Mind Space Level #10 Jack Wise

Do you think it is possible to get a sense of who Jack Wise was by looking at his art?
It's what's in the person when they are doing the work. They are the ones who sense that. I think the art was transcendent in that it's the way he believed in it. He had such a regard for what he did. And, of course, the Chinese calligraphy, which was a big part of his work, that's a very powerful medium. I spent a winter learning calligraphy from Jack, and I was really startled at how much you can take from your inner self and put into a stroke. But it has to be done intentionally, and, of course, that's what Jack did.

What do you think he would think of having his work posted on the internet?
I think he would probably be glad. He was an artist for so many years, and he had so many showings of his art. He never kept it to himself and he sold a lot of his art to people.

What piece is your favourite? Or the one that moves you the most?
I remembered the mandala that he worked on while I was working with him because I was in the studio and saw it evolve, and I loved it when it was finished.

What were his political beliefs?
When I met him I don't think I ever heard him talk about political things. There's a mandala that he did that had images in the narrative ring that he said were all about war, and it must have been at a period when he was very interested in what was happening, but I don't even know what period it was. In his case, you see, he might have just been reflecting on war in general and the effect on humanity.

As an artist, do you feel he has a continuing influence for the artistic community here on the west coast?
There are so many artists here and I think his work could tend to get swallowed up and forgotten. I think in the art community it's very easy to get lost, but people like me definitely remember Jack, and I'm continuing the work he taught me and I share it with other people, and that's really a quieter way he'll be remembered, I think.