Marquetta Johnson

Marquetta Johnson

Marquetta Johnson is a textile artist and quilter with more than 30 years of experience as a teaching artist using arts integration and arts infusion as the guiding strategies in her teaching artist practice.  She is committed to inclusive classrooms and art experiences that support all learners. She has had over 100 hours of training in the presentation of inclusive art experiences and best practices for sharing with students living with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities through VSA arts/The Kennedy Center and the Woodruff Arts Center. She has worked with all ages and all abilities with her specialty being K-5th graders. She is presently a teaching artist at the High Museum of Art – a position that requires her to be able to share workshops related to many media and visual art processes. She believes that creativity is a spark that lights up the mind, opening doors to imagination, exploration, and discovery.

Arts Disciplines: Visual Art

Core Content Curriculum Areas: Visual Art, Science

Specialized Content Areas: Arts Integration, Character Education, STEAM, Literacy

Grade Levels: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Special Populations: At-Risk Students, Special Needs Students

Pre-Service Learning and Professional Development: Professional Development for Teaching Artists, Professional Development for K-12 Teachers

Geographic Availability: Metro Atlanta, Middle Georgia

Program Fees:

  • Workshop fees – $125.00 per hour inside the perimeter. $150.00 per hour outside of the perimeter. $50.00 per hour of prep time. Two hour minimum.
  • Residency fees – $2,500.00 per week for a full school day

Artistic Profile:

Marquetta Johnson is a textile artist and quilter with more than 30 years of experience as a teaching artist using arts integration and arts infusion as the guiding strategies in her teaching artist practice.  She is committed to inclusive classrooms and art experiences that support all learners. She has had over 100 hours of training in the presentation of inclusive art experiences and best practices for sharing with students living with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities through VSA arts/The Kennedy Center and the Woodruff Arts Center. She has worked with all ages and all abilities with her specialty being K-5th graders. She is presently a teaching artist at the High Museum of Art – a position that requires her to be able to share workshops related to many media and visual art processes. She believes that creativity is a spark that lights up the mind, opening doors to imagination, exploration, and discovery.   

Teaching Experience:

Marquetta Johnson is a visual artist and textile artist with training from the Arrowmont School of Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. She also participated in a three-year apprenticeship with a South African dyer and visual artist by the name of Zenzelé at the Neighborhood Art Center in Atlanta, Georgia, from 1973-1975. She is a VSA arts/Kennedy Center Arts fellow with over 100 hours of training in inclusive practices and arts integration.

Sample Programs:

  • Mask Making Workshop: Participants view and discuss the purpose and usage of masks in traditional cultures and are inspired to create masks using recycled and re-purposed materials. Considerations for the visually impaired, students living with autism and other developmental disabilities are built into the workshop to support inclusiveness for all participants. The students will also incorporate tactile elements that express beauty and actual texture.
  • Promoting Literacy with Story Quilts: Textile artist and Quilter, Marquetta Johnson collaborated with Faith Ringgold as she developed many of her story quilts by hand dyeing fabrics that Ms. Ringgold incorporated into the boarders of her quilt. Using verbal prompts, scribing and recording, participants create mini story quilts with short dictated paragraphs, patchwork, painting or drawing without sewing, using simple methods modified for the life skills classroom.
  • Dot Paintings – Exploring the EVES Color Wheel: In this art experience, participants learn about and observe the use of the Eves Color System in Art, Industry and Nature.  We will focus on the areas of Printing, Lighting and the Textile Arts in the 21st Century to gain an understanding of the importance of the Eves Color System in our world today. Using paints, paper and an unconventional way of printing, students will explore and observe color blending, primary, secondary and tertiary colors, along with some physical properties of color.

Sample Lesson Plans/Study Guides:

  • Listing ID: 6029