A “distinctly West County” sculpture by late North Coast artist Bruce Johnson will soon grace the entry of the Joe Rodota Trail in Sebastopol, serving as a landmark for the city’s downtown and a tribute to the artist himself.
The sculpture, titled “Koan,” is slated to be installed at the Petaluma Avenue trailhead before the end of the month, said Johnson’s daughter, Kendra Johnson. It’s an honor, she added, to have a prominent, local spot for her father’s art to be permanently displayed as she and her family work “to continue his legacy.”
“Koan” is made primarily of old-growth redwood salvaged from the northern California coast. Before his death, Bruce Johnson described the piece as “a paradox to be meditated upon.”
“Bruce Johnson created bold, distinctly West County works of art, emphasizing salvaged old growth redwood and metal, intertwining nature with industry,” Sonoma County Fifth District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins said. “This art installation will become a special part of the trail’s entrance.”
The start of the trail, while under Sonoma County jurisdiction, is within Sebastopol city limits. In early 2024, the city issued a call for artists across California to submit designs for the trailhead project. Several designs went on display at the Sebastopol Regional Library for feedback, and Bruce Johnson’s won.
Johnson, a West Sonoma County resident, died in early 2023 after suffering a head injury in his art studio. His death devastated his neighbors in Cazadero and nearby Timber Cove.
“The community suffered a great loss when he passed away last year,” Hopkins said. “I’m grateful to Bruce’s family for sharing ‘Koan’ so that the public will be able to enjoy his art for many years to come.”
Kendra Johnson said she and her sister Tori Johnson have been overwhelmed since their father’s death.
“We are not art dealers by training, but we are both discovering the joy in representing his work,” Kendra Johnson said. “It felt really early to be in the public realm again, but we had felt like we had to show up.”
Kendra and Tori, who submitted the proposal to the city, described the sculpture as “larger-than-life, yet approachable. It welcomes interaction from passersby. Its durable gracefulness, its maker’s story and its ecological relevance make it an excellent choice for this site.”
“Koan” has been shown at multiple venues, including Paradise Wood Sculpture Garden, Quarryhill/Sonoma Botanical Garden, the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts and Westside Road’s ‘Big Turnout.’
Bruce Johnson’s artwork also can be found in public spaces, parks, museums, galleries, campuses and private collections alike throughout Sonoma County, the United States and internationally.
The city plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception for the sculpture upon installation. Kendra Johnson said the location is especially touching because Bruce Johnson was an avid cyclist.
“It’s kind of sweet that it will be a beacon welcoming cyclists,” she said. “It’s very appropriate.”
Amie Windsor is the Community Journalism Team Lead with The Press Democrat. She can be reached at amie.windsor@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5218.
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