the grotto

June 21 & 22, 2024
glogauAIR, Berlin, Germany
Curated by Suzy Royal
Dried eucalyptus bunches and other plant matter; LED light net, fairy lights and tea lights; pigment ink print on photographic paper; c-prints from iPhone photographs printed at a pharmacy photobooth; photographs printed on fabric; lenticular photograph; magnets; cardboard and other used paper materials; hot glue; metal ring; glass bottles; second-hand garment, essential oil diffuser; sound piece.

the grotto was produced for the glogauAIR Residency Open Studios in June 2024. Using images and objects created and sourced while in Berlin, including detritus collected from around the residency building, Johnston has created a “religious” grotto within the space she occupied for the three months of the residency. Johnston has woven images taken since 2015 depicting her various experiences within the Canadian healthcare system into a wall made of dried eucalyptus and LED lights. This wall encloses a space containing a life-size sculpture depicting the artist as a sorrowful Mary, the eyes of the Mary rolling back in her head as the viewer moves around the space. Viewers are invited to light an LED tea light candle and leave it as an offering.

Special thanks to Sasha Phipps, Toyah Robinson and Suzy Royal