Here are a few pictures of Rae’s art. She specialized in interpretations/transformations of women’s traditional domestic objects: cabinets, vessels, mirrors, brooms…
March 2, 2009
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I haven’t cried enough about Rae’s death. But I don’t know how. As I told Farrell the day before yesterday, “Rae was a force of nature. I can’t believe she’s gone.” But she is. No more art by Rae (that saddens me tremendously). No more pagan organizing (or other organizing for that matter). No more deep, raucous belly laughs from Rae. No more direct, incisive comments from Rae. No more bawdy statements from the big girl in the wheelchair.
Instead we all need to live lustily in honor of our friend Rae. Live large, with a big appetite for life. Live with gusto and a sense of beauty. Live fully and with joy. Make things that give us pleasure. And make the world just a little bit better. All of that would make Rae laugh out loud. And sister and brother, I sure miss that laugh.
Comment by Nancy Vedder-Shults — March 3, 2009 @ 9:14 pm
Math, Ethan and Casey, My heart goes to wrap around you in this sharp transition.
Frist thoughts of Rae are her powerful presence, her endearing belly laugh and the unflinching love for her family. I met her in the late 80’s over art the UW where many of us were struggling to combat the status quo. I was so impressed that she handled all that she did and had two kids and mate -the feel was total clarity.
She has held the role of mentor for many, myself included.
Thinking of you,
Liese
Comment by Liese Pfeifer — March 4, 2009 @ 6:08 am
Everyone who I have talked to says the same as Nancy, “Rae was a force of nature I can’t believe she is gone”.
I first met Rae at the Dianic conferences and I remember her sitting in our cabin joking, telling outrageous stories and sharing her Cheatoes. I loved her bad-girl persona and her laughter at all pretension.
As I got to know her through the Earth Conclave (which was founded after she dreamed it) I realised that she was a much deeper, more thoughtful and complex person than she let on at first impression. It was through her art that this was the most evident. We have one of her brooms, which I consider to be a real privilege.
I can’t believe Rae is gone, and that she will never visit me in Wales. I will really miss her.
My love to Math, Etha and Casey.
Comment by Lynda Thomas — March 4, 2009 @ 9:22 am
Such sad news. Although I did not know Rae as well as I would have liked outside of our professional relationship, I remember being immediately impressed by her the first time I met her. She was always so knowledgeable, articulate, and completely dedicated to what she loved. And, yes, that belly laugh – even when we had serious business to discuss, there was always that humor behind it. A light has gone out in the world. My deepest sympathies to her family, and to everyone who knew her.
Comment by Terri Felton — March 4, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
The privilege of knowing Rae professionally for only a year will remain a special memory for me. I didn’t know she was an artist… seeing her work and learning more about her makes me realize how lucky we all were to have shared in her life. She spoke with conviction, presented herself honestly and was earnest in every encounter. The genuineness in her laughter and in her argument encouraged the rest of us to set aside assumptions and strive for respect in all that we do. My deepest sympathy to all of her family and close friends.
Comment by Nancy McCulley — March 4, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
Rae – magic artist, greening the end of life activist, Pagan priestess, interfaith networker, social changemaker, spirit sister – you live on in our memories, in the lives you have touched, and in your creations. Thank you for the good times we shared! Love & support to Math, Casey, Ethan, and other family & friends. Blessed Be.
Comment by Selena Fox — March 4, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
Math, Casey and Ethan;
Rae was one of a kind! Real, direct, down to earth and with a far reaching vision and energy that left you humbled and breathless!!!! She was not only a fantastic artist but a fierce defender of and fighter for the underdog. Although she has left a cosmic size hole in our lives and hearts, she will no doubt still be carrying out her visions and passions with even more vigor and outreach then ever and I have no doubt she will be keeping an eye on you guys as well as her friends and any and all who are in need.
Comment by Gail Leider — March 4, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
What would it look like if you were born in the 50’s as a brilliant and creative female from a poor/working class background, someone who grew up with all the challenges of poverty and gifts of a diverse family background (Native American, and Irish mixed together and seasoned with all the variety the southern Midwest has to offer).
What if you were this person who reached adulthood and decided to believe fiercely in the value and integrity of all people, and to deeply love the earth and seek to protect it.
What if despite all the messages of society to the contrary as to your worth, and the worth of people around you, you decided to live your life as if your thinking and your actions mattered. What if you decided to examine everything you were ever taught, to hold it up to the light and notice when ideology and rhetoric were at odds with how society was structured. What of you decided to try to change all the things in society that didn’t make sense, that hurt people needlessly, and that privileged the few over the many. What if you believed that if people could understand, truly understand, and come together in community you could be the change you wanted to make.
If you were this person you would have looked like and acted like Rae Atira-Soncea, and you would have left an enormous tapestry of interconnecting people weaving a world of change behind you, now without the one bright thread that tied us all together.
My place in Rae’s tapestry is with her art; her brilliant, and personal yet visionary, boundary ignoring, society critiquing, deeply spiritual and woman-loving art, where she put some of her best thinking about the world. Among all her other activities she was working hard to realize a retrospective of her art when she died, and it is my hope that we can find a way to bring her vision to reality.
To Math, Ethan, Casey, Dawn and all the rest of Rae’s family, my heart and sorrow are with you. Thank you for sharing her.
Comment by Helen Klebesadel — March 6, 2009 @ 8:00 am
Rae’s sudden passing leaves a very large empty space in this world, especially in the community of women artists. I first met Rae while we were both on the board of the Women’s Caucus for Art in the mid-80’s. I remember taking note of the fierce power of her images and ideas. In the thirty plus years since, whenever we were at the same event and whenever I was in the presence of her work, I continued to be aware of that strength. She will be missed, but never forgotten.
I send my deepest sympathy to all of her family.
Comment by Janis N. Senungetuk — March 8, 2009 @ 4:33 pm
I hadn’t seen Rae for around 25 years. We hadn’t emailed for a couple years. But she was in my thoughts and mind and mouth so often – stories she told me, lessons she taught me were part of the fabric of learning that I shared so often with others. I guided others as she had guided me, always prefacing the tales with, “A wise woman once told me ….” 🙂
For about the last 8 years, I had a picture of the Water Cauldron on the door to my office (a different one than in this post), and saw it every day. Sometimes I’d walk over to the door and just look at the printout for a while, reach out my hand and touch it, then firm up my resolve and go back to work on what needed to be done. I always felt stronger when I saw her work somewhere. Well, online. 🙂 I hadn’t seen her artwork “in the carbon” for as long as I hadn’t seen her.
Somehow, it felt like she was always there, like she was part of my life. A part of me always believed that we would see each other again, she would laugh at my silliness, I would be baffled and earnestly explain why about whatever it was, and we would just pick up the conversation and continue.
I am a bit jealous of those of you who had more time with her, and grateful for what time I did have with her. I find it ironic but not surprising that over on Bekah’s Facebook page, where I found out a couple hours ago, I used the same words as so many here. I chuckle a little. Rae WAS a force of nature! She really was – an avatar, a goddess. A bit of a steamroller sometimes. 🙂
I cannot imagine what a hole she must leave behind in the lives that twined with hers so much more closely than mine.
Math, may the Goddess hold you in her arms. May the Earth itself console you and yours. Blessed be. My heart is with you.
Comment by Patricia Anderson — March 8, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
Dear Math and Family,
You have no idea how hard it was for me and my family to hear of Rae’s untimely death. To my children and grandchildren she was known as Auntie Rae because we referred to each other as “My-Sister-From-Another-Mother.” My heart is truly broken but my spirits are high because I know that I have been truly blessed by God to have known her. A day, and sometimes many nights, do not go by that I don’t think of her and smile……and sometimes just simply laugh out loud. She and I were truly connected because we were always able to just look at at each other and tell whether or not we were having a “bad” day. I truly loved her as my sister and I look forward to the day when I will see her again.
All our love, sympathy and compassion,
E. Pamela Givens and family
Comment by Pam Givens — March 10, 2009 @ 1:27 pm