On the morning of June 25, Matthew Christian Byars passed peacefully in his sleep at the Health Care Resort in Colorado Springs. Chris Byars held on to every day with a smile, bringing joy to those around him even as his mind and body declined in the last few years of his life. He lived a full life spending his time with family and friends and pursuing his passions.
Creating and selling art as his primary and almost sole source of income, Chris often lived frugally in a primitive shack without modern amenities. Yet he loved riding his collection of motorcycles to his art studio in downtown Salida to play his many saxophones for his and the enjoyment of others on the street.
Chris was born in Denver on Dec. 12,1939. He was the middle of two brothers, Jack and Tom. Both brothers, his father, Ralph Byars, and mother Laura Belle Lancaster preceded him in death. His two younger sisters, Paula Schirmer and Melodee Hallett, miss them all but have stories and memories of a wild life with their big brothers that live on. After meeting the lovely Julia LoSasso in college in Greeley they married. Julia helped Chris finish a master’s degree in art at CU Boulder before the couple brought their sons John and Paul to experience mountain life in Salida where all the brothers and sisters and mother converged. They started the art movement here along with the wave of people choosing to forge a path of freedom and self-expression akin to the early Beatinik days. With simple aspirations of raising a family; creating legendary large sculptures and other forms of art, learning to kayak and ski and the final goal of being in a blues band – Chris Byars achieved complete success.
In his career, Chris sold over $250,000 of his art in the form of large steel sculptures installed around the country. He also has a plethora of unsold designs, drawings and up-cycled metal sculptures that add to his body of work. He played saxophone with his husband-in-law J.N. Bates in the Lazy Alien Blues Band and with his son Paul in Blues Inc. He inspired many people to pursue art in Salida and as a teacher of art in Cleveland, Ohio. He left the teaching world over his refusal to grade art and stopped selling art because of the bureaucratic minutia it entailed. He said many times “anything worth doing, is worth doing well” and it showed in his art and his art of living. He raced motorcycles with his brothers and kayaks with his son.
He took his sons skiing with his second wife Debbie Kanter (deceased), an instructor at both Monarch and Taos. As beautiful as his life was, it also had hardships. Chris tragically found his eldest son John drowned downstream from “scurfing” on the river just 10 days after his first grandchild Amanda was born. Chris’s younger brother, Paul, died at birth and his name lives on with his son and sister. In his final days Chris enjoyed seeing his great grandchildren, Juniper and Django from his grandson, Jonah and their mother Jill. Although he spent time with his grandchildren, Arlo and Embry from Amanda and met her husband Cosmo at their wedding recently, he didn’t hold on long enough to meet the new great-grandchild showing up soon. Chris was very fond of his granddaughter, Lexi, who helped him tremendously in his final difficult years. Jonah, Lexi and his son Paul all spent valuable time learning how to use his tools and ride his motorcycles. They spent many birthdays at his cabin and all lived close, enjoying his company as he played his saxophone on the street or a never-ending pot of coffee with a perfect word you had to look up in the dictionary.
Chris was originally self-educated; reading books on a ship for four years in the U.S. Navy, before using the G.I. Bill to get a formal education. He was often found in endless debates about art and its importance of reflecting and challenging society. He used his talents to build political art. With a good friend, he helped weld the “Dr. Doom Bus,” and traveled to anti-nuclear protests, peace marches and political events. He believed passionately in free speech and the desire for our country to err on the side of compassion over “might makes right.” He would sit for hours and talk art, politics or even religion with those going door-to-door, even though he was completely comfortable with uncertainty after death.
He inspired many people and was often the last refuge for the downtrodden out at “fort stinking desert,” AKA his cabin. He was instrumental in helping many get started in life and business with his building and philanthropy. He created a life worth living and created art to share and leave behind all while speaking with the wisdom of the “Grandfather of Art” in Salida. He inspired excellence but would never discourage another’s personal path of self-expression whether or not he liked or agreed.
In the later difficult years of his life, his joy was found in the moments shared with family and the community. As a family and community they all looked after his well-being and safety. He could always find home by the “S” on the mountain. Our family would sincerely like to thank the entire community who gave him the dignity to wander and be able to live outside a facility where, quite frankly, he didn’t want to be… (Apologies to Columbine Manor for his pulling of the fire alarm and convincing everyone there they were incarcerated.) He lived free and unconfined until his legs wouldn’t allow him.
All who knew Chris well and spent time at his cabin are encouraged to meet there to spread ashes at 10 a.m. July 25. Later at 5 p.m. we’ll gather to share stories and music with those left from the Lazy Aliens at the Velveteen, his granddaughter’s new venue located at the Sherman on First and G St in Salida. As he would say, “Be there or be square.” We will honor him again the following Saturday at the Velveteen at the annual Byars and Bonnie Culpepper Bash for all on August 1 celebrating birthdays, including the 150th birthday of the State of Colorado, featuring his favorite keyboard player Ernie Hatfield and Blue Recluse.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Matthew “CHRIS” Christian Byars, please visit: Tree Store.
