Dear Family and Friends of Robert Logsdon,
“The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most.” – John Ruskin
Color is all around us, all the time, and yet we can easily pass by and not notice it. Sometimes extraordinary circumstances lead us to notice a fiery red pre-dawn sky or turquoise water. But usually, we walk through color all day long without taking it in.
Robert Logsdon was one of the pure and thoughtful kind, who took it up, took it in, and then sought to enliven it, even on walls and in spaces so that others might also have a chance to notice what was always there, hidden in plain sight.
What kind of a human being brings color alive again? Who takes “dead space” on a wall and causes it to breathe with living color? What kind of a life mission is that?
Robert came to earth in Lexington, KY on April 29, 1948. He had one brother, Larry, and three sisters, Jean, Bonnie, and Connie. They grew up on a farm at first but after a time, the farm proved to be unsustainable and they moved to low-income housing in the city of Louisville.
This was a difficult transition.
Robert “survived” high school. As a soft-hearted, soft-spoken, sensitive young man, this is not easy! Once when he was walking through a rough neighborhood, having visited his high school sweetheart, Vikki, he was attacked by a gang. He took the blows, defending himself as best he could but he ended up with a few lacerations which required stitches. He went with Vikki to the emergency room and there ran into a few of the guys who had beat him up. He ended up apologizing to them for the altercation! This was a non-violent human being.
One of his teachers in High School noticed his artistic ability and advised him to apply to the Cincinnati Art Academy where he earned a full scholarship. He got a BA and went on to get a Master’s degree in Art.
During this time a friend invited him to an Anthroposophical study group. This was like a bolt of lightning for him. He wondered where this had been all his life!
The draft was still in place at that time and as a C.O. he did a year of service work at Camphill Copake.
Robert was at the wedding of Douglas and Sharon Schmolze when he met Heather Ross, a fellow seeker on a Christian path. They were both involved with Anthroposophy and shared a love of color and the arts.
They had a “recognition” of one another from a former life. The two of them studied at Emerson College in England and continued their relationship. They were married at The Christian Community in Shalesbrook by Adam Bittleston.
For a honeymoon, they went to Germany to visit Robert’s childhood friend, Richard Neal who was working in a home for handicapped children in Lautenbak.
In 1975 Robert was asked to be the artist in residence at the new Rudolf Steiner Institute of the Great Lakes in Michigan. He offered painting classes there and also at the Detroit Waldorf School. He also formed a team of lazure painters at this time.
When the “wind of Anthroposophy” met the consciousness of the young people in the 60’s and 70’s, a tremendous enthusiasm sprung forth for the work of the Spirit. The couples surrounding Robert and Heather at the time included Art and Heidi Zajonc, Rachel Ross, Michael Howard, and others. It was an exciting, inspiring time.
Gabrielle was born on February 6, 1976, and Jacob followed on May 30, 1978. The family moved to Harlemville around 1980, to be in a community that offered a biodynamic farm, an anthroposophical doctor, a Waldorf School, and much more. Robert continued to build up lazure work and to work with stained glass at the Lamb studio.
The family then moved up to the land trust in South Egremont and eventually to Great Barrington. Robert and Heather shared a love of truth and the study of anthroposophy. They found the practical sides of life challenging.
Gradually, destiny turned them in separate directions. Heather moved to Cape Cod and Robert remained in Great Barrington. This separation was painful and challenging for all concerned. Robert was very distressed to lose his children. He was a devoted father and longed to live with them again.
During this time Robert lived with Wanda Lee and her daughter Sophie.
In 1988, Gabrielle and Jacob came to live with Robert and attended the GB Rudolf Steiner School. Jacob and Sophie Lee were both in Carol Kelly’s class. By that time Robert had reunited with his high school sweetheart, Vikki True and the family lived together in Monterey.
Robert established “ColorSpace” together with Chuck Andrade and John Stolfo. He was a pioneer of lazure in the United States! He was a good team leader. While he had very high standards, he was also kind and considerate of his workers.
In 1999, Robert and Vikki bought the house in Lee, MA. Vikki was a professional jazz singer and Robert was totally supportive of her singing. He also loved music and singing.
Robert loved nature, his BD garden, the creek by his house, and the wildlife. From his hospital bed, he would ask: “Did I fill the bird feeder?”
Robert was a kind, compassionate person. He frequently put others’ needs before his own. One could hear his soul quality in his beautiful speaking voice. He had impeccable integrity. His challenges arose in the practical aspects of life. He was not a good self-promoter or money-maker. But he had a passion for creating beautiful spaces with living color.
“In each project, he strove to make the invisible visible in the play of color and contrasts, to awaken the soul, to let sing in a space, unhampered. “ – Heather Ross
We live in a time of extremes, of exaggerated polarities, and division. In considering Robert’s legacy, consider this:
“Where light meets darkness, colors flash into existence. Colors are, therefore, the offspring of the greatest polarity our universe can offer.
In Goethe’s language, ‘Colors are the deeds and sufferings of the light.’ The deeds and suffering of light as it meets the darkness.” (Catching the Light, Arthur Zajonc)
If there are a ‘chosen few’
Then I am not one of them,
If an ‘elect’, well then
I have not been elected.
I am one knocking
At the door. I am one whose foot
Is on the bottom rung.
But I know that Heaven’s
Bottom rung is in Heaven
Though the ladder is standing
On the earth where I work
By day and at night sleep
With my head upon a stone.– Wendell Berry
