The Wildness Within » Collage

The Samhain Mediator between the Two Worlds

Jimmy — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 20:42:15 +0000

This is my first entry since moving from the Ranch to the Wildness of the city – Aberdeen -

One Wildness that i found in my new home is a resident Great Horned Owl ( My animal totem ) who has a nest in a huge blue spruce tree in our back yard. Its as if the owl medicine comes with me – or is this just coincidence – What do you think ?
Ever since one of my shaman teachers Martin’ told me that according to one of my recurring dreams – one of my animal totems or guides is an Owl – i have seen and heard them, where ever i wander.

The Owl is traditionally – The Mediator between the Two Worlds

In the dark of night as is sit in my bedroom i hear — WHOOOO WHOOOOO WHOOOOOing.

So here’s an image for this time of passage of the seasons ‘ Summers End ‘ SAMHAIN

The Samhain Mediator between the Two Worlds
20 ” x 30 ” Photo collage by JimJ ’10

Samhain is a Gaelic festival held on October 31–November 1.

The Irish name Samhain is derived from Old Irish and means roughly “summer’s end”.
A harvest festival with ancient roots in Celtic polytheism, it was linked to festivals held around the same time in other Celtic cultures, and continued to be celebrated in late medieval times. Due to its date it became associated
with the Christian festival All Saints’ Day, and greatly influenced modern celebration of Halloween.

LOVE BLOOMS

Jimmy — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:41:05 +0000

There is something infinitely healing
in the repeated refrain of nature–
the assurance that dawn comes after night,
spring after winter.

Rachel Carson

Graphic Design / Photography by james johnson

Dangerous Curves Ahead

Jimmy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:24:18 +0000

Here’s a new collage – I have been making collages since the 70′s when I worked as chief graphic designer at the Walker Art Center. Working as a designer at the Walker I had a few collages on the design department wall going all the time. Collage is such a fast fine art activity, I could ad to each collage with leftover images from my designs work for the museum.

Heres some collages that express my WILDNESS themes:

1. The curvey line in Nature – Snake, lightning, flow of water ( like a river ), the heart beat.

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Dangerous Curves Ahead – Mixed Media Collage – 24″ x 40″- JimJ09

Lightning Strike – Mixed Media Collage – 28″ x 40″ – Jim J01

2. The Circle in Nature – The Water Born Planet, The Mandala

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Water Born – Mixed Media Collage – 42″ x 46″ – Jim J01

A Clear Bead at the Center - Mixed Media Collage – 30″ x 30″ – Jim J02

2. The Mandela -

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This one was done in the 1970′s before I started dating them and signed them JimJ – inspired by mandalas

The Photo of Hubert Humphrey was an extra print from a Press Photography Exhibit we had at the Walker.

Notice the Statue of Liberty as a tear in his eye.

Thanks Hubert – Mixed Media Collage – 20″ x 20″ – Jim 1970′s

This one was done as a memorial to John Lenon after he was killed in 1981. It has symbolic references to the violence of his death ( The sharks) – The four Beatles – The time of his death, New Years – Beatles music albums.

Thanks John – Mixed Media Collage – 30″ x 40″ – Jim J 1981

Solstice Ride – Caspers Ranch

Jimmy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:44:56 +0000

There’s always a working cowboy with his faithful companions on my window sill at the ranch - moving through the seasons -

Solstice Ride Caspers Ranch JimJ09

Oh OBAMA

Jimmy — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 01:30:36 +0000

My Thoughts on the Election – Sometimes we win one !

LOST IN THE WILDNESS

Jimmy — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:38:19 +0000

My Mind Has Been Lost in The WILDNESS of It All,

I have been doing a series called me and my shadow.

Theres something about the shadow and how it changes with light-

Self Portrait, Lost in Wildness – Ibsen photo print JimJ08

Prints available at – jamesjohnson@nvc.net