Obituary of Jane Iceil Larson Baer

5 years ago our beloved Jane was called to rejoin her parents and treasured family members on the other side. In those early days we were so consumed by shock and grief that we failed to write a public eulogy, so today we honor one of the most unique and powerful people to ever walk the face of the earth. Jane was a source of inspiration and strength to anyone who was blessed to cross her path. She was completely self defined, uncompromising in her principals and unwavering in her dedication to truth and justice. She was an early champion of the movement to protect free speech and open dialog in the name of discovering practical, real life solutions to the problems plaguing our community. It was because of her persistence that the beach flats community in which she and her husband settled 40+ years ago (and raised 7 children and 15 grandchildren) was liberated of a decades-long gang presence and large scale drug trade operation. Because of Jane's courage in challenging political correctness, because of her insistence on an increased police presence, our beautiful, but highly exploited community was set free and our children will now grow up in a much safer, more peaceful environment. This is just one example of a lifetime of bold and forward thinking contributions made by someone who was born to be different and special and stepped up to the challenge 100%. Jane Iceil Larson Baer was born September 2, 1946, in Herrin, Illinois, the second child and only daughter of Sidney Gunnard Larson and Iceil Winifred Swanson Larson. Both stunningly beautiful and astonishingly brilliant Jane was the full package, she possessed a unique insight into the human experience as well as an artistic gift that rivals the greats of all time. Jane grew up in the Baptist church as her father was a reverend, she was very dedicated to her beliefs and also very much inspired by biblical imagery, specifically as interpreted by the artists of the high Renaissance. Jane obtained a degree in Art at the University of Kentucky and later a Masters Teachers Credential which allowed her to teach all grades and subjects. As mentioned, along with bold personal ambition, Jane had a long and extensive history of political activism including being an early participant in the women's rights movement, the fight for racial justice and the anti-war movement. It was during her time at the University of Kentucky that Jane first encountered her future husband, Philip Charles Baer, with whom she shared a special and unique personal and artistic bond. The pair later reconnected in San Francisco during the summer of love where they cemented their romantic relationship and began the adventure of a lifetime traveling and briefly living in northern Europe where Jane was able to further explore her Scandinavian roots. It should be stated that Jane was a full blooded Scandinavian who took great pride in her Viking heritage. It was during this period that Jane and Phil started a family and eventually settled into life as well known artists who ran their own gallery in the world famous Soho district of New York City. Jane embraced being a mother from the beginning and found deep and nuanced ways of integrating the magic of motherhood into her art and artistic expression. Jane's artistic vision was unique in so many ways and profoundly influenced the direction of the art world, her approach was simultaneously refined and primal, ancient and cutting age; she explored a variety of subject matter but seemed particularly interested in themes and imagery that empowered women, celebrated male/female partnership, and highlighted the beauty and divinity of childbirth and parental love. Jane had a special way of integrating the most abstract cosmic elements of the human experience with the most raw and intimate moments of life, love, birth, and death. In Jane's art the spiritual and the everyday co-exist and interplay in a way that is both stimulating and comforting, grounding us in something that feels other worldly in yet oddly familiar. It's as if her art transcends time, place and even human separation and we are able to see ourselves in a different way, free and unconfined. After several years of running the gallery Jane and Phil eventually made their way back to California where they continued to grow their family and became pioneers of the homeschooling movement, beginning their careers as homeschooling parents in the late 1970's. Jane was always determined to expose her children and grandchildren to art and creativity in all forms, she was a passionate free thinker and activist for choice before most people knew what that was or involved. She made personal sacrifices to further important causes and lift the stigma surrounding home birth, home schooling and other issues concerning parents having the ability to make choices for their families based on their individual beliefs and needs; through her work and advocacy Jane accomplished a great deal and inspired a great many. First and foremost though, Jane was an artist, for close to 50 years she and her husband created art together; it cannot be overstated what an important imprint the two of them have left on the world, both individually and together as an art duo. Jane and her husband Phil had a unique aesthetic when it came to their art, often creating pieces together as a collaboration, revealing both a trust in the process and in each other; their artistic humility resulted in inspired works that celebrate collaboration in a way that is unmatched in the art world. Their collaborative pieces combine the rugged masculine with the graceful feminine and everything in between. Their works have been purchased and enjoyed by other artists, great thinkers and famous celebrities like Al Pacino, and of course countless everyday people who recognized something special and wanted to bring a piece of that magic into their own lives. The example that Jane and Phil have set in terms of a true loving and equal partnership is profound and everlasting. We will never forget your hard work and sacrifice, love, unconditional devotion, kind words, pride, and endless optimism. Outside of her talent, genius, and old school grit, Jane was a sweet, fun loving, hilarious, spontaneous, engaging, charming, warm and beautiful person and spirit and we feel that now and forever. Jane has left a legacy that will never die, a legacy of individuality, courage, and an undying devotion to what really matters in life. Thank you for building our homestead, the original 9 will be together forever in heart and spirit. Love you Mom, thanks for the memories, enjoy Valhalla, until we meet again.