JANIS MCCLAIN-JOHNSON
phone: 914 320-7236
Artist Statement
Personal Goals: To gain opportunities to share my artistic and creative works in the public arena; to inspire others in meaningful ways that touch the heart and open opportunities to others through the dramatic arts.
Hi, my name is Janis McClain-Johnson. I live in White Plains, NY and have been a native of Westchester County all my life. Born in Port Chester, NY, I was raised and lived in the town of Greenburgh in White Plains, NY since the age of two, and graduated from Woodlands High School, Hartsdale, NY. I have many interests and artistic aspirations. As a creative myself, I have a genuine appreciation and respect for all forms of artistry and I’m a strong advocate for love and spiritual growth, and physical and emotional wellness. I hope to have a positive influence in those areas through my artistry.
Educational Background
General Background Years of a variety of hands-on and lifetime experiences on the personal, professional and performance level under her belt. Concerning the dramatic arts, participated as an actor and singer in a high school production of a play called, “This Street” written by the late playwright, Vernon Washington, who wrote a small part and new song into the script called, “I’m Not Yours Anymore” to showcase her singing ability; and participated for several years with the, “Mount Vernon Theater Company” a small community theater group located in Mount Vernon, NY, on staff as a workshop vocal, acting and creative dance coach; and on occasions effectively as a director, co-director, artistic director, who assisted with multiple operations like stage and set design and management, designing, creating and producing various correspondences and materials for both workshops and public performance events; securing visual props and visions for costuming, revisions and refinements of scripts, hosting; and in whatever supportive capacity helpful. She has an earlier and strong history as a vocal soloist and lead singer in both choirs and bands; one band played at Princeton University as the opening band for the rising stars of the highly successful, “Earth, Wind and Fire;” another opened for the late Roy Ayers, and performed at the Miss Black America Pageant, and as well at the local Westchester County Center, opening for R&B group, “Black Ivy,” and she has sung on and received writing credits on an album recorded by this former area band. A lover of the performing and creative arts she is, a songwriter, writer, playwright and mixed media artist, and owns the copyrights for original songs, a couple of books, poems and plays, and some personal jewel designs. Capable and yet sometimes shy, she is a self-taught, ear-trained pianist with basic theory knowledge; has completed courses in midi-music, audio production and recording at Westchester Community College; has dance performance experience and training at the LaRocque Bey School of African Caribbean Dance, NYC, the Bokandeye African American Dance Theater Company, Yonkers, NY, classes in Elementary Modern Dance, Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY; was a principal dancer and instructor in the former “The Kiyaybey Dancers” dance troupe of Greenburgh, NY, founded and led by her Sister, and attended various other classes by teachers well versed in the art of African Dance; A thorough lover of the creative and visual arts, she does not consider herself a Bonafide visual artist but has taken art throughout high school, and most heavily, inspired and influenced by her mother’s natural giftedness, enough to explore her own artistry simply for the love of doing it. Taking Jewelry Making Classes through Westchester Community College at the former Art Workshop once located at the Westchester County Center; classes at the One River School, Larchmont, NY, and workshops at ArtsWestchester, White Plains, NY, the White Plains Community Center, White Plains, NY, and Greenburgh Public Library all of which have opened the door to more formal instruction and other art media never explored, and that have added to her treasured personal portfolio already consisting of a mix of original free-hand drawings, paintings and creative artwork. Now retired, Janis previously worked in varying capacities and clerical positions throughout the White Plains City School District’s schools and programs as an office coordinator, project manager, and administrative support and has substantial organizational skills.
Personal Goals: To gain opportunities to share my artistic and creative works in the public arena; to inspire others in meaningful ways that touch the heart and open opportunities to others through the dramatic arts.
Hi, my name is Janis McClain-Johnson. I live in White Plains, NY and have been a native of Westchester County all my life. Born in Port Chester, NY, I was raised and lived in the town of Greenburgh in White Plains, NY since the age of two, and graduated from Woodlands High School, Hartsdale, NY. I have many interests and artistic aspirations. As a creative myself, I have a genuine appreciation and respect for all forms of artistry and I’m a strong advocate for love and spiritual growth, and physical and emotional wellness. I hope to have a positive influence in those areas through my artistry.
General Background Years of a variety of hands-on and lifetime experiences on the personal, professional and performance level under her belt. Concerning the dramatic arts, participated as an actor and singer in a high school production of a play called, “This Street” written by the late playwright, Vernon Washington, who wrote a small part and new song into the script called, “I’m Not Yours Anymore” to showcase her singing ability; and participated for several years with the, “Mount Vernon Theater Company” a small community theater group located in Mount Vernon, NY, on staff as a workshop vocal, acting and creative dance coach; and on occasions effectively as a director, co-director, artistic director, who assisted with multiple operations like stage and set design and management, designing, creating and producing various correspondences and materials for both workshops and public performance events; securing visual props and visions for costuming, revisions and refinements of scripts, hosting; and in whatever supportive capacity helpful. She has an earlier and strong history as a vocal soloist and lead singer in both choirs and bands; one band played at Princeton University as the opening band for the rising stars of the highly successful, “Earth, Wind and Fire;” another opened for the late Roy Ayers, and performed at the Miss Black America Pageant, and as well at the local Westchester County Center, opening for R&B group, “Black Ivy,” and she has sung on and received writing credits on an album recorded by this former area band. A lover of the performing and creative arts she is, a songwriter, writer, playwright and mixed media artist, and owns the copyrights for original songs, a couple of books, poems and plays, and some personal jewel designs. Capable and yet sometimes shy, she is a self-taught, ear-trained pianist with basic theory knowledge; has completed courses in midi-music, audio production and recording at Westchester Community College; has dance performance experience and training at the LaRocque Bey School of African Caribbean Dance, NYC, the Bokandeye African American Dance Theater Company, Yonkers, NY, classes in Elementary Modern Dance, Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY; was a principal dancer and instructor in the former “The Kiyaybey Dancers” dance troupe of Greenburgh, NY, founded and led by her Sister, and attended various other classes by teachers well versed in the art of African Dance; A thorough lover of the creative and visual arts, she does not consider herself a Bonafide visual artist but has taken art throughout high school, and most heavily, inspired and influenced by her mother’s natural giftedness, enough to explore her own artistry simply for the love of doing it. Taking Jewelry Making Classes through Westchester Community College at the former Art Workshop once located at the Westchester County Center; classes at the One River School, Larchmont, NY, and workshops at ArtsWestchester, White Plains, NY, the White Plains Community Center, White Plains, NY, and Greenburgh Public Library all of which have opened the door to more formal instruction and other art media never explored, and that have added to her treasured personal portfolio already consisting of a mix of original free-hand drawings, paintings and creative artwork. Now retired, Janis previously worked in varying capacities and clerical positions throughout the White Plains City School District’s schools and programs as an office coordinator, project manager, and administrative support and has substantial organizational skills.