About the Artists - Spencer & Johnson

Al & Wanda Johnson's Story:

After retirement in 1995 from Education in Minnesota, we took ninety-degree turns and ventured into the unknown world of tourism by accepting positions in the Grand Canyon, as Gift Shop assistant managers. We spent 10 months in this endeavor while our dream-home was being built in the Colorado Rockies. We still had a National Park itch that needed to be scratched, so in 1997 we spent 6 months working in the land of geysers and mud pots at Yellowstone. The next year we were invited to become managers but the pull of the Rockies was too great so we spent 2 months helping set-up all the retail gift shops in Yellowstone. These experiences exposed us to some very creative natural artists inspiring in us a real appreciation of art from nature. Our wanderlust satisfied we decided to seriously sink our feet in our new home in the Rockies at which time Al started creating art from bristlecone pine and Wanda developed environmental friendly wine bags, both selling at various local gift shops.

We met Jim & June in 2001 and became very close friends. We apprenticed under their guidance learning all the intricacies of creating angels and assisted them as they prepared for their shows. When Jim passed in 2009 he left the business in our care. It is our hope to lovingly carry on their legacy as well as creating one of our own.

Al & Wanda live and create near Salida, Colorado, in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.

Jim & June Spencer's Story:

Jim's lifelong love of design led him into architectural and textile design in 1970s New York City. In 2000, his wife June spurred his passion for designing Earth Angels, which they co-created until her death in 2007.

Jim worked with hundreds of different types of stone. He found the process of creating mineral angels to be a wonderful meditation. First he would sit and focus on the stone, and then he would let the minerals guide him in the process of creating a unique gemstone sculpture. Jim said, "Earth Angels are here to serve as reminders of the true magic that is all around us and within us as well!"

The "metal" that binds the designs is a special heat sensitive acrylic. (Hence, keep the angels away from direct sources of heat.) Then anywhere from two to four different coats of finish are applied. The final coat is liquid gold leaf. The wings are usually cut from the mineral Selenite. If the angels take a tumble, crazy glue is best for quick home repair.

Jim and June worked together as a team from 1976, presenting self-help seminars in New York City teaching acting and public speaking, becoming ordained inter-faith ministers, and publishing several books on transpersonal philosophy.

June's enduring interest in rocks and minerals led the two of them to collect the works of master Angel Creator, Everet Buss. Eventually they apprenticed with Everet until he blessed their work and sent them out on their own.