her meditation process informs her work and the simplicity of dwelling in nature as driving forces for true satisfaction. Johnson is a creative wunderkind, a badass seeker and a genuinely kind human being—all of which and so much more make her so damn Dandy.

We're living through an incredibly heartbreaking and eye-opening time. How are you handling everything mentally?

Honestly, not very well. While I'm relieved that these stories of inequality—both racially and financially—are being shared much more frequently and actually being heard, to see a backlash to the anti-racism movement is shocking. I simply can't comprehend how someone could be against anti-racism, but not see themselves as a racist. How are these topics even debates? How is equality even in question?

I don't care where you get your news, it's a scientific fact that there is literally no difference between races that extend beyond physical features; it is also scientifically proven that poverty begets more poverty. The bootstrap theory is so incredibly flawed and I can't even begin to dive into that wormhole. Anyways, doing great everything is fine, thanks!!

Tell us a bit about your meditation practice and how it's influenced you creatively:

I believe meditation is one of the most psychedelic experiences a person can choose to engage in. I't’s right up there with being immersed in the natural world and okay, fine—actually taking psychedelic drugs. I have no idea why, but the process of focusing on the breath and allowing mental chatter to slowly fall away releases an unending flow of visual inspiration. Patterns and repetitions of shapes that just scream out 'everything is connected and we are all made of stardust' come through in waves.

These moments of inner focus seem to be a direct connection to some sort of life force and the practice of meditation took my artwork from attempts to visually describe ideas in this world (which were honestly not that interesting) to describing concepts from another world entirely (which are to me at least, way more exciting). I don't know what it is or why it happens, but I do know it makes me feel better and brings a different level of joy in the art making process.

You make incredibly beautiful embroidered designs. What sparked your love of embroidery? Did you start at a young age?

Thank you! I've been sewing since a young age, but I didn't pick up embroidery until my 20s. I was stitching song lyrics and making fun compositions with them when my boss at the time (John Moore, currently co-founder of Outerknown Apparel) suggested I put together a show. During the process of making all these pieces, I found the technique to be incredibly soothing, and kept on stitching even after the show.

Later, John approached me to create artwork for a collection of embroidered denim shirts; I was not all that confident in my skills as an artist at that time, so his support really helped me see that what I was making was worth continuing to pursue. I eventually moved on from the fashion world because I'm allergic to mass manufacturing and the harm it causes on the environment, but through my love of vintage clothes, I was able to find a new home for my embroidered artwork to live on.

When you're in a creative rut or a MOOD, what do you do to make yourself feel better?

Creative ruts usually end up happening because my studio is a mess, so first I clean. If I'm still stuck, I'll take a walk in the woods, hang out with my cat, or toss food scraps to the chickens and watch them chase each other. If none of that works, I call it a day and make empanadas or pierogis or some other meal that takes an absurd amount of time (because cooking usually feeds my creative spirit, too).

What are your 5 essential beauty products?

I don't wear much makeup; my freckles don't like to be hidden. My beauty cabinet is really just a variety of oils, and unless I've been sweating or in a city, I only use water to wash my face (which is a shocker to most, but it works for me).

I love Witchey Handmade’s "La Reine de Rose" Face Oil after I wash and a few drops of Malaya Hair Oil goes a long way. I'm so glad to have discovered Fat and the Moon Sensitive Pit Deodorant and also their lip color Mortar and Pestle is the perfect clay-red. Also, every night I take a few drops of homemade passionflower tincture for good sleep (also essential for beauty!)

We know you lived in LA for a while. What brought you up to the Catskills?

A different way of life. Living in LA I knew was not for me, from very early on. As I climbed the ladder of a career in fashion, I found myself further and further from where I wanted to be. So on a whim and in favor of a new love, I moved to NYC for an artist residency at Textile Arts Center.

I quickly realized neither the city nor the love were meant to be for me, but while attempting to pick up the pieces of my life, I met someone at a dance class who shared my desire to live in a way that was closer to the earth. We wanted to garden, to build our own lives out of waste materials, to have space and time to make art.

He invited me to join him for a trip to visit his friends up here, and I met all these artists and farmers and people working with the land, and with each other, in a place just a few dozen miles from where my mother and grandfather grew up in Pennsylvania. My response was basically "please don't take me back to that city. Please, I never want to leave these trees." And while it is a whole lot of hard physical work, backbreaking labor, and sometimes sweaty tears, I still never want to leave.

The past few months have been a horror show. But there's also beauty and growth that will hopefully emanate from all of this. What's your take on things sort of having to burn down before they can root again?

The mythology surrounding the phoenix always captivates me. The phoenix must burn to re-emerge; her nest built in the ashes of the past. As a sensitive person, I wish there was a bit more tenderness to the process, but no fire has ever been tender and transformation is rarely a comfortable experience.

Who are some of your favorite artists you'd recommend our readers check out? People maybe that you look to for inspiration: 

I recently discovered Bisa Butler and am obsessed with her quilts. I'm constantly inspired by Ghee's Bend quilters, the art of Faith Ringgold, Betye Saar, Hilma af Klint, and Emma Kunz. I also really adore the work of Serpent and Bow, Lise Silva, Elena Stonaker, and Simone Saunders, too. Although I am sensitive with finding inspiration through the work of contemporary artists, as I try to embody my own style and not allow the work of my peers to be diluted through being imitated.

Describe your dream meal:

Anything in a pocket! Handheld, savory plus sweet. Right now I'm craving things I can't make at home: like a Banh Mi sandwich, or maybe some black bean empanadas with plantains and like three different kinds of hot sauce. But I'll settle for a brie, caramelized onion, and apple sandwich for now.

We all can't wait to get back to our local spots now that they're slowly openeing. What are your favorite bars & restaurants in the Catskills?

Cochecton Fire Station is probably my favorite, but I also love The Heron and The Laundrette in Narrowsburg and The Arnold House in Livingston Manor.

When you work, do you do it in silence? Outside? To music? What's your best creative free-flow work conditions?

I work outside whenever the weather permits, often to music, audiobooks, or just the sound of birds. Natural light, green surroundings, and space to get messy is a must. I've painted my studio jade (with a carpet to match) to get me through the winter months.

Spirituality and cosmic evolution are core themes of your work. Have you always been very connected to your source?

Not at all. I do remember times as a child looking in the mirror and being like, ‘what even is this form I'm in’ or wondering about the existence of reality or if it was all made up. ‘Am I dreaming it all up?’ type of thoughts, but my early adulthood was spent chasing: love, career, fame, money, who knows; but it always felt unfulfilling.

I feel like this all began to shift at the age of 27, which was around the same time I began meditating regularly. I took a trip to Hawaii after a breakup to "get away from it all" (my ex was still living at my house) and I found myself in this beautiful, isolated landscape realizing that what I was trying to get away from would never leave. "No matter where you go, there you are" came to mind as I attempted to lose myself once again in the scroll of social media.

Then my phone just went black at one point (divine intervention because it turned back on a couple days later), and I was left with myself, my thoughts, and a paper map to get around a vast new landscape where I rarely saw humans (the south end of the island seemed to have very little tourism, especially during rainy season). From then on I felt like I had no choice but to tap back into the life force of meditation, silence, trees, dirt and flowers. The suffering I endured by ignoring these basic elements is always too great to bear.

Do you have any magical places to recommend people check out whether upstate or anywhere you've been? Just a place that makes you feel good or has in the past:

Still looking for some magical public places outside of my backyard, but as I mentioned before, the south end of the Big Island of Hawaii (Naalehu to be precise); Coral Cove in Jupiter, FL; and Majestic Farm Apple Orchard in Mountaindale, NY (where I lived in a trailer for a summer).

If you were a color palette today, what colors would you choose?

A slightly green mustard yellow, dusty lavender, poppy red, indigo, and an orange-ish clay.

An insecurity you've had to overcome:

They're all still there. The one I'm constantly battling with is self-worth, feeling unworthy of attention, admiration, and most of all, getting paid for the work I do. The best example I have, is recently someone purchased a jacket I embroidered. I was discussing with a friend how, I should probably change the lining of the jacket to be nicer since she spent so much money on the jacket (ignoring the fact that I spent so much time on this jacket) and my friend said "Yeah, and while you're at it, why not just send her all her money back with the jacket, too?" as in, god forbid someone pay me for my time.

Something you love about yourself:

This simple question is somehow so complex; not because I don't love anything about myself, but the way the mind runs mental circles around ‘what will they think of me if I admit that I love the way I look, and I wouldn't wish to be any different?’ So yeah, that’s right, I think I'm hot. I also love my tendency towards solution based thinking; I hate dwelling on problems, and am always turning the focus to how can we solve or transform an issue.

Do you exercise? If so, what's your routine like?

Dancing to R&B and soul while making food or doing dishes is my favorite, although I occasionally enjoy our stationary bike in the basement (this requires hip-hop or electronic music) and sometimes I attempt online yoga classes, which usually looks like me ignoring the teacher and just stretching. Looking forward to getting to Bodies and Plants in Livingston Manor, which opened up days before they had to shut down for the pandemic. Heartbreaker!

To embroider, you have to have a ton of patience. The intricacy of your design work tells me you have the patience of a saint. Does this patience trickle out into your everyday life? Or is it something that's sort of reserved for your creativity?

HA! I consider myself having absolutely no patience in my daily life. I'm the kind of person who turns the stove on high even though I actually need it on medium low. I think this is probably why I'm drawn to embroidery. It forces you to slow down. Or maybe I just love the look of it so much that I'm willing to suffer its slow process.

In a past-life you were probably a:

A nun winding delicate lace; a hedge witch herbalist living on the outskirts; a warrior specializing in crafting weapons; whatever it was, I believe I have always been crafty.

Your vices:

Baby animals, memes about the fall of capitalism, and the comments section.