Jean is a member of the Pasadena Society of Artists, the Malibu Art Association (past president), the Palos Verdes Art Center, and the FusionArt movement based at the Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City, CA.

She has had one-woman shows at the Mountain View Memorial Gallery in Altadena; the Malibu Public Library and the Bank of America in Malibu; and the Palm Desert City Hall.

She has won painting awards in a variety of juried shows including the Frederick Weisman Museum at Pepperdine University, the Pasadena Society of Artists, the Malibu Art Association, and the Coachella Valley Watercolor Society.

On permanent public view is a 30-foot mosaic mural that she designed and executed at the Abraham Lincoln School in Palm Desert.

ARTIST, ART TEACHER, SCULPTOR,
PHOTOGRAPHER, WRITER, HUMORIST

Quantum physics not withstanding (I'm just adding this subject to my list of interests), there are at least two distinctly different sides to each of us. The side that would be thrilled to live a simple life in a treehouse with the partner of our dreams, and the side that would prefer to live in a mansion while running the country, or the world.

	Jean with 'Whimsican' Dolores Dooalotte

Well, I have so many sides I have lost count. I find so much of interest to be absorbed in that people tell me I resemble the character called "Lord Ronald," as described in a nonsense novel by Stephen Leacock. "He flung himself from the room, flung himself upon his horse and rode madly off in all directions."

I suppose that's partly true. My paintings and photographs reflect my wide range of involvement in the joys and struggles of humankind. I mostly show beauty, but sometimes an appreciation of the written word, or irony, or humor, or even anger.

My sculptures, on the other hand, are pure humor, pure silly pleasure, in the form of an assortment of life-sized soft figures. Constructed from a wooden armature covered with polyester fiberfill and pantyhose, these creatures, which I call "Whimsicans," are from a country called "Whimsica," which is in the 10th dimension.

If that sets you to wondering how they got into this category, and you can believe that cats are in the 9th dimension (which explains their nine lives, of course), you are on the right track.

Each "Whimsican" comes with a tongue-in-cheek biography that evolves in my mind while constructing them. All are one-of-a-kind, usually inspired by thrift shop clothing finds.

They include a large collection of English butlers, who, according to their life stories, are part of a family of brothers who have been deported to the U.S. for some social blunder or other. For instance, one goosed the queen while she was reviewing her troops, another had a passionate affair with Princess Margaret. The dignified Brits, governed by tradition, are pretty fussy about indiscretions, you know, especially when applied to royalty.

A sampling of the different forms my "Whimsicans" take are shown here, with accompanying bios. These are currently available. Others are living with families all over the U.S. and one is even in Switzerland. Others are still in my head waiting to be born.

I would be happy to consult with you as to the qualities of the "Whimsican" you might like to have move in with you.

For the past three years I have taught an Emeritus art class in Malibu, CA. I teach my students to "think outside the box," to regain the joy they felt as children when given art materials to use. They are excited about the artworks they are producing, losing their fear of experimentation.

I truly believe that art has an important place in society. I believe that underprivileged or distressed children can benefit from finding their talents in the arts, in a world that previously seemed hopeless to them. Many just need a helping hand to discover their latent creativity, which in turn gives them a feeling of self-worth.

It doesn't have to be just in the visual arts, either. It can be writing, or playing a musical instrument, or acting in a play, or dancing . . . any of the creative arts. We need to include instruction in these fields in our schools again.

I'm sure you're ready for me to get off my soapbox now, so I will! But please help me solve some of society's problems! Volunteer an hour a week helping with art education in your local schools, and hang more art on your walls! Do some of it yourself!

— JEAN STEPHENSON

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