From our Publisher

Finding Beauty

This month’s focus on the arts has been especially fun for the staff and myself—after all, we thrive on creativity. My artistic inspiration has always come through dance and through nature. I guess it’s the movement of dance that makes me feel beautiful. From nature, I find tranquility in the smells, sounds, colors and shapes of my surroundings. That’s me in a nutshell. Whether your artistic inspiration comes from performing or painting, pottery or poetry, a quiet moment alone or the loud laughter of a good friend—to me it’s all art. And to me it’s beautiful.

And there’s nothing more beautiful than a woman following her passion. This month we profile four women doing just this—following their passion for the arts. The four artists in our feature story—dancer Yoshie Fujimoto Kateada, singer/songwriter Whitney Mann, writer Catrina Sparkman and visual artist Chele Isaac were each nominated by established women in their industry as artists to watch. We tell you why on p. 44.

Then find tips on creating an artsy corner in your own home (p. 22), discover how a music director “feels” the notes (p. 26), learn what an award-winning trumpet player plans for the future (p. 20), and find what a ceramicist, metalsmith and glass-worker have in common (p. 35).

But beauty isn’t just found in art. It’s in living your life with zeal. Find inspiration in your closet by playing with patterns (p. 50), in your health by thriving through menopause (p. 58), and out on the town by sampling local summer treats (p. 64).

This month I hope you find beauty in your world—beauty in your soul and the person that you are, and beauty in the community we live in. Stop for a moment to take in the beauty around you and don’t be afraid to share it with others. It’s infectious.