Painting Angela Latoi and the Quiet Power of Presence
Written by Christopher RemmersThis piece aims to capture a simple, powerful moment, one of those fleeting but unforgettable human gestures that speak volumes without saying a word.
It happened during our first community gathering along the Nooksack, a shared dinner and dialogue at Rich Appel’s farm. We had spent hours in story, sitting, listening, exchanging reflections about land, water, identity, and community. After all that speaking, we invited people to walk the river’s edge in silence.
A Moment of Embodiment
She removed her shoes and waded quietly into the shallows, no fanfare, no words. Just a quiet, graceful stillness. Several of us noticed it at once. There was something in that moment that transcended identity. Angela became a vessel, an embodiment of relationship, a figure standing at the threshold of human and river, bathed in golden warmth.
This painting is not just a portrait of her. It’s an honoring of what she stepped into. A moment of tranquil unity. The river and the woman, held together in sunlight.
I wanted the light to do the speaking here. The shimmering reflection on the water. The way it lifts and cradles her form. The glow on the brim of her hat and across her shoulders. That glow is what links her to the river, not just visually, but symbolically. She and the water are held in the same radiance.
There’s no elaborate symbolism here. No layered mythology. Just presence. Just peace. Just a woman in the water, illuminated.
The Power of Quiet
In a project filled with tension, legal conflict, cultural narrative, and facilitated dialogue, there’s something sacred about a moment like this. It reminds us why we’re gathering. Why the river matters. Why we need to listen not only to stories and arguments, but to silence, stillness and to a returning and remembering of why we are here.
Bathed in Light is a painting about peace and a quiet return. About seeing someone not as a representative but as a human being in communion with place.
As a classically-trained painter exploring mythological realism, Christopher Remmers bridges ancient wisdom with contemporary practice, teaching artists to find authentic vision through deep relationship with the natural world and timeless storytelling. Based in Bellingham, Washington, he also guides transformative wilderness experiences through Wander Wild, helping individuals reconnect with nature and unlock creative potential. 