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Ellenville has a huge green portrait of Albert Einstein, complete with his signature equation, E=mc2, gazing up at airplanes, hang gliders and visitors to the scenic overlook on state Route 52. Route 209, just outside of Ellenville, visible only from a vantage point high above the village and used by hang glider pilots as a landing field. Mostly attracted by word of mouth, visitors flocked to the overlook to see it. Last year, Elvis Presley graced the spot, marking the 25th anniversary of his death. Residents awoke to the sound of a helicopter buzzing persistently overhead, prompting calls to the state police and the Drug Enforcement Agency for information. Only those with binoculars saw the big blue "4" on the side, identifying it as a news helicopter for WNBC-TV 4 in New York City. It won Best of Show among 115 entries from all over the world. Peter Davidson, the Graceland staff member who chaired the contest, remains awed. He also was impressed by the fact that there's an Einstein show currently running at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, which influenced him greatly as a child when his parents took him there. Michael Shara, the museum's astrophysicist and curator of the Einstein exhibit, is equally enthusiastic about Baker's work. It's kind of a billboard for us, as well as a tribute to Einstein. UNDERSTANDING the architecture of such a project is essential to the artistry. Baker said he starts with a concept and image, goes to a thumbnail sketch, and when the location is determined, the format is decided. IT WAS Baker's passion for hang gliding that brought him to the Ellenville area, a mecca for people who enjoy the airborne activity. After years of travel and career exploration, Baker settled in nearby Cragsmoor with his wife, Carolyn Peters. BAKER'S career as a full-time artist has included numerous art forms. A fascination with motorcycles drew him to painting fancy custom jobs, hundreds of them. That led to painting murals on vans while he pursued his passion for hang gliding. He also has worked as a cartoonist, done gold leafing, lettered boats and race cars and etched images of movie stars into giant mirrors for movie theaters and restaurants. Then there was a period of working as a sculptor for some Tokyo-based companies and another painting sets for Broderson Backdrops in New York City. THE FIELD work is carried out by a casual band of volunteers, who, like Baker, just do it for fun.
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