Brothers In Arts: Part 1
They lived an ocean apart but with spirits united
By Laurel Costa, Archivist, Ilan-Lael Foundation
James Hubbell and his brother, nicknamed Bert, shared a remarkably special connection. This spring they both left the earth within weeks of each other, reconnecting in the cosmos. They lived on opposite sides of the vast Pacific Ocean: James in Santa Ysabel and Bert and his wife Hiroko in an extraordinarily beautiful hand-built home in Yamanakako at the base of Mt. Fuji.
Despite not seeing each other in person for decades, their philosophies and values mirrored each other in many ways, and their constant communication provided mutual support throughout their intensely creative lives. Each brother seemed to match the other with audacious philosophies and the determination to make the world a better place through art. (Below Bert was featured in a Japanese Arts magazine with photos by Hideko Yoshikawa.)
James’ lifelong wish was for all people who share life at the edge of the Pacific to live in peace, like family. Few knew that he not only practiced this philosophy on an international scale by creating Pacific Rim Park, but also by loving a distant, but deeply connected, “brother Bert” who lived in Japan.
Early on in their marriage, however, Bert and Hiroko lived near Jim and Anne in San Diego (1961-1963). While in San Diego, Bert created hundreds of ceramic sculptures featuring creatures in every imaginable form. The impressive collection of his 400-plus sculptures is archived at Ilan-Lael and it represents just a tiny portion of his life’s work.
As long-time Hubbell family friend architect Robert Thiele pointed out recently that Bert’s work links to deeper Japanese folklore.
Bert’s sculptures are reminiscent of ancient art, possibly with Yokai in mind, Yokai is a term for the strange and mysterious creatures that commonly appear in Japanese folklore.
Bert was certainly exploring inner peace and spirituality through the arts. His letters, sculptures, drawings, and scrapbook-like art projects detail his grandiose thought process, speaking of the cosmos, humanity, and Mother Earth’s interconnectedness. In his non-linear writing and drawing styles, he maps ancient and modern historical events through poetry and personal experience. He often references his brother James’ pivotal life experiences alongside his own, drawing parallels and giving them cosmic meaning.
It’s almost dizzying to experience Bert Hubbell’s artworks, but equally thrilling to imagine the inner workings of his infinitely creative brain exploring vast topics. He clearly experienced a vivid spiritual life and developed philosophies that even those who have studied his work may not fully understand.
