Mark Johnson & Pops Peterson

Mark Johnson & Pops Peterson, who co-own SEVEN salon. spa in downtown Stockbridge, have created a unique sense of community in the Berkshires since they opened the salon in 2006. Johnson, who began his successful career at the prestigious Vidal Sassoon on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles and later on Fifth Avenue in New York, has been recognized for his work on runway shows styling the locks of supermodels such as Stephanie Seymour, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Tyra Banks. During his time in the Berkshires, Johnson has tirelessly given his time, energy, and resources to the community. Johnson and Peterson regularly donate to local charities and generously support other local nonprofits. During the pandemic, they have been extra careful to keep clients and staff safe, following guidelines with utmost care. With hearts as big as their talents, “pay it forward” is clearly their credo. As well as being co-owner of SEVEN, Peterson is an artist nationally recognized for his work on racial justice, including the award-winning series Reinventing Rockwell, bringing attention to racial inequality through interpretation of Norman Rockwell paintings. Peterson’s The Problem Persists, 1964-2014 updates Rockwell’s Ruby Bridges painting to reflect on the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown. His Freedom from What? (I Can’t Breathe) traveled across the nation in the Norman Rockwell: Imagining Freedom exhibition. Celebrating America’s diversity and embracing Rockwell’s sense of humanity, Peterson has created images that envision social change and express his desire for a positive, inclusive, and just world.