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Jennifer Johnson has a message for folks who aren’t experts in yoga, art or music. Her studio, called Y.A.M. because it features all three, is a welcoming place to hang out, meet friends and learn new forms of self-expression.

Johnson is hosting “Y.A.M. Glam” Nov. 5 featuring two local artists who’ve developed widespread followings. Amy Voss is a former record promoter who creates one-of-a-kind glass art sculptures using acoustic guitars as her canvas. Her work has hung in the Louvre in Paris and in the homes of musical artists including Katy Perry. Taylor Daum’s paintings are bold and colorful. Her focus is nature, and she transitions comfortably between multiple styles.

“Both artists have great down-to-earth vibes,” says Johnson, who opened Y.A.M. in 2019 with her late husband, Trey. From the beginning, the Johnsons hung the art of local artists on their studio walls.

“Yoga is me, music was my husband and art was our combined passion,” says Johnson of Trey, founder of State Fair Records and the rock band Sorta. “Y.A.M. was our dream, our family business. We could walk here. Both of our kids have worked here.”

Y.A.M. has hosted multiple Sofar Sounds concerts, the mystery shows for which patrons purchase tickets without knowing the location or performer. About 24 hours before the show, patrons are told when and where to show up.

“The sound in here is amazing,” says Johnson, pointing out the high-quality speakers and SoundCloud acoustic panels in the ceiling. “The sound is like none other.”

Located in Lakeridge center, the studio was designed as a convertible space for multiple uses. Johnson rents it for parties and special events, including birthdays, bachelorette doos and concerts. At one Joshua Ray Walker show, guests were treated to charcuterie trays from RM 12:20 nearby.

“There’s nothing like this in Lake Highlands. When we opened, we wanted to elevate the art and music scene in East Dallas and Lake Highlands. You have to go to Deep Ellum or the Arts District to find something similar.”

Johnson says her goal is to bring exposure to the art of Daum and Voss, and to help Dallasites see Lakeridge as a hip destination.

“Everyone in this center is local,” she says. “We’re adding culture to the mix.”

As for the art show, she wants patrons to know it’s all fun and no pressure.

“This is not like a boutique pop-up, where you feel like if you show up you have to leave with something,” says Johnson. “This is a gallery vibe. Just come and enjoy. Meet the artists and have a drink. We’ll have the doors open and the music playing.”

Y.A.M. Glam will feature beer from Vector Brewing and snacks from Taco Joint. The party runs from 6-9 p.m. and attendance is free, but online registration is requested here, and 10% of sales will go to East Lake Pet Orphanage. Y.A.M. is at 9850 Walnut Hill Lane, #427.

Source: https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/2022/10/25/yam-art-show/

By Rebecca Heliot | CommunityImpact.com

According to owner Jennifer Johnson, local art pieces adorn the walls of YAM Yoga studio in Lake Highlands in a purposeful sequence. YAM stands for yoga, art, and music.

The space serves primarily as a yoga studio. Still, when Johnson and her late husband, Trey, a prominent local musician and founder of the band Sorta, opened YAM Yoga in 2019, they did it with the same intention she designed the art gallery with a lightheartedness that illuminates the studio’s optimism, Johnson said.

“It was on our anniversary, on Valentine’s Day in 2018. … We had talked about it at dinner, and we literally said, ‘Oh, YAM, that would be a funny name,’” Johnson said. “My husband and I [wanted] to elevate the culture around Lake Highlands and give exposure to local artists and musicians.”

YAM represents Johnson’s dedication to yoga, her late husband’s passion for music, and their shared love for art, which tied them together. Each element of the yam-colored heart carrying the studio’s logo represents their family, including her, Trey, their son and daughter, and their family dog. “It all just kind of came together,” Johnson said. “We wanted to start a family business. We wanted to combine all three [concepts], and we wanted to help elevate the [shopping center].”

Johnson attributes the success of her yoga studio to the love of her teachers’ practice. They teach students from various demographics, including 20-year-olds up to 60-year-olds, both male and female.

“It’s the vibe that builds the [yoga] community, and you can’t do that without amazing teachers,” Johnson said.

Johnson said local bands used to perform intimate shows for an audience settled on the studio floor, wrapped up in blankets. She said this year; she hopes to add more similar live music shows, such as the ones those bands and her late husband used to play.