by Arlene Wright-Correll

This weekís Kentucky artist is Jana John

Whoís the woman behind the mask? It is none other than the gifted clay artist Jana John of Louisville, KY and she specializes in whimsical masks and other pieces with a cat or woman theme.

Jana works out of her studio at home, where she hand-builds pottery, both decorative and functional, using terra cotta clay. She rolls out slabs of clay with a rolling pin and cuts out shapes freehand.

Her signature pieces have a delightful cat motif. She makes cat-shaped masks, platters, bowls, spoon rests and pins. This cat preoccupation comes from her love of cats.

Jana says, “I find cats have a lot of personality, which I try to capture in my designs,” and she hopes they make you smile and they usually do.

She says, “The other masks belong to the “My Women” series. The are inspired by women I know, women I’d like to know, women I’d like to be, women I hope I’m not, in essences??? all women!” Her wonderful “Bar Babes” are an integral part of this series. . The Bar Babes are women holding drinks — martinis, margaritas or wine — and wearing red high heels or red high-top sneakers. The Babes also appear on pins and spoon rests.

I met Jana early in 2005 when I discovered that she, along with me, was one of the 6 Kentucky artists chosen to do a 6 month doll creating project called “Journey Jots”.

Jana John is a native of Oklahoma and has worked at newspapers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Kentucky. In January 2000, Jana moved to Louisville, Ky., from Jackson, Miss., where she had lived since 1983. She and her husband, Butch John, have been in the newspaper business for the past 28 years. The rest of her family includes her cats ó Yowzer and Munch.

Jana is a juried member of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi Inc., the Louisville Artisans Guild, the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen and the Kentucky Craft Marketing Program.

Besides being charming and functional her whimsical and vividly colorful cat platters and bowls are food-safe and dishwasher safe. The cat-shaped spoon rests can also serve as soap dishes or can hold your kitchen sponge or jewelry. Each is approximately 5 inches by 3.5 inches.

Jana says, “I’ll be 51 on Sept. 28. I don’t mind telling my age. I’m happy to have made it this far.”

Jana also does special commission work and would be delighted to have you call her to have her make you anything special for your kitchen, home or garden. Her cell is (502) 271-9428. Home is (502) 479-8063. Work is (502) 582-7020.

In June of this year, Jana and five other artists opened an art gallery, called “Gallery Janjobe”, in Louisville. The artist/owners sell their own work and the work of other artists on consignment. The gallery is located in the Mellwood Arts & Entertainment Center, 1860 Mellwood Ave. The center is the old Fischer meatpacking plant, which is being renovated and turned into artists’ studios and spaces for galleries, cafes, an art supply store and more.

The gallery has been open since its Sneak Preview on June 30, but it will have its official Grand Opening on Friday evening, Sept. 29, and all day Saturday, Sept. 30. For information, call 502-899-9293.

(Contact Arlene Wright-Correll at 270 524 9567 if you want to be next weekís Whoís Who in KY Artís and Crafts) I grant a one time publishing right on this article.

(Contact Arlene Wright-Correll at 270 524 9567 or email her at askarlene@scrtc.com   if you want to be next weekís column of Whoís Who in KY Artís and Crafts)