LAUREL BURCH
To many, the name Laurel Burch is synonymous with the phrase "cat artist". While she has left a heritage that encompasses far more than cats, when we think of beautiful colorful cat designs on fabric or as jewelry, we think of Laurel Burch art. Laurel grew up in Southern California, and early on was known as the child with the great imagination. She frequently spent time in the hospital due to a rare bone disease, osteopetrosis. While recovering in the hospital, she created stories and made gifts to cheer up the other patients. At the young age of seven, Laura was already on a spiritual journey, her physical obstacles acting as stepping stones to her inner strengths. At the young age of 14, Laurel moved to San Francisco on her own search for connectedness. She saw intrinsic beauty in the streets. She began to make earrings and necklaces for herself out of stones, bones, beads, and coins she collected. Wearing her creations made Laurel feel as if she "belonged", if only to a world of her own making. People she passed on the street admired her jewelry and began to ask her where they could get it. When that happened, Laurel gave the jewelry to the admirer, building friendships and customers. People identified with and admired the global spirit her work portrayed. Soon she was able
Laurel Burch went from being a street artist in San Francisco to becoming a nationally famous artist and designer. Laurel never had an art class. Her trademark style is the manifestation of her strong, imaginative spirit. From jewelry to coffee mugs, clothing, tote bags, prints, fabric, buttons and note cards, her strong, uplifting spirit is evident in her art. Laurel considered herself to be more of a folk artist than a designer, creating symbols and myths that communicate universally. She painted images that represented her own values, yet at the same time provided a bridge between cultures, and honored the common ground.
Laurel Burch said that the purpose of her art was to express beauty and meaning and, most of all, connect people to one another. She furthered this commitment through her involvement within the community. She contributed her talents to causes supporting children, the disabled, animal welfare, disease prevention, and global conservation. Her art will forever convey a sense of joy and passion and lightness.
Laurel was incredibly prolific. She continued to paint, even when she had to do it from a bed or wheelchair. Laurel said, “I refuse to have anything in my life that I can’t turn around into something magical and beautiful. I just refuse.” One can certainly see that in the joy, passion and lightness conveyed by her art. Her figures, with their bold lines and sinuous curves, and her colors, explosive and irrepressible, show the inner strength that was in the universe of her imagination. A universe that was fertile, burgeoning, uplifting ... a place where everything was transformed into something...magical and beautiful.
Laurel performed hundreds of speaking engagements around the country. For obvious reasons, the subject of healing was always close to her heart. She said her illness was her gift. Laurel always lent her talents to a long list of charitable causes, designing book covers, posters, and murals around the issues that were of special concern to her.
On September 13, 2007, Laurel Burch passed away due to complications from the bone disease, osteopetrosis. She is greatly missed, but her spirit will continue to brighten our world. |
