Jack Bybee is a full-time student at the University of Arizona at Tucson, where he is pursuing a dual degree in the Honors College [B.A. Studio Art // B.A. Psychology/Creative Writing.] After he graduates in May, 2007, funding provided, he hopes to go on to obtain his M.A. in Technical Communication.

Jack is a near-death experiencer (NDEr) who attended his third IANDS conference in 2005 at Virginia Beach, VA. Inspired to support IANDS' Research Fund through the conference auction, he sketched a pastel scene of the beach that did, indeed, benefit the Fund greatly. This year, he is again donating-but this time, two prepared pieces. Following are the pieces and their descriptions. Wishing to inspire others to make substantial contributions to the 2006 conference auction, Jack says, "My hope is that Jan Holden's research fund and NDE researchers will benefit from this and other donations."

‘The Vlei'

Oil on board 24"x48"

Jack expresses his emotion more in color than in content. Drawing on his NDE in 1972, in Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, this image depicts his memory of the colors encountered in his NDE combined with his admittedly subjective memories of growing up in one of the most beautiful parts of the world: the Western cape of South Africa.

"Vlei" means, literally, the swamp, wetland, or marshland. Jack created this image after Zeekoeivlei-the marshland of the hippopotamus-near Cape Town. Jack described his process in creating the painting: "I stood in class, struggling with the human figure that had been assigned, when, on the spur of the moment, I set up another easel, and the colours began to flow... memories of the colours in my NDE - and what the Voice had told me. The more the instructor prodded me to ‘focus on the jaw-line...' of the figurative painting I was supposed to be working on, the more I disregarded him and simply let the colours flow. Two days later, this image was done - although my (graded) figure-work was not!"

That  Ol' Red Gate on Mountain.

Oil on canvas. 48"x48"

In Tucson, walking back and forth to campus each day, Jack passes this old red gate on Mountain Avenue. Last Winter Recess, that gate seemed to call out in its loneliness and isolation. "So" says Jack, "I responded. I mean, hugging trees in sympathy is one thing, but gates-wellll... I don't do that - yet. Anyway, it seemed that it worked, resulting first of all in two pastels, then this oil - and now people are clamouring for more - my pastels have sold. It's just an old red gate - that seemed... so lonely."

Jack Bybee is holding his second Emerging from the Shadows exhibit on November 11th-12th, when he joins the Tucson Open Studio Art Walk in Tucson. He is represented by Skyfire Gallery in Jerome, AZ. He will, under certain parameters, accept commissions. He may be contacted at e-mail address: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jack's moving account of his NDE can be heard on the 2005 Experiencer B Panel, available for purchase via CD or download at the IANDS shopping cart.