 |
“I have always used the floating fish to symbolize the presence of life’s magic,” says Jim Christensen. “Occasionally, I’ve wondered whether these little guys are bringing the magic with them or are the result of it. Who is the recipient of the benediction? Is the angel blessing the fish or in another way, is the fish blessing the angel . . . blessing her by its presence? The Latin on the ring, 'Beatus est Pisciculus,' translates as 'Blessed is the Little Fish.' Regardless of which came first, the angel or the fish, it’s important to stop and take the time to be thankful for the magic in our lives.”
|
|
|
Inspired by the world’s myths, fables and tales of imagination, James C.
Christensen’s work adds up to more than a beautiful - if sometimes “curious”
looking work of art. Having taught art professionally for over 20 years, he
thought of the world as his classroom. His hope is that through whatever he
creates -- be it a porcelain, fine art print or book -- he can convey a message,
inspiration or a simple laugh. He believes that teaching people to use their
imagination helps us find solutions to sooth the stresses of everyday life-or
get a little lift to help us keep going. In short: all things are possible when
you share Christensen’s philosophy that “Believing is Seeing.”
Christensen was born in 1942 and raised in Culver City, California. He studied
painting at Brigham Young University and, for a while, the University of
California at Los Angeles before finishing his formal education at BYU. Since
then, he has had one-man shows in the West and the Northeast and his work is
prized in collections throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Christensen has also won all the professional art honors the World Science
Fiction and Fantasy Convention can bestow, as well as multiple Chesley Awards
from the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists. Christensen has
been designated as a “Utah Art Treasure,” one of Utah’s Top 100 Artists by the
Springville Museum of Art and received the Governor’s Award for Art awarded by
the Utah Arts Council recognizing the significance of Christensen’s artwork to
Utah’s cultural communities. He was inducted into the U.S. Art magazine’s Hall
of Fame and is an Honored Alumnus at Brigham Young University for his
contributions to fine art and education. James and his wife Carole were co-
chairs on the Mormon Arts Foundation. He was a frequent guest lecturer at
Brigham Young University, and has also given workshops to large companies and
organizations on the subject of creative thinking, including the California Art
Educator’s Association, Hallmark and Intermountain Health Care.
|
|
