Aspen Magazine - Spring 1995
While this town has never been known for its morals, its murals are worth noting, particularly the work of decorative painter James Johansen, which is tricking the eyes of diners at the cozy Italian restaurant Campo de Fiori. When owners Elizabeth and Luigi Giordani commissioned Johansen to paint the restaurant's walls - as well as the ceiling , floor, furniture, and even the salt and pepper shakers - they left the details of the artwork up to Johansen, and requested only that he use a warm gold tone as a background color. He choose to paint window scenes, which give the illusion they're looking at the Italian countryside from the inside of a Tuscan cafx. "Those images just came from my head," say Johansen who has never been to Italy.
Personal touches and private jokes are sprinkled throughout the murals, including a love letter in Italian from Luigi to Elizabeth and a fictional book by Scott Hopkins, the Farfalla bartender who introduced Johansen to the Giordanis. Jodi Larner of Cache Cache, who supplied Johansen with encouragement and lots of caffeine during his month-long painting stint, is pictured on the side of a bowl of fruit.
This self-taught artist, who moved to Aspen from West Hampton, Long Island, is currently at work on a series of canvases of two travelers, the first of which will hang at Campo de Fiori.
Johansen welcomes commissioned projects. He can be reached at Campo de Fiori, (970) 920.7717
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