Johanne Lamarche
Born in Canada, I came to Philadelphia to complete a residency in periodontics. Twenty years of volunteer work as a docent with Art Goes to School fueled a passion to start creating art of my own. My experience as a dental surgeon has given me a good grasp of spatial interpretation and line and it honed a keen sense of observation and informs my art practice. When I discovered cold wax and oil, I felt like my creative and professional lives had merged. I traded conventional paint brushes with improvised tools to move paint around in, many not unlike my surgical implements. With cold wax and oil, painting is a spontaneous process of discovery, where multiple layers are often scraped back to reveal interesting surprises and textures. This very intuitive form of painting allows for the creation of depth, transparency and luminosity and is very process-driven, keeping the work open to all possibilities.
My work is in the permanent collection of The Museum of Encaustic Art in Santa Fe, NM and in private collections in the US, Canada and Europe. My work has been represented in juried shows locally, nationally and internationally. I have been honored to be a featured artist in many local solo shows. I was invited to represent Pennsylvania at the 50 States/200 Artists exhibition at the Museum of Encaustic Art and was featured on CTV news in Canada.
Becoming an artist has enriched my life in immeasurable ways: meeting artists, art philanthropy and continuing to learn new skills. It has brought so much joy in my life. It is a thrill when someone connects with one of my creations. I hope my work conveys a sense of uplifting energy, provokes contemplation, and inexhaustible discovery.
$300
Flock Off Russia
This piece began as a watercolor of the wheat fields of Ukraine, titled “Fields of Gold.” It evolved into a mixed media artwork highlighting the war’s impact on Ukraine’s bird population. The damaging consequences of warfare on birds are depicted through collaged words representing habitat disturbances, pollution, food chain poisoning, over-hunting due to hunger, and deforestation.
The majestic white stork, a beloved bird of the Ukrainian people, is considered a harbinger of happiness. It returns every spring to nest in Ukraine, with legends saying it only builds its nest near good people. As a symbol of fertility, birth, rebirth, and family, my collaged stork surveys the devastation of war while offering hope that peace will prevail. The clear sky instills a sense of peace in the viewer. The collaged letters “R” and “U” represent the countries at war, and the piece’s colors evoke the Ukrainian flag.
Until the conflict ends, the full extent of the war’s devastation on Ukraine’s bird population remains unknown. Ukraine hosts 15% of all migrating European bird populations.
With this administration it is imperative to continue to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and support its efforts to defend itself against Russia’s aggression.
$900
Burning for Change
This piece started out as an awareness piece on global warming in 2020, a record year of wildfires burning in California. I completed it during the George Floyd protests in 2020 while fires were being set in Philadelphia. The piece became a statement for both issues. I burned and created my own charcoal and used it as both a drawing tool and in pulverized form, embedding small particles of it in the beeswax, creating fire within fire.
With this administration it will be even more urgent to address the warming planet that is the root cause of these fires.