A showing of original works by Henry A. J. Ramos
Artist Statement
My most recent works (2013-2015) seek to depict the beauty of what remains of the natural world. The images I offer here are mainly ones that harken to what is still alive and vibrant in our times—times that are increasingly characterized by human conflict, overpopulation, resource depletion, and environmental degradation.
My works are about the natural world’s remarkable fortitude and grace, even in the face of unprecedented stress and darkness. They strive to remind us of our inherent dependence on the natural world’s survival and sustainability. They suggest with humility a divine responsibility that all of us share to steward the many gifts that God has graced upon us and our planet.
In this spirit, the title of the show draws (as I often do) from scripture, to lift up a message of restoration and justice (from Isaiah, 28:1). It directs us to imagine a plentiful world that is fertile and beautiful. It centers us on what is core: that is, on what is at the heart of the matter. It reminds us that life is not all about play and release, aggrandizement and the material; but rather about the hard work and spirit of living, working and playing responsibly.
As individual works and as a collective body, the pieces of new art that I have assembled here are intended to make viewers think about their own relationship to the natural world. I hope those who see these works will reflect on our fundamental responsibility to the many creatures and flora, oceans and rivers, and gulf streams that depend on human decisions (our decisions) to fulfill their God-given missions, and humanity’s.
We need to think of the earth as a mirror of human enlightenment and will. If it is to remain a Fertile Valley that benefits all of humanity and natural life, so must we and our offspring become more active and loving stewards of the planet’s continued health and vitality.
About Henry A. J. Ramos
Henry A. J. Ramos (1959- ) was raised in Santa Monica, CA and has been affiliated during the past decade with the Gallery of Graphic Arts in New York City and Studios on the Park in Paso Robles, CA. His original works of acrylic collage are typically mystical and childlike in depiction, but characterized by subtle yet profound social content messaging on issues ranging from spirituality and social justice to environmental responsibility and public safety. He resides on a small 10 acre ranch on the California Central Coast with his wife of nearly 30 years, Claudia Lenschen Ramos.
