By JEFF SPRY Cascade A&E Feature Writer
As a child growing up in Southern Oregon’s lush Rogue Valley, musician flute-maker Ron Laws held sacred the family values community spirit he saw surrounding him, elements that later became a wellspring of inspiration for his provocative art music.
“The rhythms of nature 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 there was a truth in all things.”
“I had a bag of penny whistles my oatmeal carton drum I’d sing dance with the trees entertain myself all day, being in the arms of these mountains with the pheasants the coyotes. After a lifetime of searching exploring, these same basic elements still influence my life 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 shop in Sisters. Made from a variety of woods including, maple, black walnut, cedar, juniper pine, each type of wood has its own specific qualities voices. These are sacred, h crafted flutes made with spirit 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 meaningful tribal designs.
I’ve been playing flutes reeded instruments since I was five 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 in each person, if they don’t line up, then you won’t be able to produce a deeply pleasing tone that one may not be for you.”
Laws thinks the flute is a simple instrument that links bridges the spirit real worlds.
“There are only two thing you need to know, the five basic tones your rhythm or intonation. There aren’t any wrong notes that allows you to play any tune or arrangement your heart sings to you. So many people come out of school are taught that they have no musical talent. Everyone has music within themselves.”
The engaging descendant of a notorious French pirate, Laws makes flutes writes music as meditative therapy spiritual sustenance.
“Creating a flute is about giving meaning feeling, designing things of beauty. I’m doing what I love to do I’m able to st up breathe life into this instrument 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 h s, amazed at the journey he has accomplished, almost as if there’s a presence using directing his h s body.
“In my heart, I believe human beings can work create live together in ways that are sustainable, supporting the integrity of not only the natural world but of families communities. We’re designed to function in these ways.”
For Laws, the flute music lets you hear nature in all its innumerable shades 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 the flute lends itself fully to that language.”
Besides h crafting flutes, Laws also performs as a musician, opening for Deepak Chopra inspirational speaker Wayne Dyer, teaches instructional courses, appears as a story-teller does creative workshops for at-risk youth.
For upcoming classes, performances ceremonies visit Laws at www.skywayflutes.com or 541-390-8778.