artist statement

reese johanson is a mother, artist, producer, director, writer, choreographer, philanthropist, actor, dancer whose experience in  theater, dance and stage production spans over 30 years. 

 A graduate of the National Shakespeare Conservatory NYC, Reese trained in theater production and presentation, most inspired by physical theater mentor Joan Evans, Joan Evans Techniques. Later working with Mary Overlie and The Six Viewpoints led to international master classes and private tutelage. She continues her studies with Evans. Overlie, RIP June 5, 2020, remains with Reese in the horizontal. 

An innovator and entrepreneur of production in the arts and entertainment, in NY and Boston Reese co-founded production and performance companies Oronoco, the Subconscious Cafe and Open Faucet. In New Orleans she opened the special event company, Party Girl Productions, managing countless events and galas for a wide range of businesses including nightclubs, hotels, newspapers, museums, galleries, and individuals. She is the founder and former artistic director of Art Klub NOLA., New Orleans-based non-profit organization which she now runs as Art Street LLC.  She manages artists’ residencies, maker and event spaces, and presents arts and culture events. 

Some of Reese’s performances and affiliations include being a company member of Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre for 5 years, In 2012, the “reese johanson (collective)” emerged, producing Melange a Trois, 3 city project, with Jen Hicks in Boston, Ross Hamlin in Santa Fe and Reese in New Orleans. She collaborated with Elizabeth Wautlet, Paris and Marije Nie, Amsterdam. She produced the annual, ambulatory UNROUTE touring internationally, working with at least 100 artists. Les Gitans was produced with multiple New Orleans producing partners and is now being reworked under the name Xenos. Other notable rj(c) productions: with Daneeta Jackson, Flashback, (award nominated), and with Susan Millar Boldissar and Laura Patterson, They Don’t Eat Corn Here, directed by Todd D’Amour, (award-nominated). She has choreographed and performed with producers Nari Tomassetti, Bremner Duthie and MC Sweet Tea, in Ann Glaviano’s Known Mass 2 and St. Maurice Church, and Shannon Stewart’s Forest, Be/With and durational solstice improvisation projects. Collaborating projects: REBOMIJO, with Susan Millar Boldissar merged live music, poetry and dance in Bach to Bach and It's All In Your Head, and with Daneeta Jackson in DJ/RJ Co-Lab, theatre, dance and film were blended in M/Other for Luna Fete. She has worked as a featured show host for nola.com and a featured columnist for Art + Design Magazine, New Orleans Art & Design Magazine and Scat Magazine. As a resident artist at Angela King Gallery 2023 she further developed Extraordinarily Ordinary for international presenting.

Connecting with other communities is vital to Reese. She has been in residence as artist, collaborator and cultural ambassador at Penasco Theatre, New Mexico; Lake Studios, Berlin; New Voices, Paris; NDSM-PickUp Club, Amsterdam; Fix in Art, Thessaloniki; 11 Jane Street Art Center, Saugerties.

Teaching and giving back to the community have always been priorities to Reese. She was a teaching artist with KIDsmART, Upturn Arts, Young Audiences, Art Camp 504, Jefferson Performing Arts, and Music Box Village. At Art Klub she facilitated the kids’ programming, including music, theatre, dance, visual arts and summer camp. 

As founder of Art Klub NOLA Inc, Reese played the key role of on-site manager, in charge of programming and development, seeking and facilitating symbiotic partnerships, recruiting teaching artists, and spearheading outreach for community activities, artist residents, student enrollment and publicity purposes. 

Currently she is at the University of New Orleans concentrating in somatic practices and de-disciplined performance, and continues seeking education from fellow artists who share knowledge.