Loose Leaf Notes

~ The following appeared in The Floyd Press on January 5, 2012.

Laurelsong Cook Staengl communed with nature by painting it.   Her large-as-life vibrant acrylic and watercolor paintings of marine life, wildlife and people “call forth the energies of healing and spirit,” said the artist, who passed away at her home on Winter Solstice Eve, December 21, 2011.

Laurelsong began painting before she could walk.  Her mother was an abstract expressionist and portrait artist from Manhattan during the Soho art scene of the early 60’s.  Her father was a theater producer and director who produced Sam Shepherd’s first plays in the Bowery of New York.

Growing up in Manhattan, Laurelsong participated in her mother’s art classes at an early age.  She lived in England as a teenager and studied watercolor, mechanical drawing, Chinese watercolors and life drawing at Laney College in Oakland, California.

In search of a healthy place to raise and school her two children, Laurelsong relocated to Floyd from California after receiving a tip from a New Yorker with ties to Floyd.  She arrived more than 20 years ago and quickly became active in Floyd’s independent Blue Mountain School as a parent and board member. She taught art and made jewelry.  Trained in several healing art traditions, Laurelsong was able to integrate her body work practice into her art.   “I believe that art can heal our bodies and minds.  Looking at art can touch our souls and color can vibrate us to a peaceful state,” she wrote in an artist’s bio.

Laurelsong’s husband Luke Staengl is a Blue Mountain School co-founder.  Although he and Laurelsong had known each other for many years, they reconnected on the dance floor at Floydfest when Laurelsong was visiting from Hawaii, where she lived for several years.   It was in Hawaii that her painting fully took off.   Inspired by the ocean, she painted on the beach, hoping that her seascapes would stir people to take better care of the ocean and its inhabitants.

Laurelsong and Luke were married on the Winter Solstice six years ago.  Re-grounded back in the mountains and supported to paint full-time, Laurelsong’s art blossomed further and she began adding wildlife, farm scenes and portraits to her body of work.   

During the six years of their marriage she and Luke traveled all over the world, including to the Middle East, India, Vietnam, Guatemala and Puerto Rico. Most of their trips were related to Luke’s business, PESCO-BEAM Environmental Solutions, an international company based in Roanoke that supplies environmental equipment and systems for recycling everything from acetone to xylene and motor oil.

During their travels the couple rode on camels and visited a Roman coliseum and other archeological sites, such Petra, an ancient city in Jordan carved into rock. Laurelsong painted throughout their travels and enjoyed supporting indigenous people by purchasing local artifacts and goods, Luke recalled.

Described by her daughter, Onyia Cook Pemberton, as “the most compassionate person I know,” Laurelsong had always been interested in living in community with others.   Together, she and Luke founded Anahata, an intentional Floyd community focused on renewable energy and permaculture. Anahata’s non-profit Anahata Education Center was formed in 2007 to provide ecologically focused service, learning, teaching, and research and development opportunities.

In early 2010 Laurelsong opened the StarSong gallery at the Station in downtown Floyd, where she exhibited and sold her original works and reproductions and could often be seen working on a new painting.

“People love her work. They’re especially drawn to the dolphins and manatees,” said Deborah Carrino, a local artist who does custom design tile painting for showrooms across the country.  Carrino began staffing the StarSong gallery on Friday afternoons after Laurelsong’s diagnosis of ovarian cancer in the summer of 2011.  The gallery will remain open through the month of January on Friday afternoons, Saturdays and by appointment so that art lovers, collectors and friends can view and purchase Laurelsong’s art, Carrino said.

During Laurelsong’s illness, her daughter, Onyia, left her young twins in the care of their father on a couple of occasions and traveled from her home in Portland, Oregon, to be with her mother and help with her care.  Laurelsong’s son, Orion Ridella, moved into the family home in Floyd and became one of his mother’s primary caregivers, along with Luke and members of the Anahata community.  Laurelsong was also cared for by hospice and members of the larger community, who signed up to take overnight care giving shifts.

It was appropriate that Laurelsong was on the receiving end of so much care after giving so much to others over the years, Luke remarked about her last months.   “Her entire being was focused towards helping and healing others – and expressing her love for the world and its beings through her art,” he said.    ~ Colleen Redman

 Note:  The StarSong Gallery will remain open through the month of January on Friday afternoons from 3 to 8, Saturdays during the day and by appointment.  Laurelsong’s artwork can also be viewed at her website: geocities.com/laurelsong2/.   The majority of photos above were taken at the gallery and include a photo of Deborah and Luke.   The last photo is of Laurelsong, pictured with her work at her Cafe del Sol art opening  in 2007.