June / July 2008
Johannus

Welcome to the beginning of Summer with the warmth and expansion present for all. Looking for the cover Art for this issue, The Art of Simplicity, I was drawn to an artist that I have admired for many years, Johannus Boots.

As a child and adult I have always been drawn to the art of the hidden, I have now met one of the masters. Johannus brings a deeper meaning to his art which is only found as one gazes into his work. As I sat at my computer, engrossed in his talent and pieces, I was drawn to choose Child of Vision for this issue. Once again I had found in art an expression of my feelings, in relationship to our theme.

If we embody a life of simplicity would all of our barriers and walls which define us gently dissolved to be re-gathered as new life matter to be creatively reformed within us?

Child of Vision was created shortly after the outbreak of the Gulf War. Our Outer world has been, and still is, a reflection of our collective Inner world. Our history has recorded wars fought over many boundaries and territories. We can see that when we step further back, Earth from space has no borders. Will we use this simplistic expression of a child innocently focused on herself and the task of winding yarn to show us that we may need to focus on self, not on the boundaries or territories we have created? In Johannus words, "With all the complexity of this World it would take the simplistic view of a child to show us how simple it can be to live together in Peace."

Can we bring that to ourselves as inner peace so that we may share that with others as world peace? I feel that Johannus makes this apparent with this introduction to his work.

"As a professional visual artist of 26 years, I have found that my personal style is consistently evolving. However, one message remains constant in my work. That is, my love and respect for the abundant beauty of nature, in all its perfection and intricacy. It continuously manifests its mysteries for all to find. My use of hidden images is a portrayal of nature's gifts exemplifying my conviction that we are all one, in both our connection to each other and to the magnificent Earth we live on.

"A portion of my more recent work may also depict some of the tenuous morality and contradictions of society. However, my belief that the overwhelming vitality and resilience of nature, the beauty and fervour of the human spirit infinitely override the contrast of human conflict.

"It is my artistic goal that I elicit a renewed understanding of the vast wonders continuously available to us all. It is my hope that the viewer is inspired towards introspection, interpreting and reacting to my work in a personal and unique manner taking from it what he or she needs."

You can find Johannus' art at www.johannusboots.com where you can contact him, purchase or just gaze at these wonderful creations.

Johannus... Our thanks for the sharing of yourself and family through this work and for your support of the journal and our world.