JUTTA RAKONIEWSKI
I was born on Sept 13, 1945 in Winterberg, a small mountain town in Germany. My mother died when I was 3 years old and my grandparents raised me with very little means. I remember telling my grandfather at a very early age that I wanted to be an artist. Of course to my grandfather it didn't make any sense because he thought it was a poor man's profession and that artist are not taken seriously. He died when I was only 9 and life became even harder.
My grandmother would not let me work in a factory even though doing so would have helped us pay for some of our living expenses. Instead I went to Business College, but I could not see myself spending my life doing paperwork. I had a dream of doing something which gave me the opportunity to draw and be creative. I was accepted as an apprentice to learn mechanical and engineering design. My teacher warned me that I was really too creative for this task, but my desire to draw and learn helped me to succeed at a time when hardly any female worked as a technical designer.
In 1966 shortly after getting married, I flew to Montreal Canada to see my father for the first time. I was enchanted with Canada's open spaces, natural beauty and free lifestyle. Being young and newly married and working then as a graphic designer in Düsseldorf, we decided to immigrate to Canada to learn more about the great North American continent. Our 2 year time limit became well over 38 years in Canada.
In 1975 I received my degree as Interior Designer of Canada. Through my work I was invited by the Dwight Eisenhower Association as a peace ambassador to China, which is reflected in some of my works and still remains one of my favorite places. At that time, I opened my own design company and shortly after that my manufacturing company, reason being that whatever I designed was not available. My work allowed me to travel to many places around the world, speaking English French and German was a great asset. I fell in love with Florida, and the ever changing colors of the ocean and generosity of the American people.
My desire to paint never left me. Studying art at Concordia University helped to intensify my understanding of art. My love for nature, mystique and ancient cultures, the whispering sound of the wind, the trickling of a spring, the crashing waves of the ocean, the sun rising with its thousand reflecting nuances, these are the greatest inspiration and this feeling for peace and harmony spills on to the canvas when I paint. My first serious painting evolved while I was on our boat in a small Bahamian harbor named Highborn. People took notice and it found its owner immediately.
My long-time friends urged me to have my very first exhibition and sponsored the event in Bonn, then the capital of Germany, in October of 2002. There was not much time to prepare and it was my first chance to test the unknown waters. It was a great event for a premiere solo exhibition of 52 paintings, 39 found new homes.
Finally my lifelong passion came thru; I enjoy painting so much that if I cannot paint for two weeks, it builds up a yearning to paint. I need it like the air I breathe, and at night my head spins with colors and forms, contrast and unity. I would like to able to embed them in my brain not to lose the visions. I wish for my art to surround the viewers with harmonious peaceful thoughts. To paint is to pass through a doorway of the unknown, wander in new lands and dare to explore the unusual self. It breaks concepts, prejudice and reveals the unexpected. My paintings are now in Germany, Italy, France, America and Africa. There are many gratifying experiences that I have had as a painter. Recently I delivered paintings to Düsseldorf and to Paris.
After a long illness Jutta died 2019 with her Husband present. Jutta´s wish was allways to help poor and sick children all over the World so i started the
JUTTA UND ENGELBERT RAKONIEWSKI Foundation,
With a Capital of 120 000.00 US ,now 380 000.00 US.The foundation will inherit our total estate after my death.. All income from sold paintings will be donated to the Foundation.
Up to Dec 2024 the foundation helped poor and sick Children over the World with 70 000.00 US.