Philmont, New York. 2025 is the 100th anniversary of Rudolf Steiner’s death. How does he live on in specific individuals? Laura Summer, US artist and co-founder of the educational initiative Free Columbia, gives her answers.
Which sentence of Rudolf Steiner has particularly touched you and why?
“To live in reality, filled with the content of thought, is at the same time to live in God”. (Rudolf Steiner, The Philosophy of Freedom)
How is it to live in God? Can I learn to see God? Can I touch God’s face? As an artist, these are the questions I live in. To try, by directing my attention and devotion to the world around me, to enter into the realm of quality. When I observe a plant through drawing it, can I observe in this realm of quality and thereby understand the true activity of the plant? Can I also do this with the stars? With animals? With other people? Can I know each color as if I were meeting a person for the first time? Like a new person on a bus—what is blue like? Quiet, or loud, warm, or cool? Which color is wearing the outlandish hat and the sparkly sneakers? Can I listen to their conversation and let it manifest through my hand?
“You are the primal spirit’s eye, through you, the spirit sees creation. You are the primal spirit’s hand, through you the spirit creates.” (Rudolf Steiner, notebook 1903)
Can I live this as my reality every day?
Where has anthroposophy changed your life?
All of these questions and quotes have been brought to me by Rudolf Steiner. He affects all the aspects of my life, most especially my life as an artist.
Contact laurasummer@taconic.net
More Free Columbia
Translation Charles Cross
Photo David Lee
