coverartist
letterfromthepublisher A
pril’s focus takes on a broader
perspective—the earth. For the astronauts, the few who have been in outer space I have heard stories of how the experience, viewing our blue planet from afar, forever changed their relationship with the earth. The planet does not have lines drawn on it that tell us where one country starts and another stops, it does not reveal party affiliation nor personal beliefs. There are no individuals perceived. It is one planetary eco-system.
Sanctuary Paul David Bond
Paul Bond’s magical realism artworks illuminate a dreamlike world where any- thing is possible, as he deftly juxtaposes and rearranges common elements to con- vey universal spiritual or metaphysical ideas. Sometimes his paintings are simply uplifting illusions, expressing some facet of the whimsical, surreal and fantastic side of life. Always, they are soothing, visual meditations intended to delight the imagination and energize 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 mo- ment. “Very often, a painting is born from something randomly seen from a car window or a line in a novel or song,” he explains. “If it stirs my curios- ity, it finds its way into my work.” Of Sanctuary, Bond says, “The
woman offers respite to the birds fly- ing in mid-ocean. All of us have some place or person that serves as our personal sanctuary—a lover, child or parent, home, God or a combination of these. It is a place where we know we are safe to be our true selves without fear of judgment. In that safety we are free to grow and flower.” View the artist’s portfolio at Paul-
BondArt.com. 6
As newborns our entire world may be felt mostly through breast feeding and a connection with our mother. As we age, our world expands to the core family, then our neighborhood, and beyond. In school, the general game plan teaches us about our local state, then the region, then we get into learning about the USA and it’s history. And within most cirruculums we get to attend classes on world geography and learn about important global issues. I may have shared that I started collecting rusty bottle caps that have been flattened on the road. I am collecting them for a social commentary art project. The photo here is part of my collection placed on the background my painting called “Live Earth in Concert” that graced the April cover of Natural Awakenings a few years ago. My little collection of flattened caps represent not only the local consciousness of disregard for our own backyard, but is indicative of a sub-culture that is unconscious and uncaring.
My art project with the caps is
forming in my mind. The message will be from a broader perspective.... a global view... one that speaks to the idea that we are all on this planet together and cannot separate ourselves from our neighbors in the general sense. What one does truly affects others. I want the piece to be interesting to look at and one that would be proudly
Broward County, Florida
FtL.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
displayed in an office or home.
I had the good
fortune of being able to travel to Japan a few years ago and one of the first things I noted was a lack of litter ---- anywhere. There was none anywhere. It was not found in the cities,
parks, nor in the countryside. It was the cultural consciousness that was different. Interestingly enough, there were no trash cans on the sidewalks. People did not walk around with things that needed to be discarded “on the fly”. As I was filling my car with gas today I observed a couple of men pull into the station. The driver was smoking, window down. I watched him flick his short lit cigarette onto the pavement. I stopped pumping my gas, walked over to the cigarette, stomped it out, picked it up and went over to the man to ask him if he would please dispose of his cigarette properly. He mentioned there was a trash can just behind me. I replied that he might take the responsibility to dispose of it properly and quietly left the cigarette on his dash (the window was still down). I went back to my car to finish up my transaction and left. Within this issue are some thoughtful articles and events around Earth Day. I’ve been torn between going to an event in Orlando on Earth Day, or staying local and co-creating a painting at the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park event. I think it’s the painting opportunity that will win out. Do come by and add your dab of color to the work. A portion of proceeds from my station will go to the “Sea Turtle Oversight Protection”. How will you be participating this Earth Day. Enjoy expanding
your world view; plan on it.
Susan Q Wood Publishing Editor
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