If you are reading this then it means I was successful in publishing a post on my own, without the help of my teacher, mentor, and dear friend, Alberto Gaitán, who has guided me over the past ten years, with patience, encouragement, support, and generosity. It is with a heavy heart that we say farewell, as he passed suddenly and unexpectedly in late July, a devastating loss on so many levels.
This is my small tribute to a beautiful man and acknowledgement of the significant and important role he has played in the life of Rare Lynx, which has always been a project sourced in deep love, passion, and appreciation for the ancient olive trees, their magical olive fruit, and the exquisite oil they produce.
Not only did Alberto design this, our lovely Rare Lynx website, but I have run every post and announcement past him, asked his technical advice, and appreciated his sage feedback, ever since we first launched our project. Truth be told, he shared his knowledge and gifts as generously with so many.
Alberto himself was a wonderful ambassador of our EVOO, bringing many family and friends into our circle. Family members include brother Fernando who has for the past three years graciously transported EVOO to our DC area community, Alberto joining him on the journey down, having organized the recipients for the rendezvous and hand off later in the day. As well, sister Helena, who has herself formed an EVOO circle in Atlanta, Georgia, has been enormously appreciative and supportive by sharing the love.
Our relationship goes back far longer than beginning our collaboration ten years ago however, as many as 45 years in fact, when we were part of a thriving circle of artists and musicians. Alberto went on to establish himself as a respected creative force and ground breaker in the DC art scene. He was indeed a rare breed, calling himself a polymath. Whoever even heard of that? I had to look it up. For your edification, in case you didn’t know either, according to Wikipedia “A polymath is an individual whose knowledge spans a substantial number of subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems.” And that he was and that he did!
Despite being afflicted with a rare debilitating arthritis from a young age, he was undaunted and thrived, even excelling in all manner of knowledge and creative projects. In this way, for me, he has the soul of an ancient olive tree, who thrives despite formidable stresses and challenges, is generous in growth and fruit, deeply rooted, a golden heart like golden oil, and beautifully gnarled with age and wisdom.
Please take a moment to read this marvelous article by Gareth Branwyn for the DC City Paper:
Remembering Artist Alberto Gaitán
But beyond all that, Alberto was first and foremost, my dear friend. We are so very grateful that he has had such a significant presence in the life of our small Rare Lynx family and always will be remembered for his wonderful and enthusiastic contributions.
It was such a gift seeing him only a few weeks earlier, when he and Fernando came down, to courier the EVOO. Alberto got to see the progress on our house building project, visit our vegetable garden, and admire our tiny garden pond. He has been so intrigued by our small fish pond, he even sent us a book on building natural ponds as a source and inspiration for our bigger pond building endeavor.
Thankfully, we had a deliciously long loving hug goodbye. We just never know do we?
Fernando found these talismans, as he called them, in a small card carrying case Alberto always carried with him. The Artistic License card was as Fernando described “a project Alberto’s forever friend, soul mate and artistic lodestone, Gareth Branwyn, made some years ago and distributed.” He also shared, “It seemed to me that in retrospect, and having known him my whole life, he had jotted simply stated distillations for what he found true and important in his life.”
It has been an honor and privilege to call you friend dear Alberto. I will try to carry on, hoping you are looking over my shoulder whenever I reach out to share with our community of friends.
Your spirit shines brightly and eternally in our hearts. Fly free dear friend !
