TY KRAUSS TRIBUTE TO RAY JACOBSEN
November 14, 2008
If I can borrow a line from the Voice of the People, who of course
borrowed it from the BEATLES, “because the sky is blue” and
because the land is green and because Ray saw that so clearly and
painted it so beautifully we are here tonight to celebrate and cherish
the life and art of Ray Jacobsen. Actually, that’s somewhat
redundant because to Ray life is art and art is life. What’s really
wonderful is that Ray knew his art inspired this kind of joy and
awesome appreciation during his life. The ultimate honor an artist
can achieve.
I knew Ray for over 30 years and we shared many things:
1st the Arts Guild of Sonoma – he was a founding artist member of
the guild and one of those who could work with both sides of his brain
- so that many of the significant needs of a non-profit start up were
guided by Ray’s vision. I was the first new member screened into the
guild in those first days and Ray took me under wing.
Then we are both painters of the landscape and while our use of
imagery differed, we shared our use of color, light, texture and format
as can be seen in Ray’s works exhibited here.
Also we both felt the screening of new members into the guild needed
to reflect high standards and was primary to the guilds future and
integrity. Ray chaired this committee for years and helped to
formulate its policies. I was fortunate to serve under his leadership
and soaked in his quiet, gentle manner.
We both shared a strong belief that the association of the guilds
members, the trade of artistic struggles, the give and take of criticism
and the enthusiastic, sometimes merely social and sometimes
seriously constructive, rubbing shoulders with fellow artists was an
important rationale for the guild’s existence. This communion
between artists and their supporting community was fundamental.
We shared Native American bloodlines and we shared a particular
point of view and discussed images, abstraction, symbolism and
meanings from this ancient and unique artistic history. Needless to
say, Ray was a significant personal mentor to me.
In the bigger picture the artistic facet of Sonoma’s jewel like charm
owes Ray’s influence a big debt. His art broadcasted the natural
beauty of Sonoma Valley and coastline. He served numerous
individuals as a private teacher and inspiration. He helped brings us
the Arts Guild of Sonoma and its various galleries, events and shows.
He was instrumental in the creation and ongoing life of our incredible
Sonoma Museum of Art. He was an amazingly prolific and hard
working artist. Many Sonoma homes are beautified by his works and
many visitors to our valley carry away a bit of it and a bit of Ray back
to their homes in a framed watercolor, print or painting by Ray’s hand.
And, of course, he is a Sonoma Treasure, publicly acknowledged as
such in 1997 and inwardly forever known as such by all of us.
All in all, Ray’s incredible dedication, his big heart, his soft spoken
sincerity, his deep and abiding love of the land was so prevalent in
his work and life. We are vastly improved for knowing Ray and loving
his art. Taking that with us, keeps him alive in our memories and our
lives. We could not gaze upon a hillside vineyard, listen to a
whispering creek , study the complex shapes and color of a flower or
feel the spray of a Bodega wave without thinking of Ray. His work is
full of life, promise, hope and positive energy. Somewhere there lives
a chemist who will develop a new hue for artists everywhere. It will
be called HurRAY Green.
