When Albert Einstein famously said that “imagination is more important than knowledge,” he did more than make daydreamers feel better about themselves. He zeroed in on the source of innovation, adventure, and progress.

At Walter, we often remark on the serendipitous way that themes emerge from particular issues of the magazine. Individual stories – chosen to reflect what’s exciting in Raleigh, and also to complement one another and the season – often cohere, once they’re reported and photographed, with an unexpected common thread.

This month, that throughline is the power of imagination.

It’s imagination that sparked the fantastical and futuristic idea of 3D printing and made it a reality; imagination that spearheaded the technology at N.C. State and at several groundbreaking area companies; and imagination that has made our area an emerging 3D printing hub. (pg. 68)

Imagination inspired Durham natives James and Mary Patton to amass a breathtaking collection of seminal works of 20th century American art over a shared lifetime. The couple bought art not for its investment value or cachet, but because it captured their individual and shared imaginations. Because, Jim Patton says, they wanted to wake up to it in the morning, and have it fill their lives. With the donation of their collection to the North Carolina Museum of Art, we can all become so inspired. (pg. 58)

Imagination is what drives foragers like chef Sam Bradford into the woods of Raleigh for long, chilly treks in search of elusive wild mushrooms, and imagination that inspires the dishes he creates with them. (pg. 86)

Even our Story of a House this month is fueled by the imagination of one generous Raleigh family, who spotted a need in our community and quickly came up with a way to help address it. The fundraiser Gretchen and Phil Kowalczyk held at their beautiful Raleigh home raised money to buy beds for children in Wake County who sleep on floors and couches because they don’t have beds of their own. (pg. 76)

It’s hardly news that imagination is at the heart of the work of an artist like Kiki Farish (pg. 100); an entrepreneur like Harriet Mills (pg. 96); or an art director, like our own Jesma Reynolds, whose exquisite tabletop designs are sure to inspire springtime entertaining (pg. 56). But it’s also at work in Kevin Barrett’s creative cocktail concoctions (pg. 94) and in the fantasyland of the folks who attended last month’s cartoonfest, Wizard World Comic Con (pg. 130).

It’s hard to think of a better season than spring to celebrate the power of imagination, and to stoke it here in a community that’s doing so much to harness it for benefit of so many.

-Liza Roberts, Editor & General Manager

Editor@WalterMagazine.com