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Visionary Artist - June 2007
Jono Shakespeare Thompson:
Expressing Personal Freedom Through Art
Jono, an artist expanding in all directions like the Indian Banyan tree in which he was conceived, came into this world in 1977 on a hot afternoon in Athens, Greece. Born with a double-knotted umbilical necktie, he barely made it to his Belgian social working mother and American folk musician father.
Jono was raised by his mother in the movement called The Children of God in the countries of Brazil, Belgium, France, Spain, Russia, and Ireland. The movement was focused on a number of humanitarian and religious endeavorsbut there was a darker side to the group. Higher education was discouraged. Many youngsters were often abused sexually and child labor was the norm for the group in the 1980s and 1970s.
Growing up in The Children of God community, Jono remembers how free he felt while drawing. He could picture and dream in his stream of consciousness; not even the sky was the limit. As he grew older and more utilitarian concerns demanded his attention in this highly communal lifestyle, his artistic aspirations were discouraged. Jono finally had enough and broke away from the movement after being denied the option to take community college classes.
Jono wanted to travel and use the languages and knowledge of his upbringing in some way. He thought international business would be an area he would like to pursue and attended classes at Palomar College in San Marcos, California. After taking several business classes, he found that art and the humanities provided a space where he could express himself. He began art modeling for colleges and universities. In this medium, he learned an artistic appreciation not only for the human figure specifically but an appreciation and acknowledgement of humanity as a whole.
Jono recently sponsored a show where he was able to share his artwork with friends, many of whom belong to the Burning Man community. Through his artwork, which is mostly conceptual and inspirational, he hopes to touch people's lives by sharing his life experiences and the flow of his emotions. His intention is to balance the expressive forces of his emotional release while at the same time not controlling them so that his spirit can live up to it's full potential. Jono has recently moved to Spain where he continues this endeavor.