Raymond Jonson
Encyclopedia
Raymond Jonson was an American-born Modernist painter known for his paintings of the American Southwest.
in 1891, but grew up in Portland, Oregon
. At twenty, Jonson attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. Later, he continued the development of his technical skills Chicago Art Institute. In 1913, Jonson was strongly affected by the avant-garde works displayed in the Armory Show
, particularly the works of Wassily Kandinsky
. His artistic theories were further developed by Kandinsky's book On The Spiritual In Art.
From 1912 to 1917, Jonson worked as the art director for the avant-garde Chicago Little Theater. He also taught at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts until 1920. In Nicholas & Helena Roerich, The Spiritual Journey of Two Great Artists & Peacemakers, Ruth Abrams Drayer writes that Jonson visited the exhibition of Nicholas Roerich in 1921 and then wrote in his diary, "There opened at the Institute the exhibition of the work of Nicholas Roerich. It is glorious. Would that I could express the wonder of it -- I feel that at his best he has accomplished that which all artists hope to do. There are at least six paintings that I believe to be the most spiritual pieces of expression that I have ever seen." Jonson went on to become secretary in Roerich's society Cor Ardens composed of the "fiery, spiritual, radical group of young painters" who shared Roerich's belief that "the only real fraternity among men is the fraternity of beauty as expressed in art."
In 1922, Jonson's life was changed when he visited New Mexico
for the first time. The experiences and sights of this short visit to Santa Fe
, convinced Jonson to move to New Mexico in 1924 to focus on painting among the southwestern landscapes. In New Mexico, Jonson started the Atalaya Art School and the Modern Art collection at the Museum of New Mexico. In 1934, Jonson began teaching art at the University of New Mexico
in Albuquerque
. Then, in 1938, he co-founded the Transcendental Painting Group with Emil Bisttram
. Drayer writes that Bisttram had previously taught painting at Roerich's Master Institute in New York City for several years.
The aim of the Transcendental Painting Group was "to defend, validate and promote abstract art. They sought to carry painting beyond the appearance of the physical world, through new expressions of space, color, light and design." Other members of the Transcendental Painting Group were Ed Garman, Florence Miller Pierce, Horace Towner Pierce, Agnes Pelton, Stuart Walker, Dane Rudhyar, William Lumpkins, and Lawren Harris. The group was forced to disband in 1942 due to World War II.
The Jonson Gallery at the University of New Mexico was established in 1950. Jonson retired from the University of New Mexico in 1954. Raymond Jonson died in 1982.
Biography
Raymond Jonson was born in Chariton, IowaChariton, Iowa
Chariton is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,573 at the 2000 census. It is the primary distribution center for, and former corporate seat of, the Hy-Vee supermarket chain.-History:...
in 1891, but grew up in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. At twenty, Jonson attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. Later, he continued the development of his technical skills Chicago Art Institute. In 1913, Jonson was strongly affected by the avant-garde works displayed in the Armory Show
Armory Show
Many exhibitions have been held in the vast spaces of U.S. National Guard armories, but the Armory Show refers to the 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art that was organized by the Association of American Painters and Sculptors...
, particularly the works of Wassily Kandinsky
Wassily Kandinsky
Wassily Wassilyevich Kandinsky was an influential Russian painter and art theorist. He is credited with painting the first purely-abstract works. Born in Moscow, Kandinsky spent his childhood in Odessa. He enrolled at the University of Moscow, studying law and economics...
. His artistic theories were further developed by Kandinsky's book On The Spiritual In Art.
From 1912 to 1917, Jonson worked as the art director for the avant-garde Chicago Little Theater. He also taught at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts until 1920. In Nicholas & Helena Roerich, The Spiritual Journey of Two Great Artists & Peacemakers, Ruth Abrams Drayer writes that Jonson visited the exhibition of Nicholas Roerich in 1921 and then wrote in his diary, "There opened at the Institute the exhibition of the work of Nicholas Roerich. It is glorious. Would that I could express the wonder of it -- I feel that at his best he has accomplished that which all artists hope to do. There are at least six paintings that I believe to be the most spiritual pieces of expression that I have ever seen." Jonson went on to become secretary in Roerich's society Cor Ardens composed of the "fiery, spiritual, radical group of young painters" who shared Roerich's belief that "the only real fraternity among men is the fraternity of beauty as expressed in art."
In 1922, Jonson's life was changed when he visited New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
for the first time. The experiences and sights of this short visit to Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
, convinced Jonson to move to New Mexico in 1924 to focus on painting among the southwestern landscapes. In New Mexico, Jonson started the Atalaya Art School and the Modern Art collection at the Museum of New Mexico. In 1934, Jonson began teaching art at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
in Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. Then, in 1938, he co-founded the Transcendental Painting Group with Emil Bisttram
Emil Bisttram
James Emil Bisttram was an American artist, who lived in New York and Taos, New Mexico, and was known for his modernist work.Bisttram was born in Hungary, near the Romanian border, in 1895. When he was 11 years old, his family immigrated to New York City. Emil grew up in the tenement buildings...
. Drayer writes that Bisttram had previously taught painting at Roerich's Master Institute in New York City for several years.
The aim of the Transcendental Painting Group was "to defend, validate and promote abstract art. They sought to carry painting beyond the appearance of the physical world, through new expressions of space, color, light and design." Other members of the Transcendental Painting Group were Ed Garman, Florence Miller Pierce, Horace Towner Pierce, Agnes Pelton, Stuart Walker, Dane Rudhyar, William Lumpkins, and Lawren Harris. The group was forced to disband in 1942 due to World War II.
The Jonson Gallery at the University of New Mexico was established in 1950. Jonson retired from the University of New Mexico in 1954. Raymond Jonson died in 1982.