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ABOUT JONI
My medium is altered digital photography. I alter my photographs of nature in Photoshop to create mysterious and fantasy environments.
A 2005 trip to Mexico to explore
ancient Maya sites inspired a new direction in my artwork. I transitioned from
mixed media to
altered digital photographic artwork. Working with
the powerful Maya images from Chichen Itza and Tulum along with
my research and observation of the decline
and damage to the natural environment and
sacred sites around the world led me to
develop my Illumination style.
My artwork
is intended to Illuminate on several levels. I create a visually Illuminated sphere or lightbox within my images using software in an effort to Illuminate nature's
serenity and mystery for the viewer. My
spheres evolved from the lightbox in 2008 as a more organic and cosmic shape which better represents
nature. Over time the spheres have become smaller and more active components within my images. I have many interests which influenced the emergence of this imagery: cutting edge science which explores parallel universes via the Multiverse Theory and M-Theory, philosophy and spirituality (global consciousness evolution) and my life-long love of science fiction has also contributed. It's an exciting time to be alive when quantum physics
and metaphysics appear to be merging, revealing that everything really is connected. Of course this
is not new, but ancient wisdom rediscovered.
There are many cross-cultural and
cross-disciplinary schools of thought
converging which concur that our planet and
humans are experiencing sweeping changes
occurring at an exponential rate. Technology
engineers tell us of the coming Singularity
where biology and technology unite.
Indigenous peoples and scientists inform us
of the impending global environmental chaos.
Mystics and shamans as well as psychologists
acknowledge our expanding global consciousness. The Maya
Prophecy places the end of the 13th
Great Cycle on December 21, 2012. These
concepts have influenced my outlook on life
and inspired my approach to art-making.
As an Artist some times I can’t explain how or why my imagery comes forth. I simply acknowledge that I am some kind of conduit and try to provide a serene yet perhaps mysterious pause in the fast-paced landscape of our modern lives.
I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree in Drawing and Painting from The Ohio State University with a minor in
Anthropology. I have been exhibiting my artwork including paintings, sculpture, drawings, mixed media and altered photography since 1986. Some of the other interesting things I've done on this journey: Sign Shop artist (including painting numbers on jet fuel tanks), working at The Institute of Polar Studies (renamed Byrd Polar Research Center), an Art Handler and Researcher for the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, receiving Master Gardener certification, and Assistant Photographer at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
Cameras used: Olympus Camedia C2100 Ultrazoom and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50.
INTERVIEW August 2008: Planet Weekly
November 20, 2009
Featured Member Artist at Imagekind.com, an international online art community
Recent Exhibits
April 23-25, 2010
27th Annual Contemporary Art Festival, Magic City Art Connection (Juried)
Linn Park, downtown Birmingham, Al
Magic City Art
February 1 - 28
Solo Exhibit
Levite Jewish Community Center
Mountain Brook, Al
January 24 - February 28
Double Exposure 7
Statewide Photography Competition
Bama Theatre
Tuscaloosa, Al
January 15 - February 1, 2010
NAWA Associate Members Exhibit
National Association of Women Artists Gallery, Manhattan
80 Fifth Ave., Suite 1405
NY NY
Winter/Spring 2010
Jubilation Magazine Featured Artist, Tuscaloosa County Accidental Art |
