John E. Dowell, Jr. was raised in the Baptist Church, but later became drawn to other religions that reflected his growing spirituality and interests in diverse cultures. Where his interest in the African Diaspora and the practices and beliefs of the Voodoo * religion, it had a profound effect on his creativity. As a transition away from the more abstract compositions appearing in the music series, he adopted a more identifiable narrative that relied upon the symbols and metaphors that characterized his spiritual explorations of the late 1980s and 1990s. In prints created in 2001 such as “Healing,” “The Elevation,” and “The Wonder” and other artworks from the creative period depicting the heart shape, thoughts of spirituality and love (social justice) are undeniable. It should be noted that during this thematic period, Dowel worked in multiple media- prints, ceramics, paintings--- to share his ideas and beliefs Note: Voodoo is an African diasporic religion that developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries. It arose through a process of syncretism between the traditional religions of West Africa and the Roman Catholic form of Christianity. It embraces a worldview encompassing philosophy, medicine, justice, and religion. Its fundamental principle is that humans are spirits who inhabit the visible world.