Inspired by Erin's encouragement to show her art in public venues last year, Barb Johnson, Erin's mother, spent a lot of time in the last year painting art and taking classes. It was to follow through on Erin's idea of her mom having an art show and a way to mindfulness and some peace during such a traumatic year of loss of her only daughter. With the idea that profits from Barb's art could be donated to the Erin K. Johnson Memorial Fund, Barb painted regularly and got a lot of support from her neighbor, Jessy Moreland, and many other artists and friends. Jessy offered to do the art show at Kaladi Brothers Coffee Shop in the Matanuska Susitna Valley. In addition, Barbara Hunt, of the Valley Fine Arts Association, asked Erin's mom to show some of her pieces in a community art show at the Downtown Deli in Palmer. Both endeavors turned out to be successful with many people offering to buy art and raise money for the fund.
All of the profits from the art show allowed Barb to give $1216.00 from the Kaladi Coffee Show and $600.00 from the community art show at the Downtown Deli, or a total of $!, 816.00 raised for the Erin K. Johnson Memorial Fund!! The outpouring of support was amazing and Erin, who really inspired her mom to show her art publicly, would be very proud and appreciative of the money raised for the fund.
