Education Employment University and Teaching Experience Art Theatre Film, Video and Television Membership, Professional Organizations

Education:

1999 Master of Fine Arts in Art - University of California at Berkeley
1994 Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies - San Francisco State University
1974 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater - Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts

Employment:

Instructor of Sculpture, Installation, Performance Art and Public Art
California State University, Monterey Bay - Visual And Public Arts Institute
September 1995 to present.

Acting Director
Visual and Public Art Institute
Spring 2002

Teacher of Installation and Performance Art
Martin Luther King Grammar School, Sausalito, California: February, 1996 - May, 1996
Creation of art and performance projects with 5th and 6th graders.

Teacher of Theater and Performance
California Women's Correctional Institution, Pleasanton: 1978-1980
Massachusetts Women's Correctional Facility, Framingham: 1974 - 1976

Preparator for Dr.Amalia Mesa Bains' installation. Work on this installation required: creating slides for the piece, supervising crewmembers on site in Copenhagen in the painting and application of text to walls. This work also included: uncrating, repairing and placing all the elements including trees, photographs, personal memorabilia and found objects into an armoire.
1996 Kunstforeningen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Apprentice to master model-maker, Noel Gregorian. Tasks included building scale model trees, buildings from plexiglass, cardboard and foam core.
1983 -1985 Modelmakers, San Francisco, California

Lighting and Slide Designer
Theater, Dance, Concert, Special Event: 1974 to present

Gaffer, Electrician
Film, Video: 1983 to present

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University and Teaching Experience

California State University, Monterey Bay - Visual And Public Arts Institute
Courses taught :

• Diverse Histories In Contemporary Art
• Pro Seminar for V.P.A. Majors
• Senior Capstone Class
• Installation Art and Performance
• Advanced Sculpture
• Community Research Service Learning

California State University, Monterey Bay - Campus wide service contributions:

• Creative Expression University Learning Requirement Committee (FY 1999-2000)
• Human Communications Department Hiring Committee (FY 1999 - 2001)
• Visual and Public Art Program -Hiring Committee Chairperson (FY 1999 - 2001)
• World Theater - Lighting Designer / Consultant (FY 1998 - present)

Guest Lecturer / Instructor:

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ART

Discussion Panelist:

Grant Review Panelist / Committee Member:

Grants/Residencies/Awards:

Commissions:

Solo Exhibitions:

Group Exhibitions:

Special Exhibitions - Art:

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Publications-Art:

Skin Deep: Women Writing on Color, Culture and Identity
Edited by Elena Featherston
The Crossing Press, California 1994
(Artist's statement and manifesto included.)

aleph, beth - Art / Philosophie / Litterature ( In French )
Edited by Nimrod Bena
Paris, France 1997
(Artist's statement, photos and selected reviews presented in the second issue of this arts and culture journal.)

Saint James' Guide To Black Artists
Thomas Riggs, Editor
(Included in this extensive resource guide are an artist's biography and introduction written by Dr. Jontyle Theresa Robinson, curator of the exhibition,
Bearing Witness.)

Art Bibliography

Berk, Amy, World Sculpture News, Forever On The Move: S.F. Bay Area Overview
Winter, 2000

Farris, Phoebe, Camerawork, Racializing Gender: Women Photographers from the Seventies to the Millenium
Fall / Winter, 1999

Amber Moore, The Daily Evergreen, "Artist-In-Residence 'bears witness'"
September, 1999

Brandt, Joshua, The Jewish Bulletin, "Tzedakah box takes on New Dimensions in
San Francisco Exhibit"
November, 1999

Terry Cohn, Artweek, "Light As Medium" ( cover image and articles)
October, 1998

Joe Heim, West County Times, "Men and Women At Work"
August 1, 1996

Marin Scope, "Bayside / MLK Students Express Feelings About Local Community"
May, 1996

John Moses, Marin Independent Journal, "Bayside / MLK Stage Their Thoughts"
May, 1996

Valerie Boyd, The Atlanta Journal / Constitution, "Nine With Shared Legacy Lend Voices to 'We Speak'"
September, 1995

Anthony Torres, Artweek, "Stephanie Johnson's 'Underground Railroad' at Intersection For The Arts",
January, 1995

Meredith Tromble, Artweek, "A Conversation With Ann Chamberlain and Stephanie Johnson, Artists",
July, 1994

Julianne Malveaux, The Sun Reporter " Stephanie Anne Johnson, A Life: Light and Works"
April, 1994

Yumi Wilson, S.F. Chronicle, "Art Exhibit Reflects Immigrants' Suffering",
March, 1994

Bill Berkson, Art In America, "Report From San Francisco" ,
June 1993

Chiori Santiago, The Express, "East Meets West",
December, 1993

Jeff Kelley, Artweek, "A Show Of Qualities",
November, 1993

Victoria Dalkey, The Sacramento Bee, "On Death, Friends and A Child's Sorrow",
October, 1993

Sheila Muto, Asianweek, "Black Artist Bridges The Gap With Asians"
April, 1993

Chiori Santiago, The Oakland Tribune, "Main Street",
January, 1993

Jacqueline Ginley, The Contra Costa Times, "Telling the Tale of A City",
January, 1993

Terry Cohn, Visions, "Advanced Placements",
Summer, 1992

Architectural Lighting Magazine, "Johnson's Art Binds Ties At 16th Street",
April, 1992

Steve Rubenstein, The San Francisco Chronicle, "Flickering Lights and A Lonesome Whistle",
November, 1991

Bill O'Brien, The Express, "Rail Art Show Plays Old Depot"
December, 1991

John R. Wilkins, The Daily Californian, "All Aboard"
November, 1991

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THEATRE *Reviewed shows

Most Recent Work:

Lighting Design

The Bakkhai - HERE Theater, New York - September 2001

*Nosferatu - Prithvi Theater, Bombay, India - November, 2000
HERE Theater, New York - May, 2000
Telluride Repertory Theater, Colorado - July, 2000
The University of Paris, Jussieu campus - 1996

From Sorrow To Joy: The Legacy of Paul Robeson and Mei Lanfang
Zellerbach Playhouse, Berkeley, California - May, 2000
Walker Art Center, Minnesota - June, 2000

Lighting Design
(Selections)

Directing / Scenography / Dramaturgy:

*The Women At The Tomb by Michel DeGhelderode ,
Berkeley Civic Club, and The Scottish Rites Temple, Oakland
(Director, scenographer. Also wrote and performed the prologue, a dialogue between the director and playwright.)

Drama:

Afro Solo - Resident lighting Designer (1996-present)

*Medea - Telluride Repertory Theater, Colorado

*Seven Guitars - Arizona Theater Company, Tucson & Phoenix productions

*Fear And Misery of The Third Reich - Lunes De Mai Theater Co. - Paris, France

Fences - Oregon Shakespeare Festival - Portland, Oregon

Steel Magnolias - Theaterworks - Palo Alto, California

The Blacks - Soeterijn Theater, Amsterdam, Holland

Dance:

*Idris Ackamoor, Rhodessa Jones, Bill T. Jones - Theater Artaud - S. F., CA

*Anne Bluenthenthal and Dancers - (Resident L. D., 1990 - 1997) S.F., CA

*Dimensions Dance Theater - (Resident L. D., 1989 - present) Oakland, CA

Opera:

*The Kingdom - De Engelenbak Theater - Amsterdam, Holland

La Boheme - Berkeley Opera Company, California

Musical Theater:

La Cage Aux Folles - Diablo Valley Light Opera Co .- California

*Jesus Christ Superstar - Arena Theater Company - Gent, Belgium

Fashion Shows:

Ignacio Peri Designer's Showcase - Paramount Theater - Oakland, California

Classic Options Showcase - San Francisco, California

Benefits / Community Productions:

Winnie Mandela & South African Sisters Celebration - Berkeley, California

MacDonald's Annual Gospel Contest (1990 -1994) - Oakland, California

Celebrate The Children of Resistance - Middle East Children's Alliance

Love Heals : Danny Glover, Alice Walker - Calvin Simmons Theater, Oakland

Concerts:

DeeDee Bridgewater - The World Theater, Seaside, California

Richie Havens and Pete Seegar - Berkeley Community Theater

Redwood Records Resident Lighting Designer 1990 -96. ( Artists presented included Laura Nyro, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Ani DiFranco, Linda Tillery)

Tours:

*Fear And Misery of The Third Reich - Lunes De Mai Theater Co. -
Paris, France and Los Angeles Playhouse, California

Lollapalooza Concert Tour - (Lighting Director, computer tent), U. S. & Canada

Dance Black America - Brooklyn Academy of Music, Apollo Theater & Midwest

*Nosferatu - Prithvi Theater, Bombay, India - November, 2000
HERE Theater, New York - May, 2000
Telluride Repertory Theater, Colorado - July, 2000
The University of Paris, Jussieu campus - 1996

From Sorrow To Joy: The Legacy of Paul Robeson and Mei Lanfang
Zellerbach Playhouse, Berkeley, California - May, 2000
Walker Art Center, Minnesota - June, 2000

Slide Design:

Nosferatu - Bombay, New York, Paris

Zulu Harmony In Concert - Theater Artaud- San Francisco, California

*Anne Bluenthenthal Dance Company - San Francisco, California

The Colored Museum - Oakland Ensemble Theater, California

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Publications-Theater:

Imagining Medea: Rhodessa Jones and Theater for Incarcerated Women
By Rena Fraden
The University Of North Carolina Press, 2001
Photos of design work taken by S. Johnson

Special Exhibitions - Theater:

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Theater Reviews
(Selection)

Arindam Ghatak, Pune Newsline, India- The Vampyre Strikes Back
November, 2000:

"Nosferatu, the Vampyre was a bilingual theatrical experience which conveyed the story between good and evil with a chorus in Hindi, fluid movements and the effective use of light."

Francine Russo, The Village Voice, New York - Victim's Rites
June, 2000:

"The staging scores, though, with its technical effects: François Tomsu's chiaroscuro costumes and dazzling set projections, Andy Grondahl's ghoulish makeup, Stephanie Johnson's sensuous lighting......" "The tableau created by the large, talented cast are knockouts:........a white gowned maiden carried on the shoulders of ghouls into an amber lit church".

Susan Viebrock, Telluride Daily Planet - Beautiful But Deadly: Rep/Migliaccio's 'Medea' Offers Thrill and Chills"
July, 1999:

"Tomsu and Johnson transformed the Telluride Town Park stage into a contemporary version of a Greek amphitheater, splendid in its austerity, glowing with a warm nertherworld light, saturated by sepia tones suggesting the past and blues for a prevailing social sadness. Johnson lights the escalating horror with yellowish reds and in the final terrifying moment, a definitive hellish red."

John H. Doyle, Wassup Doyle Arts and Entertainment News - The Women At The Tomb
September, 1998:

"Noted Bay Area artist and lighting designer, Stephanie Johnson, has mounted an entertaining and daring conceptual production of The Women At The Tomb written by Belgian playwright Michel De Ghelderode in 1928.....(The Prologue) was both informative and entertaining. Stephanie and René Migiliaccio (playing the playwright) worked well together...Their timing was sharp.....

Wanda Sabir, San Francisco Bayview - Underground
February, 1998:

"The dancers interplay with the four slave blocks changed visual artist Stephanie Johnson's stark set into a forest, slave quarters, the Jennings plantation or a tunnel....
Dancers holding lit pyramid, dispersed into the audience, inviting people to join them on stage."

Park LaBrea News / Beverly Press - Fear and Misery of The Third Reich
November, 1997:

"The livid red lighting in the opening and closing scenes exaggerate the hollows and cavities of the parade of the condemned......"

Margaret Regan, Tucson Weekly - Sweet Sorrow 'Seven Guitars'....
April, 1997:

The fine urban street set……..gets a lovely light treatment by Stephanie A. Johnson: This city dead end glows by turns with the rosy optimism of dawn and the sweet melancholy of twilight.

Allan Ulrich, S. F. Examiner - Bluenthenthal Celebrates 10 Years of Choreography May 13, 1994:

"The sequence begins with Stephanie Johnson (who is also the excellent lighting designer) dressed in martial arts garb and brandishing two fearsome sticks".

San Jose Mercury News - Sentiment Doesn't Sap Dramas of Dignity
January 18, 1994:

"....takes on magical properties when Stephanie A. Johnson flecks it with starlight or uses a flashlight and a compact mirror to bounce wil-o'-the-wisps off it."

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Film, Video, Television
(Selection)

Streamed Video:

Ready 2 Net - A series of lecture discussions televised and streamed.
California State University Monterey Bay
Lighting Director

Features:

Warrior Marks - Alice Walker and Pratiba Parmar
Gaffer (California locations)

Columbus On Trial - Lourdes Portillo
Gaffer

The Five Heartbeats - Robert Townsend, Hollywood, California
Electrician

Industrials:

American Telephone and Telegraph - Cross Country Video, Albany, CA
Gaffer ( Telecommunications Conference)

Pacific Gas and Electric - Francee Covington Productions, San Francisco
Gaffer

Music Videos:

MC Hammer, "Please Hammer Don't Hurt Them" - Fragile Films, Los Angeles
Electrician

Two Nice Girls - Colossal Studios, San Francisco, California
Gaffer

Documentaries:

Alice Walker, Visions of the Spirit - Reel Directions, San Francisco
Gaffer

The Martin Luther King Papers Project - Naked Eye Productions, S.F.
Gaffer

Streamed Media:

Ready 2 Net
California State Monterey Bay
(A series of streamed discussions on education for television and the internet.)

Television:

The Story of Mothers and Daughters - ABC film
Gaffer

Rescue 911 - "Unwanted Intruder" & "Plaster Torso" segments
Gaffer

America's Most Wanted - "Teddy Unterreiner" segment
Gaffer

Membership - Professional Organizations:

International Association of Theatrical & Stage Employees (IATSE #16), San Francisco

Journeyman
International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) - New York
Associate Member

United States Institute For Theater Technology (USITT), New York

References, reviews, slides, videotapes and additional materials available upon request.

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