JLB Art Blog
A Moment with John L. – July 2020
"Marlene"
This month’s “Moment with John L.” is dedicated to an incredible woman who has been a part of the Baker family for decades! Though she is not a relative by blood, Marlene Ludman has been a part of the family since the oldest of John’s children were born! She shares the same passion of horses that John did, and has been a member of the MVHA since the beginning. She also shares in John’s talents as an artist herself, and creates her own beautiful works to share with the world!
Today, July 25th, is Marlene’s birthday! We thought it would be great to share a poem that she wrote for John’s 70th birthday celebration in 1997.
Thank you, Marlene, for this wonderful tribute to John. And thank you for being such a beloved member of our family over the years. We love you!
A Moment with John L. – June 2020
"The Prayer of St. Francis"
This “Moment with John L.” was giving our writer, Susie (John's first born), somewhat of a block. She usually tries to involve something with the month we're on into her stories. However, this one has nothing to do with the month of June! It does still have significant meaning to anyone who knew John at all throughout his life.
This moment is about John’s great devotion and love of St. Francis of Assisi and his prayer. Even in his obituary in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, he was described as a “prolific” religious artist. If you’ve taken a look at our collection of his works on our website, you will see that over 50% of his pieces are religious.
John loved St. Francis and the history of his life. But most of all, he strove to teach his children the meaning of the “Prayer of St. Francis”. It was recited by John at every family dinner and was talked about and discussed in depth. He would keep talking…and talking…and someone, usually Nancy, would remind him that the food was getting cold! It is even engraved on a monument in the Baker Family Cemetery on the farm where John and Nancy are laid to rest.
Today, this prayer has just as much meaning as it did then. Here it is, read it slowly, and think about how you can practice each line in your life.
“Lord make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O divine master, grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it’s in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen”
A Moment with John L. – April 2020
"Noni"
April 2020, truly a historic one. April’s birthstone is Diamond, and that’s what John found when he met Nancy Ducci of Moon run, PA at a dance…sometime in 1948-1949.
Nancy was the youngest of five children. Her parents were Northern Italy immigrants. Her father, Anthony, was a butcher and grocery store owner, who achieved the “American dream”. They say he was the first person in Moon Run to own a car!
John and Nancy married in 1952, the 27th of November, Thanksgiving Day! Their goal was to save their money, move to Italy (where John had studied art) and live somewhere in Florence. But Nancy was expecting their first child, so instead, they bought their first homestead in Imperial, PA.
Nancy was John’s biggest supporter. It’s because of her that we know so much about him! She always had a story to tell and a smile on her face while bragging him up. Nancy always smiled, and always looked on the bright side of things. Raising seven children, she was always calm. One of her favorite quotes was, “Oh Well! You can’t cry over spilled milk!” Then she would laugh and laugh, always making it better.
John and Nancy were true partners in many, many ways. The art world, the horse breeding, their family, their commitments to church and community, and especially the MVHA. This is the horse club that John and Nancy gave many hours to. They both loved gatherings, so there was always a big “to do” every month for the meetings. Then the planning for the trail rides. Nancy was in charge of the food. Her favorite thing to do was cook! Planning a menu, going shopping, starting the meal days before, and always decorating. It was one of her greatest loves. You never went to her home without there being food – ready to eat. And most importantly, there was always, ALWAYS a pot of rigatoni!
Her biggest challenge for decades was to make a bigger profit for the club with her food at the annual horse show, than the club made on the horses. And most of the time, she succeeded! She just loved it!
We talked before about how John liked to celebrate. Again, they were partners in having celebrations of ever one's birthday, anniversary, graduations and every holiday in between.
Family was everything to both Nancy and John. They taught us to always get along and love each other. There were many arguments, many disagreements, many shouting matches, but in the end, you respected each other, made up and loved each other just the same. No matter what, we were family. This was ingrained in us our whole lives. To their seven children, it is one of the greatest strengths they could have ever been given from their parents. We are all different, but we are all family.
There is so much more we could write about Nancy. She was on of John’s “greatest passions”. Nancy was even a model for many of his Madonna paintings. Check out her portrait, then check out his Madonna’s and you will see her in the oldest and newest paintings!
Nancy would have been 90 today, April 14th. We can all imagine her smile, her laughter, her cooking and of course the celebration that we would have had, if she were with us today!
Happy Heavenly 90th Birthday to our dearest Nancy, Mom & Noni!
A Moment with John L. - March 2020
"John's Birthday"
This month is John’s birthday, March 27, 1927. Most of you know the story of how John felt 7 was his number. The 7th child – born the 27th, or 1927 etc.
His four older sisters spoiled him relentlessly. When he was just 4 ½ years old they all went back to school – which was St. Mary’s right across the street. The story goes, he was driving his mother crazy, wanting to go to school too! So, she took him across the street, begged the first grad nun to let him sit in the back of the class, and he would come home when he got tired. He never went home and ended up graduating at the age of 16 ½!
At graduation in 1944, we were a country at war. His two older brothers, Robert & Ray, were both officers in the military, so he lied about his age and enlisted in the Army. By the time they discovered he wasn’t old enough, he was stationed at Camp Dix (now Fort Dix) in New Jersey. He was 18 and he could type! The was in 1945, the war was over and there were thousands of soldiers coming home and being discharged so he stayed and typed morning, noon and night.
He took advantage of the G.I. Bill of Rights and went to Europe to study art in Italy, France & Spain. He wasn’t the average student, he didn’t go to many classes, but spent his days on the streets sketching people and places. Many of his original oils on canvas come from those years of sketching on the streets. He came home some time in 1949 and enrolled at Duquesne University for some engineering courses. Then, he took classes at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh and worked with Jan De Rosen. Mr. De Rosen was a renowned Polish artist who came to America just before the war broke out in his home country. He and John traveled the east coast working on large church projects.
Meanwhile…he never stopped drawing, painting or writing. In the early 1950’s he was employed by Pittsburgh Stained Glass Studios in the West End. He designed and made windows all while getting married in 1952, having 4 children & buying his first property in Imperial, PA. He and Nancy cleared the land, built a home, built a barn and corral, and fenced many acres of pastureland. Horses were on of his other great passions.
Remember this was the early 1960’s. Life was good; the country was booming & he literally couldn’t keep enough ponies to sell to all those growing families. Meanwhile, his art was progressing. He became self-employed in 1960 and hired an artist, Mr. Edward Horley. He was kind of like an agent that got John projects in local churches. Some small, some big, but always work. It was either that, or the horse business.
In the mid 1960’s, he purchased his first Arabian stallion, Ibn Jasul. That was the beginning of his plan to refine the Appaloosa breed. He loved their vibrant and natural classy colors and their endurance. But needed to refine their conformation. He did that with his Arabians.
John studied the history of both Appaloosa’s and Arabians. He learned pedigrees & bloodlines and then started buying his breeding mares. Most of them from the West. Those western mares were range bred and were literally “untouched”.
It was a long process; all of the older kids were part of that (there were 7 kids at this point!). Just getting a halter on them and teaching them to lead took months. So, in the late 1960’s into the 1970’s, John never stopped his art, along with his breeding program.
Once the family moved to Hickory and the new farm, he didn’t do any more church jobs, but he still painted every day. By the 1980’s & 1990’s he painted almost entirely on wood…ANYTHING that was made out of wood! Cutting boards, ironing boards, tables, siding, cedar shingles etc. He would sand the wood and see something in the grain and create his art around what he saw. His art style changed a lot as well. He began doing much more contemporary pieces with strong clean lines and less color. We’ve had several people tell us from the “Art World” that a true, talented artists changes his styles over time. His styles, his materials and his substrates have definitely changed throughout the years. From his earliest paintings in the 1940’s all the way through to the 2000’s, we can see that he certainly did this. Check out the dates on our website of his work, and you will see this too!
John was one of the most intelligent, loving, caring and humble people you could every meet in your life. His children certainly lucked out by having him as their father. He would teach his children to “think ahead” and if they wanted to have a happy life, they had to “love to work!” He also used to say, “you never waste the gifts that God gives you”. With all of his talents, his humility is what always stuck out the most. Because of his strong faith, he truly believed that God created us all equally. That was how he lived each day of his life. That definitely doesn’t mean that he and his children didn’t disagree. They certainly did! When the kids were young and as they got older, he always let them express their opinions – teaching them, that they didn’t always have to think just like him.
If John were still with us today, he would be turning 93 this year. After his death, Nancy used to say to her kids “your father is still all around us” – with his paintings, his horses and all of the people he brought into our lives!
This month we celebrate, and remember our beloved John, Dad and Pap!
A Moment with John L. - February 2020
"Valentine's Day"
"We are like birds in flight, you and I
We soar upon the breeze, and know the joys of living
For just a little while,
And then we come to rest, and fly no more.
Just a short time, but not forever.
Yet do we know how short?
The instant past is gone,
For a moment it is now,
In a minute, this minute is gone.
The moment past is gone,
For a moment it is now,
In a moment this moment is gone
And we look ahead to future moments.
But what becomes of this moment?
Will it come again?
We know that everything wonderful, everything real that we find,
We will also loose sometime.
Do people ever really own anything; love, obsessions, happiness
Are these not only borrowed for awhile,
Before they slip away?
But if we cling to these precious joys,
If we clutch them tight enough,
Can’t we keep them from slipping away?
Perhaps;
But only till we slip away from them.
That is why when at parting,
I must take one last look,
And I wonder, “Will this moment come again”?
But I don’t ask that you should love me forever
I only ask that you love me.
Then we part; we go on in our separate ways.
The routine of living – Wake, work, eat, sleep;
And tomorrow – Wake, work, eat, sleep.
Day follows day and it seems there’s no escape.
Is there nothing besides this?
Yes, besides this there is LOVE.
But what is Love?
Our practical self says,
“Possessions, luxury, security – these are enough for happiness;
Love is but a dream thought up by a fool,
Who sees not the joy of riches.”
“True.” Says our foolish self,
“Love is but a dream;
But isn’t life also a dream?
And we never know the time for waking
And when we wake; we wake to what?”
Do we wake to nothing?
Or to a greater dream, an endless dream?
And what of the dreams that we are dreaming now;
Can we take them along to that dream beyond?
We cannot take our possessions (even the practical man knows this),
But dreams are not kept in pockets, or stored in vaults.
Nothing can contain a dream and nothing can restrain it;
Nothing except the soul of the dreamer.
A dreamer could say, “Our dreams are a secret part of the universe,
a part of eternity;
Perhaps our dreams are already waiting for us in that dream beyond,
While we are yet dreaming them.”
If so, then the dreamer is the richest of men.
And what of the most treasured of all dreams.
The dream that the young hold as the first part of living,
The dream that the aged still have in memory,
What of Love?
Love is the dream that above all cannot be restrained;
It is the dream that filters beyond locked doors, even beyond life,
It is the dream that joins two people more closely than any earthly bond.
It can exist without the knowledge or approval of anyone.
Sometimes the love decision is born even before the lovers meet.
The love dream goes on when the lovers are parted;
It lingers, sometimes it torments, but it always enchants.
It is indestructible.
But more than all this, it is there.
Love is there not because your face is beautiful,
But because you are beautiful.
Love is there not because you have no faults,
But because your faults are part of you.
It is there without knowing if it will be returned,
It is there because you let it be there.
So I don’t ask that you love me forever,
I only ask that you love me.
For we are young, and youth will slip away
But love can still live when time has swindled youth
Perhaps in time even the dreamer will not have strength for dreaming,
But when strength is gone there is still memory
And if there is still memory,
Then there is still you."
A Moment with John L. - December 2019
"Santa Claus"
This "Moment with John L." is all about the man in the red suit! John wrote the following story about Santa Claus and we wanted to share it with all of you today! Have a very Merry Christmas from all of us here at John L. Baker Art!
"You can bet on it, there is a Santa Claus!
It’s strange how the story of Santa grows and yet I’m not sure if teachers in our public schools can relate the true history of how this tradition was handed down to us…
In the 4th century there lived a good man named Nicholas who was filled with the Christian spirit and did all he could to help people who were in need. Of course he wore red, the color of love and of course he wore white, the color of the pure snow, as he was pure of heart.
Nicholas, in his kindness was merely following the words of Christ who had stressed a new commandment - - to love one another.
It was not enough to follow the ten commandments, handed down through Moses, upon which all the law was based. Briefly stated, Christ demanded, “You must love God with all your might and also you must love your neighbor as yourself.”
Loving means helping, all year ‘round and trying to understand your neighbor even if he is different than you.
People called this kind man, “Good Nicholas”; after he left this world, they called him “Saint Nicholas” which means “Holy Nicholas”.
Those who were helped by him, continued to help each other because of his example.
As time passed, the name, Saint Nicholas (Der Sinter Klass, San Nicolo, Sant Nikolaas) was shortened to “Santa Claus”. The extra frills and surprise gifts at Christmastime, reindeer, sleigh bells and toys were added later.
Today, many people do not know the real story of Santa Claus or about Saint Nicholas and the words of Christ and of the light that cannot be hidden; these are not a part of the commercial promotion of this holiday, yet someone should tell the children.
Your father and mother and/or all those who love you are like the good Saint Nicholas; they are Santa Claus, helping you all year ‘round.
In time you will be Santa Claus for your children and for your neighbor in need, and the spirit will never die.
As sure as the sun comes up tomorrow, you can bet on it!"
A Moment with John L. - December 2019
"Mimi's Birthday"
This is our 10th post of “Moment’s with John L.”. We’ve tried to share lots of different aspects of his life; personal, talent, business to name a few. A big part of his life was “Aunt Mimi”, Mary Snyder. She was Nancy’s older sister, so John’s sister in law! Mimi made everyone’s life easier! She was always there. Babysitting, cleaning, or driving someone somewhere. And most importantly, she was a part of every celebration!
Mary Snyder was a professional her whole life. She worked from the 8th grade until she was 79 years old. She was also very religious, going to Mass everyday until she was in her late 80’s. She was kind and loving to 3 generations of Bakers!
Mary/Mimi was born December 13, 1922. The second child of Italian immigrants. A total of 5 children, plus their parents, Anthony & Ida Ducci lived above their butcher shop!
Her birthday in the Baker household was a tradition for years. Just 2 weeks before Christmas – it was ALWAYS a taco party! Mimi loved to get her picture taken with the kids each year as we all sang her Happy Birthday!
Happy 97th Birthday to our beloved Aunt Mimi! We love and miss you so very much!
A Moment with John L. - November 2019
"John & Nancy's Anniversary"
November…Thanksgiving…The beginning of the holiday season for most people. In the Baker household, that “season” was all year long. Both John & Nancy loved to celebrate everything! There was always a reason to bring family & friends together. To eat, converse, laugh, sing & dance!
That’s why on November 27, 1952 – Thanksgiving Day – John and Nancy were united in marriage. Why this day? If you recall one of our very first posts that we ever made, you’ll see that the number 7 was John’s number. He was born on March 27, 1927, was the 7th child of a “Seven Baker Brother’s Bakery” man, his auction and horse show number for years was 77…the list of 7’s goes on and on! We’re almost certain that when John & Nancy checked out the calendar in 1952, John saw November 27th and said “that’s it!” Nancy always said, “everyone loved it!” it was truly another great reason to bring family & friends together to celebrate!
John & Nancy celebrated their marriage together for 53 more years! Happy “heavenly” anniversary to John & Nancy today!
A Moment with John L. - October 2019
"Halloween"
Happy Halloween!
Halloween was always a favorite holiday of John and his wife Nancy! Every year, the children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors would gather at the farm after trick or treating. The grandkids would compare their loot and trade candy back and forth. Nancy would make her chicken noodle soup in her witch’s pot and order pizza! There was always great food, great drinks, great costumes and great fun at the Baker farm on October 31st!
This photo of John and Nancy was taken 20 years ago today, on October 31, 1999!
A Moment with John L. - September 2019
"Back to School - Ponte Vecchio - Editorial"
Education was extremely important to John. He believed that whatever your endeavours were, you needed to have knowledge of many different subjects. And most important of all, use all of the gifts that God gave you to pursue your dreams for a happy life.
In June of 1989, John wrote an editorial to the Observer Reporter after hearing that the Old Hickory School was in discussions to be shut down. He compared it to one of his favorite bridges from his travels through Italy, "Ponte Vecchio" in Florence.
He wrote:
"In 1950 I lived in Florence, Italy, as a student under the G.I. Bill, and was impressed by the many ancient buildings and fortresses in solid state of preservation and use. Most notable was the Ponte Vecchio (the Old Bridge) which was designed by Taddeo Gaddi and built shortly after the end of the 12th century.
The Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence that the Nazi’s did not blow up during their retreat northward in World War II. Instead, in order to delay the advancing American forces, they blocked the entrances by destroying the buildings on the approaches to the bridge. Apparently, even they had some respect for the antiquity and architecture of this landmark.
Following the war until at least 1952 the Ponte Vecchio served as the only bridge spanning the Arno for vehicular traffic in Florence.
Many a day I viewed and sketched this bridge from various angles and marveled at the stone arches and the colorful and somewhat curious shoppes and houses which had been added to it over the centuries, making it still of use and beauty long after it was outmoded in comparison to modern feats of engineering and architecture.
The mere fact that this bridge was still standing amazed me. After all it had stood there almost 300 years before Columbus came to America.
However, not everyone agrees on the beauty or value of old structures. One American tourist told me, “In America we would tear down such an ugly old bridge and build a new one in its place made of concrete and steel. My answer was, “Can you build one that is 800 years old?”
In 1988, I returned to Florence and found that since the war it had prospered and grown with many new buildings and condominiums in its environs. Now there ware at least eight bridges crossing the Arno; some of them are the old bridges restored to original state, but several are completely modern and used for heavy traffic, but the Ponte Vecchio is still the pride of the city and now used only for pedestrian traffic. The shoppes on its span which market jewelry, antiques and art are among the finest in Italy.
I was reminded of Ponte Vecchio by a recent letter in the Observer-Reporter that referred to the Old Hickory School Building, and the words of the tourist, long since deceased, came back to me.
The writer asked, “Who needs a cavernous, ugly, old firetrap with too many big windows and not enough big doors, a big flat roof and peeling paint?”
Well, in speaking to residents and former students of Old Hickory School I found no other who labeled the building “ugly”. Many have fond memories of time spent there.
It is no more a “firetrap” than 99 percent of homes with wooden floors, wooden joists and rafters in Washington County. The large windows are for letting in “the light”. The doors are adequate and more can be added if needed.
Actually, the roof is not flat, but is assumed to be flat by those who have never checked it out. The roof is not leaking any worse than 95 percent of the older homes in the county.
Being a heavy stone foundation and thick hard brick walls, it is probably the most solid building in the township.
It is a good example of 19th to 20th century transitional American classic architecture and many such buildings are well preserved and serving a good purpose today.
No, I am not saying the Old Hickory School is another Ponte Vecchio, but it is the closest thing we have to it in Mt. Pleasant Township and it is worth keeping and using.
In a sense it did serve as a bridge for many years. For many pupils this was the first passageway to cross from the land of ignorance to the frontiers of the land of knowledge.
It still has possibilities as a museum, gallery, craft center, office complex, youth center, day care center etc. etc.
The problem is, as with anything worth having, it requires maintenance. Some people think it is too big; others think we are not big enough to handle it. If this building is to be saved those in the community who feel it is worth saving must get together and work on this now."
Yes! the school was saved! It became the Hickory Community Center, and for the last 30 years has been just what John anticipated...a library, a day care, a museum, a large part of the Hickory Apply Festival and a great gathering place for weddings, graduations and numerous celebrations!
A Moment with John L. - August 2019
"The A-B-C's of Horsemanship"
“Get a horse…..” says I
“Why?” says the skeptic.
“for Artistic Adventure,
for Bounty of Beauty
for your Condition to Compete
for Discovering Delicious Diversion
of Ecological Environment
and Economical
Fancy of Frolical Fun!
for Greatest General Good
and Happy, Hearty Health
or Industrious Intensity of Idealism
and Justice
or Just for ‘Kicks’
and Kisses
or for Leverage in Love,
Ladies or Men,
Meniel or Magnificent,
who Naturally, Never in Nature
had Overpowering Opinion to Operate
for Peace and Pleasure
In Quickness or Quietude,
With Reasonable Reality
And Simple Sensitivity,
Testing & Tempting Time –
Today & Tomorrow.
to Understand, Unerringly
the Use and Utility
of a Veritable Variety of Victories in Vint Vitality.
and with Wise and Wonderful Willingness
to eXpertly eXplore eXcellence
and Yield to the Yearnings of Yesterday,
with Zest
from Zero to Zenith!”
How are horses economical asks the skeptic
(After all horses are less expensive…than cars, gambling, whiskey or woman)
-John L. Baker
A Moment with John L. - July 2019
"4th of July"
The 4th of July was always an important holiday in John's family. Through the years, it officially became "The Baker Family Reunion". Always lots of people, lots of food, and lots of pictures taken. For about 50-55 years, it has been hosted by John & Nancy. Since their passing, it is now hosted by their son, Mark, and his wife, Cindy. Everyone knows, if you want to see your cousins, aunt's & uncle's, come to the Baker Farm on the 4th of July!!
The photos below are of the Statue of Liberty that John created to stand in the yard at the farm. This "statue" was cut from sheets of plywood, beautifully painted, and then pieced together, to stand over 15' tall!
A Moment with John L. - June 2019
"The MVHA Horse Show"
"June...a busy time of year for John and his family. School's out, so that means hay season, horse auctions and of course, the annual Horse Show held at the family farm! Although life was busy, John still painted everyday. To this day, his children recall being in the hayfield for hours during the day, but still waking in the middle of the night to find their dad sitting at the table...painting!"
John was very passionate about painting and his horses, but just as much about the horse club, the Montour Valley Horseman's Association.
The John L. Baker art committee invites you to join us at the MVHA's 39th annual horse show! We will have a booth setup to view some amazing pieces of art work. We also will have a raffle of one of his pieces that you could win and take home with you! This is a great family event! We hope to see you this Sunday, June 9th!
A Moment with John L. - February 2019
"Valentine's Day - Love Letter to Nancy"
A Moment with John L. - February 2019
"Northern Lights"
Northern Lights was painted in 1961. What else was going on with John L in 1961?? John and Nancy were living on their “first homestead” for 4 years now (spring of 1957). John had been self-employed for approximately 2 years and hired Edward Hurley as his “agent/architect” to procure large contracts with churches. At these churches he would paint murals, design statues or any other artistic needs. The most important event for John and Nancy in 1961, was the birth of their 5th child, Janine Adele.
Northern Lights is our Print of the Month for February. Check back next month for another Moment with John L.