From Eternity to Bozo

In cyberworld, I've been following Stu Jenks' photography for over six years, but we had never met in the real world until recently when we had lunch at The Cup to discuss his one-man gallery show at the Jewish Community Center.

From reading his blogs and viewing his work, Stu's reverence and passion for life and mysticism is clear. Circles and spirals are a running theme in his photos - made of fire and lighted hula hoops and drawings on the ground - images that, at times, take hours to create. His art evokes a sense of belonging to something bigger, images that connect us to our ancient past, the planet and the rest of the universe.

"I believe in circles a lot," he says. "All relationships, I view as 'What can I give you?' and the circle comes back."

Stu's reap-what-you-sow/karmic philosophy fits in with the mental painting I created of a man I only knew from his words and the occasional email. The stories that accompany select images on his website, www.StuJenks.com, convey a wise, reflective soul.

What caught me a bit off guard was his youthful, energetic exuberance and talkative affability, which was quite charming. The 54-year-old even stops himself for a moment to say that a friend of his had warned him about talking too much during the interview, but he shrugs it off, comfortable in his skin and I'm delighted for him to continue.

Stu tells me his show is a combination of new and old work; his new work featuring Bozo (yes, Bozo the clown) in various settings, sometimes the focus of the image, sometimes not, but always interesting and definitely a hoot. (Think of the world travelling gnome in the French flick Amlie.)

"Sacred and profane, head in the clouds, feet on the ground," Stu says. "I've been catching some crap because people are used to me doing the flame spirals and hoops. I'm still doing those, but the bozos are selling and they are fun. I remember these art professors who got famous for one thing and their work sold but they looked really bored. I just got to do what I'm going to do."

Currently Stu is semi-retired and putting his full energy to his art and working on a couple of fine art photography books. His show at the JCC gallery is a combination of color, black and white and sepia prints, shot with both film and digital cameras.

"This show is during the high holy days of Judaism, days of atonement. I thought about where the word atonement comes from, at-one-ment. Spirituality to me is that it's not all about me, so I picked work that went with that theme - mystery and humor."

It's a beautiful show, well worth the visit and best viewed during the day as the natural lighting from the skylights is absolutely perfect.

@1w/ [At One With] exhibits until Oct 15 at JCC Gallery, 3800 E. River Rd.