CHILD AS ARTIST

ADVENTURE AND CREATIVITY WAS IN THE BLOODLINE

This is a mixed media self portrait,utilizing photos and found objects from childhood.



This is my mother pregnant with me while on a archeological dig on the Wiser Farm along the Snye river in Wallaceburg.
She is excavating the central firepit of a WOLF PHASE First Nations circular house or lodge. One can see the black ring around her in the soil, this is the remains of the wooden post moulds. There was pottery,animal and fish bones and charred corn kernals recovered from the fire pit area. The corn kernals were carbon dated at 1500 years old.



This is Jon-Erik at age 4 painting at a constant rate. My parents had to get me an easil and large cans of paint to sooth my young creative urges.



This is a portrait created of the family house in Wallaceburg.Jon-Erik(Age 4)
Medium: Pen and pencil on parchment paper
Size:6"x7"



This is a portrait of my teacher with flowers.Jon-erik was age 4 .
Medium: Tempra paint and crayons on China paper.
Size:16"x11"



This is my first major piece of sculpture with found objects.It is constructed of a piece of pine sideing with inlaid glass beads.
Jon-Erik was age 7.
Medium:found objects
Size:12"x2"

Statement as Photo Essay

CURRICULUM VITAE

EDUCATION
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*1988-2003 Continuing Education (Ceramic,sculpture,Raku)........Lambton College-Sarnia Ontario

*1989-93 Honors Bachelor of Fine Arts (Major; Visual Arts)....University of Windsor

*1987-88 Art Fundamental Certificate....................................Lambton College-Sarnia Ontario

*1987 Product Design Program...........................................Fanshaw College-London Ontario


WORKSHOPS ATTENDED/STUDIO VISIT
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*2007 ARTISTIC WELDING with FRANK HOLT (Head of Props)....Stratford Festival of Canada

*2005 MAKING STATEMENTS/MAKING MARKS (Agneta Dolman)....Thames Art Gallery-Chatham Ontario

*1992 ARTIST TALK WITH JANE ASH POITRAS "Who discovered the Americas"....Thames Art gallery-Chatham Ontario

*PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP WITH JAPANESE PRINTMAKER HANDO*KU*ITOH.....University of Windsor

*BFA STUDIO VISIT AND CRITIQUE WITH CONTEMPORARY ARTIST GREG CURNOE....University of Windsor


TEACHING/WORKSHOP/LECTURES CONDUCTED
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*2007 EMBOSSED PRINTMAKING....Gallery 96 (Stratford Ontario)

*2005 WORKSHOP DEMONSTRATING the INSPIRATION OF ART THROUGH MUSIC(young offenders program)Sarnia,Ont

*2004 WORKSHOP DEMONSTRATING the INSPIRATION OF ART THROUGH MUSIC(young offenders program)Sarnia,Ont

*2003 CoORDINATOR/INSTRUCTOR FOR CHILDREN'S ART PROGRAM(Lawrencehouse center for Art) Sarnia, Ont

*2002 WORKSHOP DEMONSTRATING the INSPIRATION OF ART THROUGH MUSIC(young offenders program)Sarnia,Ont

*2001 WORKSHOP DEMONSTRATING the INSPIRATION OF ART THROUGH MUSIC(young offenders program)Sarnia,Ont

*2000 INSTRUCTOR WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR DRAWING LEVEL IV (Lambton College)Sarnia,Ont

*1999 INSTRUCTOR WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR SCULPTURE LEVEL I (Lambton College)Sarnia,Ont

*1999INSTRUCTOR WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR SCULPTURE LEVEL II (Lambton College)Sarnia,Ont

*1998 INSTRUCTOR WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PAINTING LEVEL II (Lambton College)Sarnia,Ont

*1996 HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Brooke Central School Grade 6)Alviston, Ont

*1994 HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Ecole Les Rapids School Grade 1 thru 6)Sarnia,Ont

HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Devine Street Public School:Special Education Class)Sarnia,Ont

HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Murry Street School Grade Kindergarten thru 6)Corruna,Ont

HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Forest Central Public School)Corruna,Ont

RIVERVIEW CENTRAL SCHOOL MURAL PROJECT(LAMBTON,ONTARIO)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
*1993 EXPRESSIONS 93 YOUNG ARTISTS CONFERENCE(Prints with skins,skulls,and scales)Chatham Cultural center

HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Lambton Board Of Education Art Camp)Lambton County

ROADKILL AND FOUND OBJECT PRINT EMBOSSING(Exhibit and Lecture for Chatham-Kent Artists Association)


HIGH CLASS ART STUDENT LECTURE(Thames Art Gallery-Chatham Ontario)

HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Dawn Township Central School)Dresden,Ontario

HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Grand Bend Public School)Grand Bend,Ontario

The Arts In-Service for Art Teachers(Exhibit and Lecture @ Lambton County Board of Education)Sarnia,Ontario

HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS and JOURNAL WRITING(St. Clair Secondary School)Sarnia,Ont

*1992 STUDIO ASSISTANT IN PRINTMAKING(University of Windsor Visual Arts Dept)

HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Lambton County Board of Education Art Camp Grade 8)

HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Adult learning Center Board of Education)Windsor,Ontario

HANDS ON WORKSHOP IN HAND PULLED PRINTS(Lambton County Board of Education Art Camp Grade 8)


ENDOWMENTS/ART GRANTS
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*2003 ST. CLAIR ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS(Incorporating Company "Throw Away" Materials,St. Clair Technologies)

*1995 EXHIBITION ASSISTANCE GRANT FROM THE ONTARIO ARTS COUNCIL ("Between Two Bridges") Toronto Ontario

*1994 ARTIST IN EDUCATION GRANT (Ontario Arts Council) Toronto Ontario


ART ADVISER/COMMITTEE PARTICIPATION
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*2005 PANEL MEMBER FOR THE GALLERY ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE (Thames Art Gallery) Chatham Ontario

*2004 PANEL MEMBER FOR THE GALLERY ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE (Thames Art Gallery) Chatham Ontario

*2003 PANEL MEMBER FOR "FOCUS GROUP; STRATEGIC PLAN" (GALLERY LAMBTON) Sarnia

*PANEL MEMBER FOR "FOCUS GROUP; STRATEGIC PLAN" (THAMES ART GALLERY) Thames Art Gallery, Chatham Ontario

*2002 PANEL MEMBER FOR THE GALLERY ACQUISITIONS COMMITTEE (Thames Art Gallery) Chatham Ontario

*2001 MEMBER OF ADVISORY PANEL WITH CAROLINE DICOCCO MPP, CONCERNING THE AWARENESS OF ARTS IN THE COMMUNITY OF LAMBTON COUNTY (Sarnia Ontario)

*1995 ADVISER FOR THE ART FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION
AND ACCESS PROGRAMS(LAMBTON COLLEGE,SARNIA ONTARIO)

*1995 "ONTARIO ARTS COUNCIL" SELECTED MEMBER OF ADVISORY PANEL FOR APPROVING GRANTS IN THE ARTS(TORONTO, ONTARIO)

*1994 DELEGATE FOR REPRESENTING VISUAL ARTS ACHIEVEMENT FOR LAMBTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, (SARNIA, ONTARIO)


JUROR
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*2006 GROUP MEMBER OF GALLERY 96, STRATFORD, ONTARIO

*2006 MEMBER OF GALLERY STRATFORD,STRATFORD, ONTARIO

*2004 SARNIA ARTISTS WORKSHOP ANNUAL "WOLFF AWARDS'' AND HONORARY MEMBER (SARNIA,ONTARIO)

*2003 "LAMBTON COUNTY SECONDARY SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION" (GALLERY LAMBTON,SARNIA ONTAIO)

GALLERY EXHIBITIONS (*) = (SOLO EXHIBITIONS)
__________________________________________________________

*2006 THE THAMES RIVER PROJECT (Thames Art Gallery,Chatham,Ontario)

*2005 LANDSCAPE FROM THE GROUND UP(Exhibition of Works from the Permanent Collection) Thames Art Gallery

*2005 *THE PHOTO AGAIN COLLECTION SOLO EXHIBITION (GALLERY LAMBTON, SARNIA, ONTARIO)

*2004 "A SHIFTING SPACE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH(Exhibition of works from the Permanent Collection) Thames
Art Gallery, Chatham, Ontario

*2003 The WATER PROJECT-ONTARIO SOCIETY OF ARTISTS ART PROJECT(Gallery Lambton,Sarnia, Ontario)

*2003 MUDD PAINTINGS-GALLERY LAMBTON (Sarnia,Ontario)

*2003 "STUDENT-CURATED EXHIBITION'' WORKS CHOSEN FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION, LEARNING THROUGH
THE ARTS PROGRAM (Gallery Lambton,Sarnia, Ontario)

*2001 "RITUAL" GROUP EXHIBIT (Detroit Artist Market,Detroit,Michigan)

*1998 *THE ORACLE OF SKYMUSIC (Chatham Cultural Center)

*1995 "Between Two Bridges" (Two man Show with Wolf Mendritzki)Gallery Lambton,Sarnia,Ontario

*1993 *ONE MAN SHOW AT THE GINKO CORNER"(Thames Art Gallery)

*1992 '''THE STAR FILLED NIGHT LEFT THEM FREE TO THINK" (Two man Show with Rob Harmer) Common Ground
Gallery,Windsor,Ontario

*1988 Group Show (Artcite, Windsor, Ontario)


JURIED EXHIBITIONS
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*2007 GALLERY STRATFORD PERTH-HURON JURIED EXHIBITION (Stratford, Ontario)

*2007 SAMPLES FROM RETROSPECTIVE, In The Revel Cafe Downtown Stratford, Ontario

*2007 JOHN B. AIRD GALLERY '' EARTH-AIR-FIRE-WATER '' (Toronto, Ontario)

*2007 GALLERY 96 "CHANGING NATURE MEMBERS EXHIBITION (Stratford, Ontario)

*2006 GALLERY STRATFORD PERTH-HURON JURIED EXHIBITION (Stratford,Ontario)

*2006 THE THAMES RIVER PROJECT (Thames Art Gallery, Chatham, Ontario)

*2005 "LOOK 2005" JURIED EXHIBITION (Gallery Lambton,Sarnia,Ontario)

JURIED EXHIBITION 2005 (Thames Art Gallery,Chatham,Ontario)

*2004 "LOOK 2004" JURIED EXHIBITION(Gallery Lambton,Sarnia,Ontario)

"GALLERY IN THE GROVE" INVITATIONAL 2004 JURIED EXHIBITION(Brights Grove,Ontario)

*2004 "EYE FOR ART" JURIED GROUP EXHIBITION(Chatham Cultural Center)

*2003 "LOOK 2003" JURIED ART EXHIBITION(Gallery Lambton,Sarnia,Ontario)

*2002 "LOOK 2002" JURIED ART EXHIBITION(Gallery Lambton,Sarnia,Ontario)

*2001 "EYE FOR ART" JURIED EXHIBITION(Chatham Cultural Center)

*2000 " EYE FOR ART" JURIED EXHIBITION(Chatham Cultural Center)

*1999 " EYE FOR ART" JURIED EXHIBITION(Chatham Cultural Center)

*1997 "LOOK 1997" JURIED ART EXHIBITION(Gallery Lambton,Sarnia,Ontario)

*1994 "47th ANNUAL WESTERN ONTARIO EXHIBITION(London regional Art and Historical Museum)London,Ontario

*1994 "EYE FOR ART" JURIED EXHIBITION(Chatham Cultural Center) AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

*1993 "EYE FOR ART" JURIED EXHIBITION(Chatham Cultural Center) Honorable mention

*1992 "EYE FOR ART" JURIED EXHIBITION(Chatham Cultural Center) Honorable mention

*1991 "LOOK 1991" JURIED ART EXHIBITION(Lambton Gallery,Sarnia,Ontario)

PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS
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*2005 PRINTER'S EXHIBITION (LAWRENCE HOUSE CENTER FOR THE ARTS (Sarnia,Ontario)

*2005 GALA ART AUCTION CMHA EXHIBITION AND SALE(Sarnia,Ontario)

*2004 ART WALK 2ND ANNUAL STREET EXHIBITION(Sarnia,Ontario)

*2004 SARNIA-LAMBTON 13TH ANNUAL ARTISTS STUDIO TOUR(Guest Artist@Dave Dunk's pottery studio)

*2004 ORIGINAL ECCENTRICS 3RD ANNUAL HOME INVITATION(Wallaceburg,Ontario)

*2003 ART EDUCATORS EXHIBIT(Lawrence House Center for the Arts)Sarnia,Ontario

*2003 ART WALK 1ST ANNUAL STREET EXHIBITION(Sarnia,Ontario)

*2003 SARNIA LAMBTON 12TH ANNUAL ARTISTS STUDIO TOUR-Guest Artist@Dave Dunk's pottery Studio)

****TORONTO 2003 INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR(Represented by LOVART GALLERY) Forest,Ontario****

*2003 CURIOUS ODDITIES 2ND ANNUAL HOME INVITATION(Wallaceburg,Ontario)

*2002 FESTIVAL OF FLIGHT GROUP EXHIBITION HONORING NATURE FROM SOUTH WESTERN ONTARIO(Ridgetown)

*2002 GROUP SHOW FOR GRAND OPENING OF THE RENAISSANCE ART GALLERY(Ridgetown,Ontario)

*2002 SARNIA LAMBTON 11TH ANNUAL ARTISTS STUDIO TOUR(ARTOPIA GALLERY,Sarnia,Ontario)

*2002 MAN"N"NATURE/HUMAN NATURE 1ST ANNUAL HOME INVITATION(Wallaceburg,Ontario)

*2001 SARNIA LAMBTON 10TH ANNUAL ARTISTS STUDIO TOUR(Artopia Gallery,Sarnia,Ontario)

*1996 "96 SPRING ART SHOW GROUP EXHIBIT(Wallaceburg,Ontario)

*1994 HAND AND EYE GROUP SHOW(Wallaceburg,Ontario)

*1994 TED NUGENT HUNTERS BASH AND EXHIBITION GROUP SHOW (Jackson Michigan)

*1993 HAND AND EYE GROUP SHOW(Wallaceburg,Ontario)

*1993 ANNUAL ART EXHIBIT WITH HAND PULLED PRINTS AT WILLOWSTEAD MANOR (Windsor Ontario)

*1993 ART BY THE RIVER EXHIBITION OF HAND PULLED PRINTS (Amherstburg,Ontario)

*1993 INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL AT COLASANTI'S GARDENS WITH DAVID SUZUKI (LEAMINGTON,ONTARIO)

*1993 ART IN THE ALLEY EXHIBITION OF HAND PULLED PRINTS(Windsor,Ontario)

*1993 THE ROADKILL GUY'S ONE MAN SHOW (Art of the City, windsor,Ontario)

*1993 310 PC ART AND CULTURE OF GERMANS IN AMERICA (THE GERMAN CONSULATE, WARREN, MICHIGAN)

*1993 THE HAND PULLED PRINT EXHIBIT WITH SKINS,SKULLS,AND SCALES (Art in the Park,Chatham,Ontario)

*1993 ANNUAL STUDENT PHOTO EXHIBIT (Lebel Gallery,University of Windsor)

*1993 B.F.A GRADUATE EXHIBIT(Lebel Gallery, University of Windsor)

*1993 ANNUAL ART EXHIBIT WITH HAND PULLED PRINTS @ WILLOWSTEAD MANOR (Windsor,Ontario)

*1992 ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NATIONS ART EXHIBIT WITH HAND PULLED PRINTS@WILLOWSTEAD MANOR,Windsor,Ontario

*1992 BINATIONAL PUBLIC ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT PHOTO-EXHIBITION

ARTS AWARENESS NIGHT WITH MICHELLE LAUZON@Wallaceburg District Council for the Arts

THE SELF SHOW, HONORING PAINTERS AND PRINTERS(UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR)

*1991 ANNUAL STUDENT SHOW(University of Windsor)

PAINTERS SHOW(University of Windsor)

WARNER & LAMBERT COMPANY ART SHOW(Toronto,Ontario)

BEAR CREEK EXHIBIT@BEAR CREEK STUDIOS(Petrolia,Ontario)

HOMECOMING SHOW(University of Windsor)

*1990 PAINTING SHOW(University of Windsor)

*1989 THE GROUP SHOW @ THE WALLACEBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY

*1988 STUDENT ART EXHIBIT@ LAMBTON COLLEGE

LIVE PERFORMANCE AND PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS
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*2005 PAINTING TO FUNKY BEATS, A LIVE PAINTING DEMO TO DJ BNUTZ TURNTABLE MANIPULATIONS@CHEEKY MONKEY

*2004 STONEWORKS, A INDEPENDENT SCULPTURE PROJECT ON THE AVON RIVER (BEACON HEROLD,STRATFORD,ONTARIO)

*2001 THE NUDE DUDE CELEBRATING THE BODY IN ART WITH LIVE BODY PAINTING@ARTOPIA GALLERY, SARNIA, ONTARIO

*2000 CELEBRATING THE BODY IN ART WITH LIVE BODY PAINTING@ARTOPIA GALLERY, SARNIA, ONTARIO

*1997 "FIRST NIGHT" NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATION WITH ICE SCULPTURES IN THE PARK, CHATHAM, ONTARIO

SPOKEN WORD PRODUCTIONS
_________________________________________________________

*1999 "ORACLES'' CONCEPT CD
CO-PRODUCED WITH MUSICIAN RICK NEUFELD BASED ON SPOKEN WORD AND VISUAL ART THROUGH MUSIC

*1997 "SKY-MUSIC'' CONCEPT CD
CO-PRODUCED WITH MUSICIAN RICK NEUFELD BASED ON SPOKEN WORD AND VISUAL ART THROUGH MUSIC

POLITICAL PROTEST IN DEFENSE OF ART
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*1998 "BURNING OF THE ARTS''-PROTEST ORGANIZER
CBC RADIO W/BOB STEELE(Windsor,Ontario)
LIVE "BURNING A HOUSE OF ART" WELCOMING ALL ARTISTS PROTESTING UNWELCOME COMMENTS REGARDING
RECOGNITION OF ARTISTS ISSUED BY THE PREMIERE OF ONTARIO; MIKE HARRIS
*PROTEST BURNING TOOK PLACE IN WALLACEBURG, ONTARIO, CANADA*

PERMANENT/PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
__________________________________________________________

*2005 ST. ANNES HUNT CLUB-PRIVATE COLLECTION-FIRST NATIONS,WALPOLE ISLAND

*2004 THAMES ART GALLERY-PERMANENT COLLECTION,CHATHAM,ONTARIO

*2003 ST. CLAIR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATE OFFICES-PRIVATE COLLECTION,CANADA,USA,MEXICO

*1995 GALLERY LAMBTON - PERMANENT COLLECTION,SARNIA,ONTARIO

*1994 TED NUGENT- PRIVATE COLLECTION,JACKSON,MICHIGAN

*1993 DAVID SUZUKI-PRIVATE COLLECTION,CANADA

*LAMBTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION-PRIVATE COLLECTION,SARNIA,ONTARIO

*DONALDSON DONALDSON GREENWAY LAW FIRM-PRIVATE COLLECTION,WINDSOR,ONTARIO

PUBLICATION/PRINT
_________________________________________________________

*2005 "THE PHOTO AGAIN COLLECTION" ISBN 1-896636-20-9

*2005 "LANDSCAPE FROM THE GROUND UP" ISBN1-894651-33-2

*2003 "THE WATER PROJECT"-ONTARIO SOCIETY OF ARTIST PROJECT REFERENCE ONLY-NO ISBN#

*1999 "ORACLES" COPYRIGHT 1999 JON-ERIK KROON/RICK NEUFELD(SOCAN) CATALOGUE#: JEK03RWN11

*1998 "THE ORACLE OF SKY MUSIC ISBN 0-9697332-8-3

*1997 "SKY MUSIC" COPYRIGHT 1997 JON-ERIK KROON/RICK NEUFELD(SOCAN) CATALOGUE#: JEK68RWN58

*1995 "BETWEEN TWO BRIDGES" ISBN 1-896636-00-4

ARTIST STATEMENT

BEING THE ARTIST BEGINS WITH INSPERATION

In my travels, I collect objects that once lived to tell tales. While their stories remain untold, their essence retells a story. These objects of interest are displayed in my CABINET OF CURIOSITY* where natural and synthetic intrigues hang from ceiling, covering walls, shelves, tables and floor. My studio environment allows me to reach for a subject of insperation to study, ponder, adore, and if I so choose, use its medium to tell a story. A scattering collection of artifacts found through exploration include wood n leaves, coral n shells, stones n bones, feathers n skins, skulls, teeth and natural and unnatural oddities. Shelved bottles preserve the suspended beauty of flora n fauna. Libraries of books, antiquities, sculptures and paintings encourage my research and commitment to create.



My Twenty nine journals,(dateing back to 1987),have documented my visions and discoveries in life. These recordings contribute to illustrations of designs and concepts(speculated through trial and error),reflections of time and discovery, dreams, experience, lessons, philosophies, theories, observations, intentions, anticipations, shared desires, dilemmas, insight, Love, fears, fantasies, composed stories and ramblings, as well as ways of the world. My journal language is collogued in pencil, ink, paint, print, photography, clippings, and found objects. My expressions of creation are nurtured within these pages of these journals.



*CABINET de CURIOSITE; Where the grotesque and the beautiful of nature's objects co-exist for insperation. A status symbol for the gentlemanly scholar, the typical room combined sculpture, antiquities, and paintings(some depicting strange phenomena) with actual objects-often impressively large or unusually small-that ranged from natural specimens to manmade inventions and contraptions. Angus Wilkie;TRENDS, New York



Through video and still imagery, film is used to document the evolution of Nature. Video captures the transformation of life through the seasons. Still photography(both film and digital) preserves a moment in time reflecting Life through artistic language.



Printmaking became a passion after studying the process in the ART FUNDAMENTALS program at Lambton college(Sarnia Ontario). My education in the VISUAL ARTS PROGRAM at the UNIVERSITY of WINDSOR(Windsor Ontario) allowed me to enhance personal values through printing techniques as well open creative doorways through learning the experience and techniques of the Master's. The method of Gyotaku (ghee-yo-tah-koo), meaning fish print japanese (GYO meaning "fish" and Taku meaning "print" or "rubbing" or "impression"), intrigued me creatively due to the use of raw material as a means of documenting Nature. The custom began in the early 19th century when market vendors rubbed a fresh fish with black oil based ink and pressed the image onto rice paper to display the catch of the day. Three years after my first rubbing experiments, I acquired a 18th century hand pulled printing press, allowing me to conduct further exploration in using natural elements as printing plates. My honor of not wasting matter compelled me to experiment with recycling hides and bones for creations of Art. The discovery of fresh roadkill gave me access to skins and rare life forms I do not hunt for survival in the wild. Materials used are that of hunters throwaway, fisherman's discards, roadkill, or carcasses found fresh where no death is explained. Years of trial and error in skillfully skinning and tanning hides to develop usable three-dimensional plates, have formed into unique detailed impressions of mono-embossed printing: a technique I practice and teach with today.



My current work embodies a vast collection of Earth elements as my palette. Skins prepare as printing plates, leaves collogued compose natural hues. Charcoal, wood and bone ash fabricate shade. Feathers, seeds, and flower petals depict detail and tone. Stones perfect texture, wasp nest paper fashion as pattern, using sand and seaweed to mimic landscapes. Found objects create natural occurring serendipity and depth. Artifacts portray the passing of time.




In 2003 while sculpting, I watched clay dust fall from a three dimensional creation I was birthing. This dust interpreted time as it developed from one form into another thereby hatching a new purpose. The quest to compose pigment from the elements of time began, initiating the discovery and use of mud as organic paint mixed with matte medium.
My concept of collogued organic medium suspends textural realism in a true intuitive abstract form exhibiting elements of time. Sculptures evolve from two dimensional sketches into a three dimensional body representing time in stages. Photography captures inspiration in an exact moment of time, creating an image of past to be viewed by future. Embossed prints resemble time fossils in rag paper, offering a detailed glimpse of mystery. Tree sculptures invite participation in time by witnessing growth while taking new shape with embedded found objects. The essence of MUD renders a medium of time collogued with the ingredients of time.
The incorporation of earth's essentials (as medium), merged with my creative influence of Nature, completes a full circle concept involving, EARTH>>>AIR>>>FIRE>>>WATER>>>LIFE>>>DEATH.....the elements.

"Nature...the Greatest Book I ever Read!"

My signature is JON-ERIK KROON. My inspiration for life comes from all that have taught me along my journey. For 38 years I have explored and discovered the many wonders of Nature's offerings. My journey has allowed me to prospect shorelines, scour river bottoms, hunt marshes, canoe tributaries and swamps and lived amongst the forest animals. These excursions have taught me how to respect both LIFE and Death.

I grew up, and lived, within a marsh delta ecosystem surrounded by eleven acres of forest and shoreline. My artistic mother and my adventurous father (a practicing Archeologist and Anthropology Professor) raised the family in a remote rural setting along the Snye River, southern Ontario. The river is shared with Walpole Island First Nations Reserve. My father has versed me in the traditions of Primitive Life, the practice of museum Quality methods in casting and preservation, competent biological dissection and detailed research. My First Nation neighbors taught me through tradition and philosophy how to hunt, gather, survive, honor and respect Earth, Life and Death. Living down river from industrial chemical companies has shown me that we/society abuse our Natural Resource system causing harsh environmental changes therefor taking Life for granted.

Nature taught me how to participate with Earth by listening, smelling, touching, communicating and observing with 3rd Eye open. Witnessing the actions of Nature has taught me how to honor and respect the simplicities and complexities of living and dying while existing in a loving and cruel world. Nature shares both beauty and ugly with the viewer. From the fascination of Spring's thaw in the meadow; to the sprouting of wild flowers bearing seed to nourish the living; to the birthing of brightly colored eggs in uniquely arranged nests; to the fascination of the mature nourishing the young; to the intense silence of the hawk hunting its prey; to the struggle of survival as victim meets destiny; to the discovery of hawk indisciminantely killed by the hand of man. Nature has taught me that Death has a natural place inside the cycle of life.

MY INSPIRATION to CREATE and RETELL STORIES is BORN from these EXPERIENCES