The Art of Jack Wise

05 May 2025

Kathleen Hall – Canada

PE KH 2 Jack Wise

Jack Wise

Jack Wise was a painter whose work reflected his deep spiritual values. He studied Eastern mysticism and western esotericism and was influenced by Buddhist philosophies. His artworks reflect both his personal journey and spiritual explorations. In particular, the mandala paintings he created served as visual representations of spiritual principles mapping a pathway toward enlightenment and universal truths.

Born in Iowa, he moved to British Columbia, Canada in 1963 and lived in the Victoria and Vancouver Island areas for the remainder of his years. After moving to Canada, Wise was the recipient of a Canada Council grant to study Tibetan Art in India where he also visited Tibetan refugee camps in Northern India as well as a Zen Buddhist monastery in Japan. These travels heavily influence his artwork both in terms of technique and spiritual philosophies.

Wise created many paintings and other works during his lifetime, and was a prominent member of the art scene in Victoria (and Canada) form the late 60’s until his death in 1996. Several of his works were exhibited at the Art Gallery of Victoria and the University of Victoria, Legacy Gallery as well he gained national recognition. While volunteering several years ago for the Art Gallery of Victoria’s, “artist in the Schools Program”, I had the great privilege of being able to present and discuss one of Wise’s paintings to groups of elementary school students.

The painting I was presenting was an abstraction, rather than a mandala, but had the same intricate lines common to his mandala pieces. I did have some difficulty trying to explain his work to young students, and one day I was fortunate enough to come across Jack Wise sitting on a park bench in my local neighborhood. I went up to him and asked if he would mind if I chatted with him. I sat down that day and had a wonderful discussion with him. Essentially what he told me was that his work came from beyond himself. It flowed through his arm and brush onto the canvas and was basically a spiritual manifestation. He also said that his work was influenced by Mark Tobey, who was a leading painter of the Northwest School or the "Mystic Painters of the Pacific Northwest”, and a convert to the Baha’i World Faith, which influenced his representation of the spiritual in art. Tobey’s style was known as an, … "Eastern influenced white writing style of abstraction which also influenced the work of Jackson Pollock and others."

https://www.panamericanart.com/artists/644-mark-tobey/

It was the calligraphic expression of Tobey’s work that mainly influenced Wise, reminiscent of “automatic writing” (though Tobey had a much more intellectual approach in his work).

Wise’s mandala paintings generally have the formal structuring commonly found in traditional mandalas such as squares and circles, but within them are intricacies of lines and shapes described as “super-human in their fineness.”

https://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/JackWise/contemplate_on_jack_loomer.html

They also embody the calligraphic style of Tobey’s spiritually influenced works. In an interview regarding his work, Wise explained that he didn’t know where these brush strokes came from and described his paintings as, “…a postcard from another place” (Ibid). Wise's mandalas also reflect Theosophical themes through their complex patterns and symbolic elements. His work often incorporates sacred geometry, a concept central to Theosophy, illustrating the divine order and harmony of the universe. The use of symmetrical designs in his mandalas evokes a sense of balance and unity, aligning with Theosophical ideals of universal harmony.

In Theosophical practice, mandalas are often utilized as aids for meditation and contemplation. Engaging with mandalas allows individuals to focus their minds, facilitating a deeper connection with the spiritual self. inviting viewers into a meditative state, encouraging introspection and spiritual awakening. Wise's mandalas, with their detailed and harmonious designs, serve this purpose by inviting viewers into a meditative state, encouraging introspection and spiritual awakening. Through his art, Wise offers a meditative pathway for individuals to explore the depths of consciousness and connect with the divine harmony such as Theosophy seeks to illuminate.

[Click on the links that come with the artworks for more information/details]

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