Cover | Elke Behrens

Let There Be Peace (mixed media), was inspired by artist Elke Behrens’ hope and enthusiasm for the new administration. Born in Germany “under much different circumstances,” Behrens says she rejoices in how far the world has come. The artist’s love of painting has inspired her extensive international travel and exposure to the world’s rich art history. Behrens says these experiences have helped to shape her “weltanschauung,” or world philosophy and guided her artistic sensibility. Behrens turned to painting after suffering several significant personal losses. Now she rarely spends a day without painting. Her images are often whimsical with a child-like simplicity and contrasting depth. Her paintings are densely layered and covered with a mesh of vivid colors and graffiti or scratched images. View more of Behrens’ work at www.elkebehrens.com or at 4th Street Studio,1717 D Fourth St. in Berkeley; www.fourthstreetstudio.com.