Sculptor homestead full tour: 50 years building Utopia
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- Опубликовано: 3 дек 2022
- Bruce Johnson, and his wife Margie, moved to California’s remote North Coast in 1973 to rebuild the historic Fort Ross Chapel, and stayed when Margie got a teaching job in town and Bruce fell in love with the abundant salvaged redwood that he began transforming into massive sculptures.
He describes his work as a cross between Shinto shrines and Stonehenge. From Stonehenge comes the primal sense of scale, mass and physical presence of his work, and from Shinto Shrines the elegant craft and exquisite detail of sacred architecture - including his innovative use of copper as scales to cap end grain and direct water, or to create copper boulders. Every copper or wood surface has a unique and deliberate texture.
His art would later earn him worldwide recognition, but he simultaneously became a master builder creating buildings, furniture, and even his own home. On five acres surrounded by second-growth redwoods, Johnson built a wooden home for his family in just one year to avoid sacrificing too much studio time, but nearly everything here is crafted by Bruce: copper-and-wood kitchen cupboards; salvaged walnut-wood dining table; a couch made from old wine barrels.
It’s obvious Bruce is an accomplished builder, but there is plenty of whimsy here. He turned a metal “pineapple” - donated after an exhibit- into the stand of a living room lamp that turns on and off with by touching the metal. He carved a reading/sleeping nook out of the living room and wove copper and wood to create sliding doors for privacy.
His own sculptural work contains that same whimsy: he took us inside “Lookout,” a hollowed-out redwood stump from which we emerged into a metallic “sleeping quarters” from which we could stand and peer out at his sculpture yard.
After helping build the iconic Sea Ranch chapel in the ‘80s, he was inspired by creating his own take on sacred space. After years of drawing ideas of variations on a tea house, the concept morphed into a “poetry house” when he stumbled on a poem by Elizabeth Herron (current Sonoma County poet laureate). Built from a salvaged redwood log, the five-sided building was constructed to be deconstructed and moved. Built in the workshop, it traveled 30 miles for an exhibit before resettling in Johnson’s yard.
“What is a poetry house?” he asks. “It is a strange hybrid of a building, somewhat larger and more extravagant than a teahouse but smaller and more humble than a temple; not as practical as a storage shed or as useless as an abandoned truck. Whatever the interpretation, this is how it came together.”
[Update on March 29th, 2023: Bruce Johnson sadly passed away while at work. An article in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat explains what happened www.pressdemocrat.com/article.... Hopefully, this video captures a glimpse of what we saw when we visited him: a genius sculptor thinking on incredible new projects. RIP.]
Bruce Johnson sculptor: formandenergy.com/
On *faircompanies: faircompanies.com/videos/50-y... 
Хобби
RIP Bruce. Thank you for your legacy. Condolences to your loved ones. Respectfully, from Sonoma Valley.
We just found out, tragic news. Here’s an article from the Press Democrat about it: www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/timber-cove-sculptor-mourned-after-home-studio-accident/ Bruce was a brilliant artist and a really gifted human being; we visited him a few weeks ago and he was excited about new projects. Our deep condolences to his family, friends, and admirers.
It's a wonder the magnitude of what some people can accomplish in their lifetime.
Especially considering some just poke holes in themselves until they die. Makes those with properly placed drive all the more impressive
Every one of these episodes can change your life to some degree if you let it. What. A. Gift.
Totally agree! I feel like I found a treasure box, when I found this channel.
So much strong, determined, talented people achieving their dreams, yes, so inspiring.❤
What a beautiful place and an exceptional man. I can tell there has been so many memories made on this property. I was raised in Northern California and know this area well but I have never had the pleasure of visiting this spot. I can almost smell the redwood from where I sit here in Ireland and hope this lovely man creates many more things before he leaves this planet.
Simply fantastic!
Thank you for this video. I knew Bruce back when I was a younger California sculptor and and his vision has been an inspiration for over thirty years. A craftsman, artist sculptor , philosopher and all around good human being. I’m so glad I stumbled upon this video.
Certainly you didn't stumble in order to find this..though with all the fun you may have stumbled 🎈
Thank goodness he doesn't want to join the short term accommodation thang. Another wonderful video KD! Thanks.
I can’t say how awed I am by this man’s life work. Extraordinary. Also, you did a fantastic job of filming all the intricacies of his built environment. Thank you.
Proud to have common property boundaries with Bruce and to know him for 45 years. He is even more amazing than this accurate video portrays, yet he is also just a regular, humble human.
!Gracias! Never knew who built the memorable Sea Ranch Chapel until now. I always visited the chapel when visiting my parents after they moved to Gualala in 1973. It is a joy to know about Bruce Johnson's life work through this film. The Moon Circle where the celebration for his wife moved me deeply.
This gentleman is so talented and artistic.
I absolutely LOVE his laugh.
I could listen to it all day.
What a joy it would be, to know such a person.
Great job @Kirsten, on capturing the essence of Bruce's magnetic personality, love of art, living life fully, and making a difference in so many people's lives.
Bruce will forever be remembered as a inspirational dear friend and partner in adventure and life. RIP amigo.
Deep gratitude for your always generous blessings for Sabrina and me. You and Margie are never to be forgotten. All our love.💌
A genius, master and inspiration. His wife sounds like an amazing person as well.
Thank you for the great videos!
I am so sad that we have lost this poetic, creative genius. His work is just amazing. My condolences to his family and friends.
This place is a monument of fantastic artwork, but yet it is a fantastic family heirloom! I would love to own this place to enjoy, then pass to other family members! I pray that his kids and grandkids will always take care of this place. This place is rich with talent, history, and love.
This man is amazing and love his work. I spent a lot of time in Sea Ranch and Fort Ross and the inside of his chapel is a must see. Thank you for showcasing Mr Johnson.
What a character! I stand in awe of Mr. Johnson's astonishing work. I would love to have such a superb poetry house.
same here
What an amazing person and place. Seems like he's been living the dream of many. A beautiful house with lots of nature, living a calm life with a loved one and creating art and expressing his ideas. The best life one could aspire to have
Hi Kirsten and crew.
I fdiscovered your work and follow you because I am curious and also because your approach is so relevant and so different from what I could see on youtube these last 15 years, on these topics like construction, alternative living, search of harmony, resilience, off-grid, permaculture, human kind and Nature, etc.
You already gave me such beautiful inspiration (i loved the shepherd 2.0, and the community in the suburbs, replacing parkings with permaculture).
Thank you for dragging me around that extraordinary man who created his own world so beautifully.
Kiss from Paris
Lyosha
This video just kept getting better and better. I have watched your videos on alternative architecture for years. This is one of my favorites. Mr. Johnson makes me feel completely lazy. I'm amazed at all of his beautiful creations.
I'm not a big fan of or very knowledgeable about sculpture but I was impressed by just about everything I saw. Sometimes you look at something and it just looks right. Everything Mr. Johnson made just looks right. Thanks again for a wonderful video.
What an inspiration Bruce is/was. The poetry house, all his hand made copper pieces and the moon circle are my favourites and everything is so beautiful. Thank you for filming him in his element Kirsten 💛💫😍
I adore this man. So modest, honest, light hearted. So cool to see his work.
Absolutely beautiful home he has built. I want exactly what he has created, wonky measurements and all!
Holy cow. It’s mind boggling that people like this exist in the shadows of our lives, creating these incredibly beautiful functional things.
So cool! I've seen Bruce's work all over The Nor Cal Coast
A Beautiful Home, a lifetime of art and beauty.
The fine wooden materials have such warmth to them. I noticed that on any painted walls he used colors from the Frank Lloyd Wright color palette that harmonize so well with the rich wood tones. He’s a true master craftsman.
Truly a free spirited entity..all playful, partially serious, driven by a sincere level of passion, quick to poke fun at his self..a large hearted true man ready for dialog & laughter. This one is my new favorite 🎈
This forest home & arts faire ..the whole shebang is dreamingly reminiscent of the Sequoia property you were hosted at by an elder gentleman ( Charles), also a full spirited gem of a guy..quick to laugh, tease & keep on ones toes..his mission was- or is, to thin out crowded Sequoia circles..keeping the healthiest to prosper in additional light. He was hoping to attract young strong talent to assist..
He too was an absolute gem 🎈I bet may each other! What a pair of talented beautiful beings..you sure have found & shared some real gems🎇
I love this beyond words, when get to see talent like this I can't use my word, what an amazing man.
WoW! I love the mushroom treehouse. Loved The poetry house & all the sculptures. Beautiful!
"Do you feel it? Well then it's working." Exactly. Thanks for sharing this wonderful property.
Makes me miss my grandfather and his old house. Pretty place and clearly a lot of elbow grease to make it that way. He built more than just a home there, he built a life and a family.
Thank you for honoring both Bruce *and* Margie for the life they made together! Your words for the intro are beautiful. ♥️
Wowzers!! First if all , thank you for filming this man and his amazing property.
I was blown away by his abilities with wood, copper, and everything else he used to create beautiful structures.
I surely hope that he has or will have a book published showcasing his amazing artistic abilities. Like him and his ideas better than Frank Loyd Wright. (Sorry Frank I like your houses but these are in a different league).
May GOD continue to bless you and your family too. ❤️
What a legend, his creations are inspiring!!
What a wonderfully talented man. One can see that he is every bit as passionate today about his craft as he was when he created the pieces from his past. The piece he created for his wife is stunningly beautiful. What a rich and meaningful life Bruce Johnson has led.
This man is a creative genius! His mind goes where no one dares to go. This entire property is a work of art.
This is giving me traditional Japanese houses/temples vibes. I love his enthusiasm everytime he showed his works.😁
WOW! What a wonderful place. His work is magical. What a blessed man with so much talent. He's more, so much more than an artist, sculptor, woodworker, builder, architect and designer he is a GENIUS!
Thank you for featuring him, his beautiful place and his incredibly fantastic art.
AMAZING this was really interesting, he is very clever and bright and obviously feels the materials well. Beautiful pieces and concepts.
RIP good sir, he had a spritely energy inside him, the attention to detail and sheer amount of sculpture and structures he made show he never worked a day in his life, he was doing what he loved the entire time and enjoyed every bit of it
Your channel continues to inspire and amaze me thank you so much!
Now I know what heaven will feel like, look like. ‘It is. The empty space where attention resides’ Absolute respect for each and every thoughtful, hand-sculpted detail. Pure magic. Thank you!
Oh but didn't you know..there isn't any heaven to travel to...its happening here .
It started as your parents conceived, then as you 1st ran, dived off a rock into a pond, found your lover, concieved a lifetime of joys & sorrows then one evening you found this Fair Company tour , & still you may have another day🎈what possibly more would you expect in your heaven ?
His sculptures do justice to majestic redwood.
The Japanese poetry house is fantastic. A great space for drinking and socializing with friends. I could imagine a wonderful tiny house in that style.
I couldn't help but look up the Fountaingrove Utopian society that was mentioned. Fascinating story about Thomas Lake Harris and his followers.
I think Bruce should have a dedicated spider web collection wand near the trunk entrance. Spin it around as you're making your way up and inside.🕸👌
Totally unexpected to hear of his passing just a little over a year after he appeared in this video. "Friends said a piece of sculpture fell when he was moving or working on it. He suffered a head injury as a result, according to a friend speaking on behalf of Johnson’s two daughters, both Sonoma County residents." Thank you Sir for making the north coast of CA a better place.
You guys are so lucky and blessed that you do what you do love you your whole family. And yes you are the finest content creators there is
His joy when he opens the windows of his poetry house. This guy knows how to pursue beauty that's for sure.
That was fascinating! How wonderful it must have been to experience everything on this oh-so-creative man's land! Your tour has left me smiling; this is another favorite, and thank you so much for sharing it!
I love this man’s work! It’s eclectic and beautiful! His work reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright, my favorite architect. This man’s work of course is original and his own, but I see a similarity to Frank’s work. So beautiful!!
Cheers
what an artist...epic home and location is spot on
Excellent mixture of classic dark textures and moods with modern clean forms.
Truly amazing ! Words don’t come close to describe this unique collection of art from one man’ s imagination. 💕🌷
Absolutely stunning beautiful talented alive and so many other words to describe this home this gentleman and his artwork! Fantastic! Thank you for bringing this to us to view! I would love to visit and stay there
The hollow stump reminds me of my childhood home where there were a couple of hollow old growth cedar stumps that us neighborhood kids made into forts. Those stumps are gone now, but this gentleman sculptures reminds me of those bygone days.
Absolutely Stunning! Thank you for this video - Mr Johnson is a superb artist and artisan, it is a bit overwhelming to be honest. I must delve a bit deeper into my own creative potential...
I love this guy! What an inspiration?! I'm literally going into my wood shop as soon as I'm done typing this! Thank you and Cheers to you all, friends!
that final piece was really so moving. props to Bruce.
i am just in awe of this homestead, but also the artists life too, he has been here a long time with his family, an artists life, how wonderful this ❤
A life well lived. Bruce you left a wonderful legacy with the artful work of your hands and mind.
Thank you for sharing these experiences Kirsten.
BEAUTIFUL ❤️ Thank you for sharing this amazing home 🙏 I thoroughly enjoyed this little adventure with you.😍🤗
I've enjoyed this more than any of your videos over the years. It makes me appreciate, once again,the attitude and creativity experienced when I lived there for nearly 30 years. Your video style is admirable. Best to your family on all future adventures.
I just love artistic souls who design, build and put so much love into their homes and art.
Wow, I had a similar build in mind for a long time in my head, but somebody actually already made it. Amazing!
My favorite thing about his work is that he allows the pieces to become … they feel much more alive. I love that Poetry house 💖 it is definitely more usury than ornamental! It’s got a beautiful, ethereal, almost otherworldly quality to it.
so glad you documented all this for the world to see..RIP Monsieur Bruce Johnson
How old is this guy? If he and his wife quit their teaching jobs in 1973, fifty years ago, they must have been at least 20 at the time, so this man is surely over 70 now? And yet he moves and speaks like a much younger man.
This supports my belief that self-actualized individuals, living the life that is right for them, are kept young and strong and vibrant by joy and engagement with life.
I love your channel.
These are so engaging when people have history with the structures.
I LOVE this guy!!!!!
Beautiful structures. Love the dual sliding windows on the poetry house. Nice choice of glass given the theme of the structure. Thank you for sharing!
That wavy glass was perfect.
ohmygosh!!! He worked on the Sea Ranch Chapel!! It was designed by one of my favourite architects! James Hubbell. That is WONDERFUL! No wonder Mr. Johnson's designs/works appeal to me so much. Again, WONDERFUL!!
What a great life. Thanks for this beautiful film.
What a great place and story. Thanks for sharing.
To say this man is amazing is an understatement.
Love this show, thank you Kirsten and Nicolás
I am completely blown away by this man's work.
RIP Bruce. What a special guy and wow, what incredible works of art 🙏
I love him. I love everything about him. Oh. I don't feel normal, then I watch this, and I feel normal.
So much beauty and soul in this property! I'm awestruck!
How lovely. A true inventor. Such a beautiful creative talent. thanks for sharing.
Nice ending. Love that redwood and beaten copper aesthetic.
This place is painfully beautiful and majestic. I can only imagine all the hard work it took to complete it. Hats off to the owner.
Bruce Johnson is a badass
You’ve exposed many ideas and forms of building. This location is my first choice to see, so whimsical and entertaining. Ty
A beautiful mind and man absolutely inspiring.
Condolences to his family and friends. What an inspiration he was.
These days I hit like before the show even starts rolling.
I do the same 😀
A 40 year old labour of love. Remarkable.
The ending was palpable for so many reasons. Thank you.
What a beautiful use of Redwood. Bruce is gifted! Thanks for sharing
another awesome find, guys! Thanks for sharing this man's awesome legacy!
this man knows the art of living
What an extraordinary human being. I LOVE his joy as he shared his art...especially his laugh at 16:56! 😁
You guys always fill me back up. Thx!
Fantastical! Really love this work. The attention to detail and refinement in all his work is a rare & beautiful thing ♥️👍
What an incredible man, and such an amazing home. Building as meditation, so inspiring!
I am in awww how human beings are so creative!! It is divine!! Beauteful video! Thank you so much!
I love the way this guy's mind works. Truly.
Wonderful place...I’m in awe of the craftsmanship. Thank you for the video 🙏💗
Wow, I am floored by the way materials are used and the thought processes involved in each project. I went to the website and though it was difficult to pick a favorite, I was very drawn to "Unexpected Insight." "Megalomania" belongs somewhere in D.C. in a very prominent place. This was really a treat! Thank you! Bravo, from the Santa Cruz Mountains!
This man was a real architecture master