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coverartist


J FREE


Happiness in Perpetuity


by Paul Bond P


aul Bond’s magic realism art illuminates a dreamlike world where anything is possible, as he deftly juxtaposes and rearranges common elements to convey universal spiritual or metaphysical ideas. Sometimes, his paintings are simply uplifting illusions, expressing the whimsical, surreal and fantastic side of life. They are always soothing, visual meditations that delight the imagination and stir the soul. Rearranging familiar objects


gives Bond the visual symbols he uses as a language to reflect an emotion or thought he’s entertaining at the moment. “Often, a painting is born from something randomly seen from a car window or a line in a novel or a song,” he explains. “If it stirs my curiosity, it finds its way into my work.” About Happiness in Perpetuity, he


says, “We create our experience and physical environment based on our beliefs and thoughts. Those who wait for outer experiences to make them happy are at a disadvantage—happiness is simply a choice, based on our desire for it.” View the artist’s portfolio at


PaulBondArt.com. 6 Broward County, Florida


uly’s air is noticeably hotter. The ocean waters heat up, weather patterns change, and the opportunity for Mother Nature to produce hurricanes enters the minds of some Floridians who have lived through the extreme winds. I have safely experienced a few hurricanes. The first hurricane that came my way happened when I was living in Naples. I was absolutely terrified (pre-Natural Awakenings days). My preparations included plastic bagging items to place on the upper shelves in closets, etc. I thought when I closed the closet door, all those items would be safe as long as the water levels did not reach them. I focused on identifying items I thought were critical to protect. I was renting a ground-floor bedroom in a townhouse near the beach. The window faced toward the Gulf. I was on alert to evacuate to a local shelter with only a backpack of items. As it turned out, that hurricane did not make landfall, but the experience left me emotionally transformed.


All sorts of events transform us. Some seem rather messy and confusing. I remind myself to look at my life from a distance, to see it from a broader perspective. My artwork of late has been going through significant changes. The pieces seem to be more emotionally charged. I am consciously allowing my inner expressions to be reflected in my work. I will be exhibiting at Coral Ridge Mall, July 23-24, as part of the Home, Health and Fitness Show; please come by and see firsthand these pieces. I’ve printed special note cards featuring my work. You may even hire me by the half hour to paint something special for you. I will also have available some back issues of Natural Awakenings for you. I had thought to write more about the tobacco trial for this issue but have decided to hold off till later; I am gathering more information for you. “Living Simply” is the theme this month. I reminisce about the summers I would pick berries or grapes. My mother’s parents had a backyard grape arbor in Pennsylvania. My siblings and I would gorge ourselves on these grapes... the kind you’d suck out the juicy insides (with a few large seeds) and leave the skin. What an absolute sensual delight. Other berry-picking memories include coming across wild


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blueberries in Washington State. They were smaller than the type we typically see in the grocery stores, but the flavor was superior and the fun of picking and eating them during an outing in the woods was extraordinary. I also remember picking strawberries with my father just after I moved to Florida. Those berries were harvested on a “u-pick ‘em yourself” farm. The simple delight of squatting down or bending over to identify a strawberry with just the perfect degree of ripeness was the quest. I will confess that part of the experience was imagining a tiny fairy flitting about, watching over the garden. I recently attended a health fair at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, meeting employees and sharing Natural Awakenings. I met a woman who was


promoting the Broward County transit system and invited her to


submit an article regarding the sharing of resources via reduction of use of personal vehicles. This issue, there is article on Sharing, page 30. It highlights the manner in which a community can share resources: some sharing takes a village, while other forms are squarely on the individual, e.g. sharing one’s time and compassion. What will you share to transform


our world? Share your


love; plan on it.


Susan Q Wood Publishing Editor


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