Ron Laws: A Wellspring of Inspiration
By JEFF SPRY Cascade A&E Feature Writer
As a child growing up in Southern Oregon’s lush Rogue Valley, musician and flute-maker Ron Laws held sacred the family values and community spirit he saw surrounding him, elements that later became a wellspring of inspiration for his provocative art and music.
“The rhythms of nature and the weather combined to create an atmosphere of a safe container where people could have a genuine system of values that honored each other,” he recalled. “It was a wonderful place to live, when the river still had a voice and there was a truth in all things.”
“I had a bag of penny whistles and my oatmeal carton drum and I’d sing and dance with the trees and entertain myself all day, being in the arms of these mountains with the pheasants and the coyotes. After a lifetime of searching and exploring, these same basic elements still influence my life and artworks. It is a language of the heart.”
Laws is the owner of Skyway Enterprises, a creator of Native American style flutes, crafting unique artisan musical instruments from his home and shop in Sisters. Made from a variety of woods including, maple, black walnut, cedar, juniper and pine, each type of wood has its own specific qualities and voices. These are sacred, handcrafted flutes made with spirit and soul, genuine works of art as well as magical musical instruments. Custom flutes can be created specifically for you by Laws, integrating rare woods, a variety of keys, animal fetishes and meaningful tribal designs.
I’ve been playing flutes and reeded instruments since I was five and have made Indian flutes since the early 90s,” said Laws. “In choosing one for a customer or friend, I recognize a uniqueness in each flute and in each person, and if they don’t line up, then you won’t be able to produce a deeply pleasing tone and that one may not be for you.”
Laws thinks the flute is a simple instrument that links and bridges the spirit and real worlds.
“There are only two thing you need to know, the five basic tones and your rhythm or intonation. There aren’t any wrong notes and that allows you to play any tune or arrangement your heart sings to you. So many people come out of school and are taught that they have no musical talent. Everyone has music within themselves.”
The engaging descendant of a notorious French pirate, Laws makes flutes and writes music as meditative therapy and spiritual sustenance.
“Creating a flute is about giving meaning and feeling, designing things of beauty. I’m doing what I love to do and I’m able to stand up and breathe life into this instrument and lead people into a more natural, self-sustaining realm. The flute is a vehicle for me, calling that essence into a room of people.”
Following the completion of a flute, Laws often finds himself looking at his hands, amazed at the journey he has accomplished, almost as if there’s a presence using and directing his hands and body.
“In my heart, I believe human beings can work and create and live together in ways that are sustainable, supporting the integrity of not only the natural world but of families and communities. We’re designed to function in these ways.”
For Laws, the flute music lets you hear nature in all its innumerable shades and shadows.
“The Indians called it a love flute because each player had his own instrument,” he explained. “There’s nothing more fulfilling than to create beauty in the world, whether it’s through music, art or painting and the flute lends itself fully to that language.”
Besides handcrafting flutes, Laws also performs as a musician, opening for Deepak Chopra and inspirational speaker Wayne Dyer, teaches instructional courses, appears as a story-teller and does creative workshops for at-risk youth.
For upcoming classes, performances and ceremonies visit Laws at www.skywayflutes.com or 541-390-8778.
As a child growing up in Southern Oregon’s lush Rogue Valley, musician and flute-maker Ron Laws held sacred the family values and community spirit he saw surrounding him, elements that later became a wellspring of inspiration for his provocative art and music.
“The rhythms of nature and the weather combined to create an atmosphere of a safe container where people could have a genuine system of values that honored each other,” he recalled. “It was a wonderful place to live, when the river still had a voice and there was a truth in all things.”
“I had a bag of penny whistles and my oatmeal carton drum and I’d sing and dance with the trees and entertain myself all day, being in the arms of these mountains with the pheasants and the coyotes. After a lifetime of searching and exploring, these same basic elements still influence my life and artworks. It is a language of the heart.”
Laws is the owner of Skyway Enterprises, a creator of Native American style flutes, crafting unique artisan musical instruments from his home and shop in Sisters. Made from a variety of woods including, maple, black walnut, cedar, juniper and pine, each type of wood has its own specific qualities and voices. These are sacred, handcrafted flutes made with spirit and soul, genuine works of art as well as magical musical instruments. Custom flutes can be created specifically for you by Laws, integrating rare woods, a variety of keys, animal fetishes and meaningful tribal designs.
I’ve been playing flutes and reeded instruments since I was five and have made Indian flutes since the early 90s,” said Laws. “In choosing one for a customer or friend, I recognize a uniqueness in each flute and in each person, and if they don’t line up, then you won’t be able to produce a deeply pleasing tone and that one may not be for you.”
Laws thinks the flute is a simple instrument that links and bridges the spirit and real worlds.
“There are only two thing you need to know, the five basic tones and your rhythm or intonation. There aren’t any wrong notes and that allows you to play any tune or arrangement your heart sings to you. So many people come out of school and are taught that they have no musical talent. Everyone has music within themselves.”
The engaging descendant of a notorious French pirate, Laws makes flutes and writes music as meditative therapy and spiritual sustenance.
“Creating a flute is about giving meaning and feeling, designing things of beauty. I’m doing what I love to do and I’m able to stand up and breathe life into this instrument and lead people into a more natural, self-sustaining realm. The flute is a vehicle for me, calling that essence into a room of people.”
Following the completion of a flute, Laws often finds himself looking at his hands, amazed at the journey he has accomplished, almost as if there’s a presence using and directing his hands and body.
“In my heart, I believe human beings can work and create and live together in ways that are sustainable, supporting the integrity of not only the natural world but of families and communities. We’re designed to function in these ways.”
For Laws, the flute music lets you hear nature in all its innumerable shades and shadows.
“The Indians called it a love flute because each player had his own instrument,” he explained. “There’s nothing more fulfilling than to create beauty in the world, whether it’s through music, art or painting and the flute lends itself fully to that language.”
Besides handcrafting flutes, Laws also performs as a musician, opening for Deepak Chopra and inspirational speaker Wayne Dyer, teaches instructional courses, appears as a story-teller and does creative workshops for at-risk youth.
For upcoming classes, performances and ceremonies visit Laws at www.skywayflutes.com or 541-390-8778.
