To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted...A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace.

(Excerpts The Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 3; 1 - 8)

I believe that our world is full of beauty and that there are countless individuals committing random acts of kindness every day. My goal as an artist is to record the beauty as I see it and in the process, I hope that it will bring some joy into the viewer's life. We are bombarded daily with reports of unspeakable horrors--caused by either forces of nature or by human frailties. Yet even in the midst of chaos and violence, one can find beauty, peace, and those who choose to provide comfort.

Most of us are looking for ways to make life better for future generations. Ask just about anyone on the street and he or she will agree that there is a time and place for everything under the sun. And while we all may be facing a host of challenges today, we live with the faith and hope that tomorrow will be better. So, day in, day out, we seek ways to reap a good harvest, heal that which ails us and others, build bridges of understanding where none exist, laugh, dance, gather up that which will protect us, embrace life and each other, keep that which is of value, use speech and silence to create a positive environment, love one another and live in peace.

We must, however, also deal with those who are bent on destruction and discord. And as much as we dislike admitting it, we cannot have life without death, "for to every thing there is a season." My mission in this life is to record as much of the beauty as possible. My goal is to remember that every day there are more individuals committing random acts of love and kindness than acts of hate and violence. I believe that there are far more people out there caring for each other than doing harm.

Create your own beauty!

Solo Exhibition
January 29 - March 4, 2012
Opening reception: Sunday, January 29, 5:00 pm
Metropolitan Memorial UMC
3401 Nebraska Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016

"Ms. Johnson has ... developed a series of watercolors illustrating the lives of the five women who are listed in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17). The story of Bathsheba is interpreted by Ms. Johnson using a single scene which illustrates King David’s first glimpse of Bathsheba when she is bathing unobserved, she assumes. Bathsheba’s innocence and vulnerability are illustrated in the painting by the depiction of only the back of her head with her hair floating about her. As a married woman, her hair should be decorously bound; however, Bathsheba assumes she is alone, so she has let her hair, her “crowning glory,” free to spread around her. For one brief moment we, who know the denouement of the story, see her virtue and her helplessness in the freely flowing curls."

Marilu Wood
Curator, Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church
Washington, D.C.