LVSG Admires John Van Hamersveld Art

By Michael Bromka Carlsbad City Historian Jameson Lucas was more than a decent docent, leading Carlsbad’s LVSG on a museum tour of John Van Hamersveld’s bedazzling artwork. For legally blind members of the Low Vision Support Group, hearing Lucas’s engaging descriptions and cultural contexts conveyed worthy enthusiasm.

Vast colorful illustrations, album covers, posters, and canvases ranged from movies and music to the artist’s love of surfing. One LVSG septuagenarian recalled seeing the Beatles’ album cover, Magical Mystery Tour. In a sense, John Van Hamersveld’s snazzy design goosed up album sales, since the Fab Four’s photo otherwise was unrecognizable.

The goofy bliss of “Johnnyface” resonated with our recollection of 1950s Howdy Doody, Mad’s Alfred E. Newman, and the loquacious 1990 “Total Recall” Johnnycab robot.

Serving local folks with diminishing eyesight, LVSG meets at 10 a.m. on the last Thursday of each month. Every other month, the group meets at the Church of the Nazarene at 2401 W. Church St. In intervening months, the group takes a field trip.

The group aims to counter isolation, frustration, and depression that may plague anyone with diminishing vision. Members ask all Carlsbad Local readers to get the word out that they are available to help.

Anyone who knows someone with diminishing eyesight should pass along this name and number of LVSG’s President Debbie Pinching: 575 706-8863, Low Vision Support Group. It’s a voicemail because she screens out spam. Real folks? She calls back!

Regarding Carlsbad Museum’s fine current display, renowned artist John Van Hamersveld is due to arrive here for a meet-and-greet on Friday, August 7, plus workshops he will offer both to youth and adults.