{"id":85076,"date":"2025-10-30T19:01:38","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T23:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/?p=85076"},"modified":"2025-10-30T19:01:38","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T23:01:38","slug":"from-the-editor-november-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelaurelofasheville.com\/updatestage\/lifestyle\/from-the-editor-november-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"From the Editor:<\/strong> November 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Consider the toppling of a majestic tree. The land remains, but is bereft of a graceful place marker, wildlife of their homes, the earth of leaves and fruit, humans of shade and a windbreak. One spreading, reaching, blooming and leafing tree provides so much, and not least of all irreplaceable beauty, energy, purpose and grace. So it is with the loss of an artist, one who sees, contemplates, records and interprets the world around us. Recently, we lost a towering presence in the genre of landscape painting.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Self Portrait. Richard Baker, artist<\/p><\/div>\n

Richard Baker, self-taught, a master at painting our Southern Appalachian mountains, rivers, lakes and fields, lost a bravely fought battle with cancer as this issue was in production. His work graced the cover of The Laurel of Asheville<\/em> in 2013, and he was a featured artist in 2017.<\/p>\n

Richard was generous with his time and talents. He loved to ask those who weren\u2019t exploring their creativity, \u201cWell, who\u2019s in your way?\u201d He shared freely his knowledge, his techniques, his experiences. He enjoyed bringing people together. His well-attended Artists Breakfasts in Saluda, Asheville and Waynesville drew poets and writers, painters and sculptors, jewelry makers and fiber artists, and people who weren\u2019t creators themselves but loved to talk about art and to support and patronize artists.<\/p>\n

More personally, he was the love of my life for the last 15 years. What Richard would want me to say here is that natural beauty is all around us, waiting to be explored, to be represented by whatever medium speaks to you. I was already a writer when we met, and still he helped me see the world in new ways. He was always pointing out the details: intricate textures, the blending of colors present in all things (snow isn\u2019t white, you know); cloud shadows on a mountain, the way the light moves across a field. We loved together the simple things: watching lightning bugs, birds and, occasionally, elk from our back porch; hiking to find waterfalls; driving the back roads without a map or GPS; waiting for autumn to start dappling the mountainsides or spring green to begin crawling from the bases. We found loveliness and sacredness everywhere. Moments were precious. We did not squander them.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s the only thing that makes my life without Richard bearable: the memories, the sense of having made the best use of the time we had. \u201cThese are the good days, you know,\u201d Richard would often turn to me and say.<\/p>\n

\"\"

October Rain. Richard Baker, artist<\/p><\/div>\n

Maya Angelou\u2019s beautiful poem \u201cWhen Great Trees Fall\u201d ends this way: \u201cAnd when great souls die,\/after a period peace blooms,\/slowly and always\/irregularly. Spaces fill\/with a kind of\/soothing electric vibration.\/Our senses, restored, never\/to be the same, whisper to us.\/They existed. They existed.\/We can be. Be and be\/better. For they existed.\u201d Yes.<\/p>\n

This is the month for contemplation and family togetherness. In these pages, you\u2019ll find many expressions of gratitude and many events touching on thankfulness to put on your fall calendar.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a busy season, and it may seem there isn\u2019t time to set aside for creating. But think about the recent cuts to funding for the arts. I\u2019ve lived long enough to know that if someone wants to take it away, it must be significant. So take up brush, pencil, needle; open your eyes, your mind, your heart.<\/p>\n

Play with clay and with cloth, on paper and on canvas. \u201cIt\u2019s just messing up and fixing,\u201d Richard always said of painting.<\/p>\n

After all, and when all is said and done, who\u2019s in your way?<\/p>\n

Gina Malone can be reached at gina@thelaurelofasheville.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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