In 1968, Bob Hieronimus spent a memorable summer visiting backstage with artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Elektra Records artists, including The Doors. These artists, among others, expressed a desire for more information on esoterica and welcomed Bob as someone to share valuable information with. While backstage, Bob discussed earth changes, astrology, Atlantis, reincarnation, meditation, and UFOs – the same material he and Dr. Zohara later brought to the airwaves in the eighties.
Simultaneously, “psychedelic” painted cars were growing in popularity. Bob had already postponed a mural commission at Johns Hopkins University to embark on his and now began receiving commissions for artcars too. When he returned home, Bob began work on the “Light” Bus, a commission for friend and musician Bob Grimm. Little did he know it would arguably become his most well-known artwork, thanks to an AP Photographer who documented it at the legendary 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair.
Bob Grimm played guitar in the Baltimore band “Light.” They too had spent many nights with Bob backstage, where he shared the “Light” meditation with them. They would practice the meditation before gigs to better attune to themselves, each other, and the audience and found it vastly improved their band’s synchronicity. The bus served as a way to visualize the information Bob shared with them – the importance of aligning our intentions with the divine plan, coming together as a human community, and planting seeds of goodwill through our actions and behavior. Over time, this message was distilled into a mantra: Prayer, Meditation, Service.
(top) Bob Hieronimus paints the original Light Bus in 1969. (bottom) Bob Grimm commissioned the Light Bus for his band.
The Meaning Behind Light
Like all of Bob’s murals, the bus features a vibrant, visceral color palette, ancient symbology from multiple esoteric traditions, winding wavy lines to connote the natural vibrations of the universe. Carefully chosen, simple yet potent language (“Pray,” “S/He is coming”) appears on the bus, anticipating the evolution of humankind.
Most recognized is the front side of the bus, which features the iconic Volkswagen bus silhouette, splashed with a gold and silver symbolic story. As Bob describes it, the nutshell version of the story is “As we enter the age of Aquarius, humanity will once again become conscious of the builders and hierarchies of the universe by aligning ourselves with the divine plan through cosmic vibration.”
The front of the bus features a galaxy of stars, the Milky Way, the birthplace of life in the universe. Just below is a pair of wings (spirit) surmounting a circled cross related to the four builders of the universe air, earth, fire, and water. Below this is the serpent biting its tail, representing eternity. Inside are eight circles containing seven cosmic symbols: Sun (spiritual self), Saturn (karma), Jupiter (expansion of consciousness), Venus (harmony), Mars (action), Mercury (mind), and Moon (personality). The central circle is the heart: the cohesive force of the universe, Love.
For a full analysis of the symbology of the Light Bus,note that all Light Bus related products in the Store come with a symbology guide and additional Woodstock-related gifts.
A New Light
In 2016, a filmmaker by the name of John Wesley Chisholm contacted Hieronimus to propose a documentary featuring the Light Bus. The project led to a hunt for a VW bus that matched the original and a full restoration process. The new LIGHT debuted in 2019 at the Orange County Transporter Organization (O.C.T.O.) Winter Meet in California and was a hit with Volkswagen enthusiasts.
This began a fruitful collaborative relationship with Volkswagen, leading to the creation of the 2023 “Love the Earth” bus and a subsequent line of Dr. Bob for VW DriverGear merchandise, debuting in 2024.
Dr. Bob and H&Co Executive Producer Laura Cortner at the 2023 launch of Volkswagen’s ID Buzz.
See the LIGHT Today!
Currently, the Light Bus can be seen around the country at art exhibits, museums, and Volkswagen events. Follow Hieronimus and Co. on social media for updates!
Gallery
Frequent Hieronimus collaborator Justin Williams paints the outline of the gold stars.
Dr. Bob applies finishing touches to the Ouroboros seen on the front of the bus.
All of the artists that made up the Light Brigade.
Dr. Bob works on the bumper.
Jess Rasp begins work on the roof of the bus. Rasp is a puppeteer based in Baltimore.
Rodger Roundy paints the 6-pointed gold stars on the door. Rodger is an illustrator and self-proclaimed Peacemonger based in Maryland..
Lindsey Zuskin works on the flames that encompass the rear of the bus. Zuskin is a textile artist based in Baltimore.
The “Light Brigade:” Justin Williams, Jess Rassp, Linsey Zuskin, Lily Bleser, Rodger Roundy, and Bob Hieronimus at the wheeler
Bob Grimm and Trudy Morgal perform at Baltimore’s American Visionary Art Museum, celebrating the unveiling of the restored bus.
