when I graduated high school I had some good things in me and so I had some bad
good things in me and so I had some bad
good things in me and so I had some bad things in me after I was a third year
things in me after I was a third year
things in me after I was a third year freshman in college I decided to change
freshman in college I decided to change
freshman in college I decided to change some things up a little bit so I decided
some things up a little bit so I decided
some things up a little bit so I decided I was not going to go down that path of
I was not going to go down that path of
I was not going to go down that path of a fourth year freshman in college I left
a fourth year freshman in college I left
a fourth year freshman in college I left that university I left my friends I left
that university I left my friends I left
that university I left my friends I left my music I left my clothes and I packed
my music I left my clothes and I packed
my music I left my clothes and I packed up I moved down to Tennessee and I
up I moved down to Tennessee and I
up I moved down to Tennessee and I decided I was gonna completely change my
decided I was gonna completely change my
decided I was gonna completely change my whole entire life it was about this time
whole entire life it was about this time
whole entire life it was about this time that I learned a very fundamental thing
that I learned a very fundamental thing
that I learned a very fundamental thing about going to class that if you go to
about going to class that if you go to
about going to class that if you go to class you’re gonna do pretty well in
class you’re gonna do pretty well in
class you’re gonna do pretty well in school so I immediately started going to
school so I immediately started going to
school so I immediately started going to class change my grades around but I
class change my grades around but I
class change my grades around but I still was missing some things in life
still was missing some things in life
still was missing some things in life and I had heard my whole life about how
and I had heard my whole life about how
and I had heard my whole life about how awesome art is things of this nature so
awesome art is things of this nature so
awesome art is things of this nature so about this time I was 24 25 years old I
about this time I was 24 25 years old I
about this time I was 24 25 years old I went to a philosophy conference in
went to a philosophy conference in
went to a philosophy conference in Chicago it was all about art and I said
Chicago it was all about art and I said
Chicago it was all about art and I said I don’t like art I don’t understand it
I don’t like art I don’t understand it
I don’t like art I don’t understand it so let me give this art a chance so I
so let me give this art a chance so I
so let me give this art a chance so I went to that talk and that talk was the
went to that talk and that talk was the
went to that talk and that talk was the spark that forever changed my life
spark that forever changed my life
spark that forever changed my life at the beginning of the talk the
at the beginning of the talk the
at the beginning of the talk the gentlemen performed a very interesting
gentlemen performed a very interesting
gentlemen performed a very interesting experiment he said spend one minute
experiment he said spend one minute
experiment he said spend one minute looking around the room writing down
looking around the room writing down
looking around the room writing down everything that you see so thinking that
everything that you see so thinking that
everything that you see so thinking that I’m a genius you know I write floor
I’m a genius you know I write floor
I’m a genius you know I write floor ceiling table there was I remember this
ceiling table there was I remember this
ceiling table there was I remember this there was a beautiful woman sitting next
there was a beautiful woman sitting next
there was a beautiful woman sitting next to me all I said was woman you know all
to me all I said was woman you know all
to me all I said was woman you know all this so we go through this whole thing
this so we go through this whole thing
this so we go through this whole thing so he spends an hour on one slide right
so he spends an hour on one slide right
so he spends an hour on one slide right he goes he talks about color texture
he goes he talks about color texture
he goes he talks about color texture shadow composition spending one entire
shadow composition spending one entire
shadow composition spending one entire hour on one slide at the end of that
hour on one slide at the end of that
hour on one slide at the end of that talk he says now spend one minute
talk he says now spend one minute
talk he says now spend one minute writing down what you see I got it I was
writing down what you see I got it I was
writing down what you see I got it I was blown away not only was I now saying
blown away not only was I now saying
blown away not only was I now saying whoa
whoa
whoa I was describing the qualities of the
I was describing the qualities of the
I was describing the qualities of the woman her black hair her luscious red
woman her black hair her luscious red
woman her black hair her luscious red lips the tanned nature of her skin no
lips the tanned nature of her skin no
lips the tanned nature of her skin no longer was I saying ceiling floor I was
longer was I saying ceiling floor I was
longer was I saying ceiling floor I was describing qualities quantities things
describing qualities quantities things
describing qualities quantities things that I had never done before the whole
that I had never done before the whole
that I had never done before the whole point of his talk was that many people
point of his talk was that many people
point of his talk was that many people live in their minds and they never look
live in their minds and they never look
live in their minds and they never look out here he said if you not only want to
out here he said if you not only want to
out here he said if you not only want to look out here but to see what’s out here
look out here but to see what’s out here
look out here but to see what’s out here but then to be impassioned about what’s
but then to be impassioned about what’s
but then to be impassioned about what’s out here go home find some art that you
out here go home find some art that you
out here go home find some art that you like hang it all over your house look at
like hang it all over your house look at
like hang it all over your house look at it live with it and see what that does
it live with it and see what that does
it live with it and see what that does to you over the years I did that very
to you over the years I did that very
to you over the years I did that very thing I went back down to Tennessee down
thing I went back down to Tennessee down
thing I went back down to Tennessee down came by NASCAR posters up went my
came by NASCAR posters up went my
came by NASCAR posters up went my portraits are Rembrandt my friends
portraits are Rembrandt my friends
portraits are Rembrandt my friends thought I was absolutely insane but
thought I was absolutely insane but
thought I was absolutely insane but something profound happened to me what
something profound happened to me what
something profound happened to me what is that that is a mess this is what I’m
is that that is a mess this is what I’m
is that that is a mess this is what I’m talking about this is how this was not
talking about this is how this was not
talking about this is how this was not me at the time this was actually my
me at the time this was actually my
me at the time this was actually my roommate I was a little better than this
roommate I was a little better than this
roommate I was a little better than this at the time but this is actually how I
at the time but this is actually how I
at the time but this is actually how I was raised and how I raised myself and I
was raised and how I raised myself and I
was raised and how I raised myself and I never realized that the things that were
never realized that the things that were
never realized that the things that were around me were actually called a mess I
around me were actually called a mess I
around me were actually called a mess I went home I found artworks that I sort
went home I found artworks that I sort
went home I found artworks that I sort of liked and I hung them up and I looked
of liked and I hung them up and I looked
of liked and I hung them up and I looked at him much in the way that that
at him much in the way that that
at him much in the way that that gentleman taught us to look at art at
gentleman taught us to look at art at
gentleman taught us to look at art at that philosophy conference I spent one
that philosophy conference I spent one
that philosophy conference I spent one year doing this and at the end of that
year doing this and at the end of that
year doing this and at the end of that year the most amazing thing happened to
year the most amazing thing happened to
year the most amazing thing happened to me in my life I made my bed
me in my life I made my bed
me in my life I made my bed I made my bed
I made my bed
I made my bed I made my bed not because mom’s yelling
I made my bed not because mom’s yelling
I made my bed not because mom’s yelling at me not because dad’s yelling at me
at me not because dad’s yelling at me
at me not because dad’s yelling at me but because I wanted the world of Lee to
but because I wanted the world of Lee to
but because I wanted the world of Lee to look like the world of art when you look
look like the world of art when you look
look like the world of art when you look and appreciate a fine painting it will
and appreciate a fine painting it will
and appreciate a fine painting it will teach you how to see out here it will
teach you how to see out here it will
teach you how to see out here it will teach you how to organize out here and
teach you how to organize out here and
teach you how to organize out here and at the end of the day it will give you
at the end of the day it will give you
at the end of the day it will give you that ahh feeling right I call it the aw
that ahh feeling right I call it the aw
that ahh feeling right I call it the aw philosophy of life and then if you get
philosophy of life and then if you get
philosophy of life and then if you get enough of these aahs in your daily life
enough of these aahs in your daily life
enough of these aahs in your daily life you’ll have a good day
you’ll have a good day
you’ll have a good day I did that very thing I started to make
I did that very thing I started to make
I did that very thing I started to make my bed because I wanted to go ahh
my bed because I wanted to go ahh
my bed because I wanted to go ahh but I didn’t stop there you can ask my
but I didn’t stop there you can ask my
but I didn’t stop there you can ask my roommates at the time I didn’t stop
roommates at the time I didn’t stop
roommates at the time I didn’t stop there I started cleaning everything I
there I started cleaning everything I
there I started cleaning everything I started polishing dusting never heard of
started polishing dusting never heard of
started polishing dusting never heard of it before
it before
it before now I’m dusting everything polishing
now I’m dusting everything polishing
now I’m dusting everything polishing everything I completely rearranged my
everything I completely rearranged my
everything I completely rearranged my life so that whenever I entered into my
life so that whenever I entered into my
life so that whenever I entered into my living space I went oh art has taught me
living space I went oh art has taught me
living space I went oh art has taught me so many things in life over the years
so many things in life over the years
so many things in life over the years one of the most fundamental things is
one of the most fundamental things is
one of the most fundamental things is that it not only taught me to look out
that it not only taught me to look out
that it not only taught me to look out here to see out here and to become a
here to see out here and to become a
here to see out here and to become a passion about here let me give you two
passion about here let me give you two
passion about here let me give you two examples I’m in Tennessee and I decide
examples I’m in Tennessee and I decide
examples I’m in Tennessee and I decide that I want to become an artist storing
that I want to become an artist storing
that I want to become an artist storing that this art thing is pretty cool so
that this art thing is pretty cool so
that this art thing is pretty cool so Middle Tennessee State University where
Middle Tennessee State University where
Middle Tennessee State University where I was the artist story and wanting to
I was the artist story and wanting to
I was the artist story and wanting to learn about arts was given one classroom
learn about arts was given one classroom
learn about arts was given one classroom in the AG building where the budding
in the AG building where the budding
in the AG building where the budding young art historian would walk into the
young art historian would walk into the
young art historian would walk into the lobby and see two things a decomposing
lobby and see two things a decomposing
lobby and see two things a decomposing horse skeleton and a couch which was
horse skeleton and a couch which was
horse skeleton and a couch which was either used for sitting or one
either used for sitting or one
either used for sitting or one enterprising professor cut a hole in the
enterprising professor cut a hole in the
enterprising professor cut a hole in the side so artificial insemination practice
side so artificial insemination practice
side so artificial insemination practice this is where I took my first art
this is where I took my first art
this is where I took my first art history classes and I fell in love with
history classes and I fell in love with
history classes and I fell in love with it so like most art historians I moved
it so like most art historians I moved
it so like most art historians I moved to New York City became broke had to
to New York City became broke had to
to New York City became broke had to live in New Jersey while pursuing a PhD
live in New Jersey while pursuing a PhD
live in New Jersey while pursuing a PhD in art history
in art history
in art history I’m cleaning in New Jersey one day I’m
I’m cleaning in New Jersey one day I’m
I’m cleaning in New Jersey one day I’m they’re going to do some work at my desk
they’re going to do some work at my desk
they’re going to do some work at my desk and I look over and for just a couple of
and I look over and for just a couple of
and I look over and for just a couple of minutes of every day the Sun would go
minutes of every day the Sun would go
minutes of every day the Sun would go through this one particular window and
through this one particular window and
through this one particular window and it hit that broom and dustpan how many
it hit that broom and dustpan how many
it hit that broom and dustpan how many of you in here I’ve ever photographed a
of you in here I’ve ever photographed a
of you in here I’ve ever photographed a broom and a dustpan how many of you in
broom and a dustpan how many of you in
broom and a dustpan how many of you in here have been moved by a dustpan and a
here have been moved by a dustpan and a
here have been moved by a dustpan and a broom on this very day I was I looked at
broom on this very day I was I looked at
broom on this very day I was I looked at that and I went all right it hit me like
that and I went all right it hit me like
that and I went all right it hit me like a thunderbolt I took a picture of it not
a thunderbolt I took a picture of it not
a thunderbolt I took a picture of it not because I thought that I would be in
because I thought that I would be in
because I thought that I would be in Blacksburg showing people this picture
Blacksburg showing people this picture
Blacksburg showing people this picture of 20 years later but because I had to
of 20 years later but because I had to
of 20 years later but because I had to remember that moment that was an all
remember that moment that was an all
remember that moment that was an all moment of my life another great moment
moment of my life another great moment
moment of my life another great moment and I have a thousand of these in New
and I have a thousand of these in New
and I have a thousand of these in New York City the culture is is that you get
York City the culture is is that you get
York City the culture is is that you get your shoeshine right it’s three dollars
your shoeshine right it’s three dollars
your shoeshine right it’s three dollars for shoeshine and then one dollar for a
for shoeshine and then one dollar for a
for shoeshine and then one dollar for a dip these are everywhere and I always
dip these are everywhere and I always
dip these are everywhere and I always went to this one guy because he did the
went to this one guy because he did the
went to this one guy because he did the best job ever so on this day he not only
best job ever so on this day he not only
best job ever so on this day he not only gave me the best shoeshine that I had
gave me the best shoeshine that I had
gave me the best shoeshine that I had ever seen in my life but then he did
ever seen in my life but then he did
ever seen in my life but then he did something I never understand
something I never understand
something I never understand he messed it all up he did it again and
he messed it all up he did it again and
he messed it all up he did it again and I was blown away literally at that point
I was blown away literally at that point
I was blown away literally at that point in my life my entire estate was ten
in my life my entire estate was ten
in my life my entire estate was ten dollars
dollars
dollars I gave him my entire estate for the
I gave him my entire estate for the
I gave him my entire estate for the greatest shoe shine that I had ever had
greatest shoe shine that I had ever had
greatest shoe shine that I had ever had on this day with you guys have been in
on this day with you guys have been in
on this day with you guys have been in New York City you know how it is you’re
New York City you know how it is you’re
New York City you know how it is you’re always looking up at the sky scrapers
always looking up at the sky scrapers
always looking up at the sky scrapers right because it’s amazing but on this
right because it’s amazing but on this
right because it’s amazing but on this day not only did I photograph my shoe
day not only did I photograph my shoe
day not only did I photograph my shoe I’m walking through New York City going
I’m walking through New York City going
I’m walking through New York City going oh oh oh that’s what that guy did for me
oh oh oh that’s what that guy did for me
oh oh oh that’s what that guy did for me I’m in class that day and I’m sitting
I’m in class that day and I’m sitting
I’m in class that day and I’m sitting there I’m like that’s great
there I’m like that’s great
there I’m like that’s great what did what did you say professor
what did what did you say professor
what did what did you say professor right I mean that just blew me away
right I mean that just blew me away
right I mean that just blew me away art as I can you know as I know this is
art as I can you know as I know this is
art as I can you know as I know this is the abbreviated lecture I have a nice
the abbreviated lecture I have a nice
the abbreviated lecture I have a nice for our talk that I would love to give
for our talk that I would love to give
for our talk that I would love to give someday can do many things another great
someday can do many things another great
someday can do many things another great thing that art did for me was taught me
thing that art did for me was taught me
thing that art did for me was taught me about grandeur about this
about grandeur about this
about grandeur about this this painting is in Brooklyn Museum of
this painting is in Brooklyn Museum of
this painting is in Brooklyn Museum of Art it’s by a German painter Albert
Art it’s by a German painter Albert
Art it’s by a German painter Albert Bierstadt these paintings were the star
Bierstadt these paintings were the star
Bierstadt these paintings were the star wars of the day that are the huge
wars of the day that are the huge
wars of the day that are the huge blockbusters if you will people paid
blockbusters if you will people paid
blockbusters if you will people paid money just to go sit in front of it for
money just to go sit in front of it for
money just to go sit in front of it for you know five or six minutes what I
you know five or six minutes what I
you know five or six minutes what I loved about this and what I never had in
loved about this and what I never had in
loved about this and what I never had in my life
my life
my life were these soaring juxtapositions the
were these soaring juxtapositions the
were these soaring juxtapositions the verticals the horizontal is the water
verticals the horizontal is the water
verticals the horizontal is the water the desert the the Sun the clouds all of
the desert the the Sun the clouds all of
the desert the the Sun the clouds all of these juxtapositions a million of them
these juxtapositions a million of them
these juxtapositions a million of them provide you know put this sublimity
provide you know put this sublimity
provide you know put this sublimity inside me that I had to see in my own
inside me that I had to see in my own
inside me that I had to see in my own life so remember I’m living in New
life so remember I’m living in New
life so remember I’m living in New Jersey once again and so one January I
Jersey once again and so one January I
Jersey once again and so one January I spent 30 sunrises in New Jersey it’s
spent 30 sunrises in New Jersey it’s
spent 30 sunrises in New Jersey it’s cold I was up on this hill that I had to
cold I was up on this hill that I had to
cold I was up on this hill that I had to actually climb to I had a I one of those
actually climb to I had a I one of those
actually climb to I had a I one of those wet water suits because it was so cold
wet water suits because it was so cold
wet water suits because it was so cold up there but the clarity of the skyline
up there but the clarity of the skyline
up there but the clarity of the skyline of New York City was absolutely
of New York City was absolutely
of New York City was absolutely incredible and so for 30 days I
incredible and so for 30 days I
incredible and so for 30 days I literally took 10,000 pictures of the
literally took 10,000 pictures of the
literally took 10,000 pictures of the New York City skyline from this vantage
New York City skyline from this vantage
New York City skyline from this vantage point and that forever changed me I
point and that forever changed me I
point and that forever changed me I developed the Sun the sunrise philosophy
developed the Sun the sunrise philosophy
developed the Sun the sunrise philosophy of life that if you get up and watch the
of life that if you get up and watch the
of life that if you get up and watch the Sun Rise chances are you’re going to
Sun Rise chances are you’re going to
Sun Rise chances are you’re going to have a good day right I never would have
have a good day right I never would have
have a good day right I never would have done any of this if it were not for that
done any of this if it were not for that
done any of this if it were not for that original spark art I mean I took so many
original spark art I mean I took so many
original spark art I mean I took so many I have so many of these I can just keep
I have so many of these I can just keep
I have so many of these I can just keep going on and on and on but there was
going on and on and on but there was
going on and on and on but there was another aspect of this painting this
another aspect of this painting this
another aspect of this painting this peak that we see here in the background
peak that we see here in the background
peak that we see here in the background it actually exists it’s 30 miles outside
it actually exists it’s 30 miles outside
it actually exists it’s 30 miles outside of Denver and it’s called Mount Evans
of Denver and it’s called Mount Evans
of Denver and it’s called Mount Evans the artist who painted this painting was
the artist who painted this painting was
the artist who painted this painting was the first to ever summit that peak today
the first to ever summit that peak today
the first to ever summit that peak today it’s a great tourist attraction 30 miles
it’s a great tourist attraction 30 miles
it’s a great tourist attraction 30 miles outside of Denver it’s what’s called the
outside of Denver it’s what’s called the
outside of Denver it’s what’s called the highest auto pass in all of North
highest auto pass in all of North
highest auto pass in all of North America so it’s the highest paved road
America so it’s the highest paved road
America so it’s the highest paved road that you can drive to it’s about 14,000
that you can drive to it’s about 14,000
that you can drive to it’s about 14,000 feet higher than anything in New York
feet higher than anything in New York
feet higher than anything in New York higher than anything in Alaska anywhere
higher than anything in Alaska anywhere
higher than anything in Alaska anywhere so one of the great things that I
so one of the great things that I
so one of the great things that I it was started 7,000 feet and in the
it was started 7,000 feet and in the
it was started 7,000 feet and in the summer and you ride your bike for two
summer and you ride your bike for two
summer and you ride your bike for two excruciating hours and you pass the snow
excruciating hours and you pass the snow
excruciating hours and you pass the snow and you arrive at the top in the winter
and you arrive at the top in the winter
and you arrive at the top in the winter again I never would have done anything
again I never would have done anything
again I never would have done anything like this if it were not for art art for
like this if it were not for art art for
like this if it were not for art art for me has not only been a spark but it has
me has not only been a spark but it has
me has not only been a spark but it has been a boom that has redounded
been a boom that has redounded
been a boom that has redounded throughout my entire life I hope that
throughout my entire life I hope that
throughout my entire life I hope that you go out tonight find an artwork
you go out tonight find an artwork
you go out tonight find an artwork that’s you like hanging on your wall
that’s you like hanging on your wall
that’s you like hanging on your wall live with it
live with it
live with it drink some wine to it and let that art
drink some wine to it and let that art
drink some wine to it and let that art work ignite a spark in you thank you
work ignite a spark in you thank you
work ignite a spark in you thank you [Applause]
”
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