Editor's Notes

Note from the Editor | June 26, 2014

Nick Meyer |

Laurie Bieze
Laurie Bieze

Just this last weekend as this issue went to press, we at Volume One heard about the passing of the great local artist, mentor, and friend, Laurie Bieze. With her constant beaming smile and genuine warmth, she was loved by many in this community and touched countless lives – including some of us at V1. Barely more than two months ago we featured Laurie in our special online and print feature, “Master Class.”  But her mastery went well beyond her art – when it came to life, it really seemed she had much of it figured out. (You can read that article about her at VolumeOne.org/MasterClass.) I’d met Laurie a couple times over the years through Volume One, but I first really got to know her in an unlikely place: the very first series of improv classes at the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center. About 65 years old at the time, she was a fun woman with the heart, soul, and energy of someone closer to 25. Though she was nearly twice the age of the next oldest person there, she fit right in and we all had a blast. With a quick wit and the happiest eyes I’ve ever seen, you couldn’t help but love her. Thankfully, we all have much by which to remember Laurie, with her art spread generously throughout this community and the world. And that body of work, in colorful stained glass, will be there for decades to come with the light of the world shining through. Just as it shined through Laurie herself.