I am an artist and an educator and I wanted to talk to you tonight about some
wanted to talk to you tonight about some
wanted to talk to you tonight about some experiences of being with the world that
experiences of being with the world that
experiences of being with the world that I have found very fruitful in my career
I have found very fruitful in my career
I have found very fruitful in my career as a maker but also as a human being I
as a maker but also as a human being I
as a maker but also as a human being I find our world today pretty hyper paced
find our world today pretty hyper paced
find our world today pretty hyper paced and fast-paced and these are mechanisms
and fast-paced and these are mechanisms
and fast-paced and these are mechanisms or ways of being that I have utilized as
or ways of being that I have utilized as
or ways of being that I have utilized as a way to think about engaging with our
a way to think about engaging with our
a way to think about engaging with our world and slowing down a little bit and
world and slowing down a little bit and
world and slowing down a little bit and thinking about being purposeful with our
thinking about being purposeful with our
thinking about being purposeful with our relationship with the environment I’m
relationship with the environment I’m
relationship with the environment I’m curious how many of you out there have
curious how many of you out there have
curious how many of you out there have spent time in northern Minnesota cabins
spent time in northern Minnesota cabins
spent time in northern Minnesota cabins do you want to raise your hands large
do you want to raise your hands large
do you want to raise your hands large percentage of larger and I’m also
percentage of larger and I’m also
percentage of larger and I’m also curious of those of you out there how
curious of those of you out there how
curious of those of you out there how many of you at the time up north went
many of you at the time up north went
many of you at the time up north went swimming at night a few I ask you this
swimming at night a few I ask you this
swimming at night a few I ask you this because I also grew up in Minnesota I
because I also grew up in Minnesota I
because I also grew up in Minnesota I spend a lot of time at the lake during
spend a lot of time at the lake during
spend a lot of time at the lake during my childhood in my youth and for me
my childhood in my youth and for me
my childhood in my youth and for me those are some of the most formative
those are some of the most formative
those are some of the most formative experiences of my life my mom who was a
experiences of my life my mom who was a
experiences of my life my mom who was a little bit I’m just say different at
little bit I’m just say different at
little bit I’m just say different at times she would every once in a while
times she would every once in a while
times she would every once in a while wake us up in the middle of the night to
wake us up in the middle of the night to
wake us up in the middle of the night to go swimming and for me I can really
go swimming and for me I can really
go swimming and for me I can really sense those memories they’re really
sense those memories they’re really
sense those memories they’re really intense in my mind I can remember you
intense in my mind I can remember you
intense in my mind I can remember you know being a little bit groggy walking
know being a little bit groggy walking
know being a little bit groggy walking down and feeling the worn wood of the
down and feeling the worn wood of the
down and feeling the worn wood of the dock and then jumping into this
dock and then jumping into this
dock and then jumping into this blackness and this void and being so
blackness and this void and being so
blackness and this void and being so stunned by the fact that here was this
stunned by the fact that here was this
stunned by the fact that here was this place that I knew so well and all of a
place that I knew so well and all of a
place that I knew so well and all of a sudden it was unfamiliar and there was
sudden it was unfamiliar and there was
sudden it was unfamiliar and there was an experience of my senses heightening
an experience of my senses heightening
an experience of my senses heightening and my awareness of the world is
and my awareness of the world is
and my awareness of the world is expanding and the world was really
expanding and the world was really
expanding and the world was really magical in those moments and I have
magical in those moments and I have
magical in those moments and I have spent the last decade of my painting
spent the last decade of my painting
spent the last decade of my painting career trying to get back to that and
career trying to get back to that and
career trying to get back to that and trying to evoke that for the viewer
trying to evoke that for the viewer
trying to evoke that for the viewer before I get too too far along I did
before I get too too far along I did
before I get too too far along I did want to give you a little bit of a
want to give you a little bit of a
want to give you a little bit of a context for how I got to where I am
context for how I got to where I am
context for how I got to where I am today I went to a small liberal arts
today I went to a small liberal arts
today I went to a small liberal arts college as well and I’m so grateful for
college as well and I’m so grateful for
college as well and I’m so grateful for that experience
that experience
that experience I entered undergrad thinking that I was
I entered undergrad thinking that I was
I entered undergrad thinking that I was going to be a doctor and I took a
going to be a doctor and I took a
going to be a doctor and I took a painting class and I was terrible
painting class and I was terrible
painting class and I was terrible and I wanted to spend the rest of my
and I wanted to spend the rest of my
and I wanted to spend the rest of my life trying to figure out how to do it
life trying to figure out how to do it
life trying to figure out how to do it so I am a product of the beauty of the
so I am a product of the beauty of the
so I am a product of the beauty of the liberal arts after here is that one of
liberal arts after here is that one of
liberal arts after here is that one of my undergrad paintings after undergrad I
my undergrad paintings after undergrad I
my undergrad paintings after undergrad I ended up getting my k12 I slice injure I
ended up getting my k12 I slice injure I
ended up getting my k12 I slice injure I taught art at public schools in
taught art at public schools in
taught art at public schools in Minneapolis I got married I moved to
Minneapolis I got married I moved to
Minneapolis I got married I moved to Connecticut I was working at a small Art
Connecticut I was working at a small Art
Connecticut I was working at a small Art Center there doing Junior High
Center there doing Junior High
Center there doing Junior High programming and I had the opportunity at
programming and I had the opportunity at
programming and I had the opportunity at that point in my life to make work to
that point in my life to make work to
that point in my life to make work to try to get into graduate school for my
try to get into graduate school for my
try to get into graduate school for my Masters of Fine Art and hopefully teach
Masters of Fine Art and hopefully teach
Masters of Fine Art and hopefully teach someday at a liberal arts institution I
someday at a liberal arts institution I
someday at a liberal arts institution I was lucky enough or my work was
was lucky enough or my work was
was lucky enough or my work was considered strong enough to get into the
considered strong enough to get into the
considered strong enough to get into the Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Minneapolis College of Art and Design and my husband Matt who had been in
and my husband Matt who had been in
and my husband Matt who had been in graduate school for architecture at the
graduate school for architecture at the
graduate school for architecture at the time out east and I we had the amazing
time out east and I we had the amazing
time out east and I we had the amazing opportunity to spend a summer living in
opportunity to spend a summer living in
opportunity to spend a summer living in a tent and we went across the United
a tent and we went across the United
a tent and we went across the United States visiting all the beautiful places
States visiting all the beautiful places
States visiting all the beautiful places and our great nation and that really had
and our great nation and that really had
and our great nation and that really had an impact on my mindset going into
an impact on my mindset going into
an impact on my mindset going into graduate school I was thinking about
graduate school I was thinking about
graduate school I was thinking about moving through space and the world as I
moving through space and the world as I
moving through space and the world as I entered into graduate school and I knew
entered into graduate school and I knew
entered into graduate school and I knew that I wanted to somehow make paintings
that I wanted to somehow make paintings
that I wanted to somehow make paintings about our bodies in space but I didn’t
about our bodies in space but I didn’t
about our bodies in space but I didn’t know how and I didn’t know how to do
know how and I didn’t know how to do
know how and I didn’t know how to do that through abstract painting here’s a
that through abstract painting here’s a
that through abstract painting here’s a picture of my studio my first year in
picture of my studio my first year in
picture of my studio my first year in graduate school I didn’t make one decent
graduate school I didn’t make one decent
graduate school I didn’t make one decent painting an entire year terrible
painting an entire year terrible
painting an entire year terrible painting after terrible painting
painting after terrible painting
painting after terrible painting was really lost very uncertain of myself
was really lost very uncertain of myself
was really lost very uncertain of myself case in point bad painting good example
case in point bad painting good example
case in point bad painting good example of a bad painting from my first year but
of a bad painting from my first year but
of a bad painting from my first year but again I was I was thinking about these
again I was I was thinking about these
again I was I was thinking about these bodies in space and trying to figure out
bodies in space and trying to figure out
bodies in space and trying to figure out how to explore the natural world in
how to explore the natural world in
how to explore the natural world in abstract painting and I had an aha
abstract painting and I had an aha
abstract painting and I had an aha moment in awakening when I had a really
moment in awakening when I had a really
moment in awakening when I had a really tough critique from a fairly well-known
tough critique from a fairly well-known
tough critique from a fairly well-known critic in the u.s. Roberts door he just
critic in the u.s. Roberts door he just
critic in the u.s. Roberts door he just stepped down as dean from the Yale
stepped down as dean from the Yale
stepped down as dean from the Yale School of Art and he said something to
School of Art and he said something to
School of Art and he said something to me that really struck me and he said
me that really struck me and he said
me that really struck me and he said you’re using paint as a surrogate for
you’re using paint as a surrogate for
you’re using paint as a surrogate for skin and here I thought back to my youth
skin and here I thought back to my youth
skin and here I thought back to my youth back to my days up at the lake and back
back to my days up at the lake and back
back to my days up at the lake and back to those moments of swimming at night
to those moments of swimming at night
to those moments of swimming at night and I thought okay there’s something
and I thought okay there’s something
and I thought okay there’s something that I want to try to figure out how to
that I want to try to figure out how to
that I want to try to figure out how to paint about so here comes to my way of
paint about so here comes to my way of
paint about so here comes to my way of being in the world and in partnership
being in the world and in partnership
being in the world and in partnership with the world when number one
with the world when number one
with the world when number one extend what do I mean by that I want you
extend what do I mean by that I want you
extend what do I mean by that I want you to think about how your body can be
to think about how your body can be
to think about how your body can be extended into space thinking about how
extended into space thinking about how
extended into space thinking about how the landscape could perhaps then become
the landscape could perhaps then become
the landscape could perhaps then become an extension of you I think that’s
an extension of you I think that’s
an extension of you I think that’s really what I experienced in those
really what I experienced in those
really what I experienced in those moments of swimming at night was losing
moments of swimming at night was losing
moments of swimming at night was losing myself losing my edges in the big world
myself losing my edges in the big world
myself losing my edges in the big world around me and I started to make some
around me and I started to make some
around me and I started to make some paintings that were better this is me
paintings that were better this is me
paintings that were better this is me thinking about the sky falling into the
thinking about the sky falling into the
thinking about the sky falling into the water the quality of the moonlight after
water the quality of the moonlight after
water the quality of the moonlight after graduate school becoming a professional
graduate school becoming a professional
graduate school becoming a professional artist to be honest this might sound
artist to be honest this might sound
artist to be honest this might sound strange but first of all being a painter
strange but first of all being a painter
strange but first of all being a painter in the contemporary art world is a very
in the contemporary art world is a very
in the contemporary art world is a very difficult thing people always say
difficult thing people always say
difficult thing people always say painting is dead I’m continuously coming
painting is dead I’m continuously coming
painting is dead I’m continuously coming up against what why do you make
up against what why do you make
up against what why do you make paintings and not only am i a painter
paintings and not only am i a painter
paintings and not only am i a painter but I’m also a painter who was inspired
but I’m also a painter who was inspired
but I’m also a painter who was inspired by the landscape which is another
by the landscape which is another
by the landscape which is another difficult thing but I had to show myself
difficult thing but I had to show myself
difficult thing but I had to show myself up as an artist and I started to think
up as an artist and I started to think
up as an artist and I started to think about okay how do I make better
about okay how do I make better
about okay how do I make better paintings Who am I in conversation with
paintings Who am I in conversation with
paintings Who am I in conversation with and contextually you know landscape
and contextually you know landscape
and contextually you know landscape really didn’t become a subject matter
really didn’t become a subject matter
really didn’t become a subject matter itself until a 1650s prior to that like
itself until a 1650s prior to that like
itself until a 1650s prior to that like in the Masaccio fresco up there
in the Masaccio fresco up there
in the Masaccio fresco up there landscape was really just the backdrop
landscape was really just the backdrop
landscape was really just the backdrop it wasn’t important it wasn’t the
it wasn’t important it wasn’t the
it wasn’t important it wasn’t the subject matter or what you wanted to
subject matter or what you wanted to
subject matter or what you wanted to make a painting about so I began to look
make a painting about so I began to look
make a painting about so I began to look at other artists who were trying to
at other artists who were trying to
at other artists who were trying to evoke certain things like I was like
evoke certain things like I was like
evoke certain things like I was like Whistler and his beautiful nocturnes
Whistler and his beautiful nocturnes
Whistler and his beautiful nocturnes which are these night these paintings at
which are these night these paintings at
which are these night these paintings at night that he did along the Thames or
night that he did along the Thames or
night that he did along the Thames or Cezanne who painted this mountain won’t
Cezanne who painted this mountain won’t
Cezanne who painted this mountain won’t say Victoria over 60 times in his life
say Victoria over 60 times in his life
say Victoria over 60 times in his life in the southern France so he really got
in the southern France so he really got
in the southern France so he really got to know that place that environment
to know that place that environment
to know that place that environment which leads me to my second way of being
which leads me to my second way of being
which leads me to my second way of being in the world and that is to observe but
in the world and that is to observe but
in the world and that is to observe but not just to observe to observe with all
not just to observe to observe with all
not just to observe to observe with all of your senses I think that really
of your senses I think that really
of your senses I think that really shifts our way of understanding it’s
shifts our way of understanding it’s
shifts our way of understanding it’s like opening a veil
like opening a veil
like opening a veil sometimes a shroud that the world
sometimes a shroud that the world
sometimes a shroud that the world becomes so much richer when you really
becomes so much richer when you really
becomes so much richer when you really try to utilize all five of your senses
try to utilize all five of your senses
try to utilize all five of your senses and this is something that takes a lot
and this is something that takes a lot
and this is something that takes a lot of practice and it’s something that
of practice and it’s something that
of practice and it’s something that takes a lot of intention I’m still
takes a lot of intention I’m still
takes a lot of intention I’m still working on it today and I’ve had quite a
working on it today and I’ve had quite a
working on it today and I’ve had quite a few opportunities as an artist to try
few opportunities as an artist to try
few opportunities as an artist to try this out
this out
this out so one example of me working through
so one example of me working through
so one example of me working through kind of observation is I had the
kind of observation is I had the
kind of observation is I had the opportunity through a Jerome Foundation
opportunity through a Jerome Foundation
opportunity through a Jerome Foundation grant to go to New York Mills in
grant to go to New York Mills in
grant to go to New York Mills in Minnesota they have a residency there
Minnesota they have a residency there
Minnesota they have a residency there and their Cultural Arts Center and I
and their Cultural Arts Center and I
and their Cultural Arts Center and I spent a month going to any Lake I could
spent a month going to any Lake I could
spent a month going to any Lake I could find there’s dozens of lakes around
find there’s dozens of lakes around
find there’s dozens of lakes around there and swimming at night I would
there and swimming at night I would
there and swimming at night I would drive to these legs for myself I had my
drive to these legs for myself I had my
drive to these legs for myself I had my sketchbook I had a little headlamp
sketchbook I had a little headlamp
sketchbook I had a little headlamp I had my swimsuit on under a bunch of
I had my swimsuit on under a bunch of
I had my swimsuit on under a bunch of like warm you know jogging suit and I be
like warm you know jogging suit and I be
like warm you know jogging suit and I be in my car I’d be right I’d be riding I’d
in my car I’d be right I’d be riding I’d
in my car I’d be right I’d be riding I’d go out onto the dock I’d sneak out onto
go out onto the dock I’d sneak out onto
go out onto the dock I’d sneak out onto somebody’s dog or the public access
somebody’s dog or the public access
somebody’s dog or the public access right and I’m the mosquitos are flying
right and I’m the mosquitos are flying
right and I’m the mosquitos are flying at me I’ve got my headlamp on I’m trying
at me I’ve got my headlamp on I’m trying
at me I’ve got my headlamp on I’m trying to write about some phenomena some
to write about some phenomena some
to write about some phenomena some sensory phenomena what am i hearing what
sensory phenomena what am i hearing what
sensory phenomena what am i hearing what am I seeing what am i smelling you know
am I seeing what am i smelling you know
am I seeing what am i smelling you know what’s going on and then I would jump
what’s going on and then I would jump
what’s going on and then I would jump into these lakes and then I would come
into these lakes and then I would come
into these lakes and then I would come back to the studio afterwards with these
back to the studio afterwards with these
back to the studio afterwards with these notes and I would try to make a painting
notes and I would try to make a painting
notes and I would try to make a painting with guided by my recent experience and
with guided by my recent experience and
with guided by my recent experience and these notes this was after I had to jump
these notes this was after I had to jump
these notes this was after I had to jump into a lake storming at night I was
into a lake storming at night I was
into a lake storming at night I was terrified but I thought to myself this
terrified but I thought to myself this
terrified but I thought to myself this is something you have to do running into
is something you have to do running into
is something you have to do running into these big giant waves and then you know
these big giant waves and then you know
these big giant waves and then you know so me not at night and all the time also
so me not at night and all the time also
so me not at night and all the time also being afraid of somebody catching me on
being afraid of somebody catching me on
being afraid of somebody catching me on their job their dock but it worked out
their job their dock but it worked out
their job their dock but it worked out fine I didn’t get arrested or anything
fine I didn’t get arrested or anything
fine I didn’t get arrested or anything you know but I started to have I think
you know but I started to have I think
you know but I started to have I think more weight to my work more something
more weight to my work more something
more weight to my work more something for the viewer to experience just me
for the viewer to experience just me
for the viewer to experience just me thinking about moving down and into the
thinking about moving down and into the
thinking about moving down and into the water carving out a space with my body
water carving out a space with my body
water carving out a space with my body I’ve also been very inspired in my
I’ve also been very inspired in my
I’ve also been very inspired in my career by Sigrid Olsen who’s a wonderful
career by Sigrid Olsen who’s a wonderful
career by Sigrid Olsen who’s a wonderful Minnesota author and sure quite a few of
Minnesota author and sure quite a few of
Minnesota author and sure quite a few of you know him he wrote a book in 1958
you know him he wrote a book in 1958
you know him he wrote a book in 1958 called listening point and in this book
called listening point and in this book
called listening point and in this book he writes about he has a property of a
he writes about he has a property of a
he writes about he has a property of a piece of land on Bert side lake in Ely
piece of land on Bert side lake in Ely
piece of land on Bert side lake in Ely Minnesota that he’s titled listening
Minnesota that he’s titled listening
Minnesota that he’s titled listening point and he goes and he spends daily
point and he goes and he spends daily
point and he goes and he spends daily time at this place with a purpose of
time at this place with a purpose of
time at this place with a purpose of learning from specific place and I
learning from specific place and I
learning from specific place and I thought to myself okay that sounds like
thought to myself okay that sounds like
thought to myself okay that sounds like some really good way that I could
some really good way that I could
some really good way that I could observe and learn about the world I’m
observe and learn about the world I’m
observe and learn about the world I’m gonna try to do that I’m gonna try to
gonna try to do that I’m gonna try to
gonna try to do that I’m gonna try to find my own listening point so when I
find my own listening point so when I
find my own listening point so when I was living in south Minneapolis it was
was living in south Minneapolis it was
was living in south Minneapolis it was close to Minnehaha Creek and I spent a
close to Minnehaha Creek and I spent a
close to Minnehaha Creek and I spent a year going twice a week to the two
year going twice a week to the two
year going twice a week to the two locations and for me I was doing
locations and for me I was doing
locations and for me I was doing watercolors there trying to
watercolors there trying to
watercolors there trying to observational information and really it
observational information and really it
observational information and really it failed it didn’t work for me I felt I
failed it didn’t work for me I felt I
failed it didn’t work for me I felt I was forcing something and I think it’s
was forcing something and I think it’s
was forcing something and I think it’s cuz I was trying to work from a river
cuz I was trying to work from a river
cuz I was trying to work from a river rather than a lake and you know we’re
rather than a lake and you know we’re
rather than a lake and you know we’re like people in Minnesota so I where I’m
like people in Minnesota so I where I’m
like people in Minnesota so I where I’m a lake person anyways so I had to get
a lake person anyways so I had to get
a lake person anyways so I had to get back to Lakes I had the opportunity
back to Lakes I had the opportunity
back to Lakes I had the opportunity through a grant from Gustavus to
through a grant from Gustavus to
through a grant from Gustavus to actually go to Sigrid Olsen’s listening
actually go to Sigrid Olsen’s listening
actually go to Sigrid Olsen’s listening point so here’s an image at the start of
point so here’s an image at the start of
point so here’s an image at the start of this path that leads you onto his point
this path that leads you onto his point
this path that leads you onto his point and Here I am doing what I started to
and Here I am doing what I started to
and Here I am doing what I started to call my phenomenological recordings
call my phenomenological recordings
call my phenomenological recordings which were just again recording that
which were just again recording that
which were just again recording that sensory information through a variety of
sensory information through a variety of
sensory information through a variety of means writing watercolors taking
means writing watercolors taking
means writing watercolors taking photographs I’m walking being quiet and
photographs I’m walking being quiet and
photographs I’m walking being quiet and so here I am at the end of the point
so here I am at the end of the point
so here I am at the end of the point listening point example some sketches
listening point example some sketches
listening point example some sketches that I do and this is where I find the
that I do and this is where I find the
that I do and this is where I find the meeting of that objective world and that
meeting of that objective world and that
meeting of that objective world and that subjective or that personal experience
subjective or that personal experience
subjective or that personal experience and I want you to think about a way of
and I want you to think about a way of
and I want you to think about a way of being with the world as letting go it’s
being with the world as letting go it’s
being with the world as letting go it’s about letting go in order to be present
about letting go in order to be present
about letting go in order to be present in the studio that’s something that I’m
in the studio that’s something that I’m
in the studio that’s something that I’m always coming up against it’s something
always coming up against it’s something
always coming up against it’s something that’s very difficult here’s an image at
that’s very difficult here’s an image at
that’s very difficult here’s an image at an old studio shot image you can see
an old studio shot image you can see
an old studio shot image you can see that I have multiple photographs that
that I have multiple photographs that
that I have multiple photographs that I’m kind of working from as part of that
I’m kind of working from as part of that
I’m kind of working from as part of that sense to sensory information this is a
sense to sensory information this is a
sense to sensory information this is a painting in process where I was trying
painting in process where I was trying
painting in process where I was trying to imagine again the experience of
to imagine again the experience of
to imagine again the experience of jumping off a waterfall at night but
jumping off a waterfall at night but
jumping off a waterfall at night but when I find that when I am able to let
when I find that when I am able to let
when I find that when I am able to let go and be in the moment of painting
go and be in the moment of painting
go and be in the moment of painting itself is a lot of times where the magic
itself is a lot of times where the magic
itself is a lot of times where the magic happens
happens
happens and it’s where I trust my body and what
and it’s where I trust my body and what
and it’s where I trust my body and what my body has observed and what my body
my body has observed and what my body
my body has observed and what my body has sensed in terms of its intuition
has sensed in terms of its intuition
has sensed in terms of its intuition this is me thinking about the quietness
this is me thinking about the quietness
this is me thinking about the quietness of the lake before we enter into it
of the lake before we enter into it
of the lake before we enter into it called beckon I’ve also had the
called beckon I’ve also had the
called beckon I’ve also had the opportunity to work with some wonderful
opportunity to work with some wonderful
opportunity to work with some wonderful artists in Minnesota of recent I don’t
artists in Minnesota of recent I don’t
artists in Minnesota of recent I don’t know if by chance you’ve seen this
know if by chance you’ve seen this
know if by chance you’ve seen this documentary but I was part of a
documentary but I was part of a
documentary but I was part of a documentary called painting the place
documentary called painting the place
documentary called painting the place between which Kristen Lowe who was one
between which Kristen Lowe who was one
between which Kristen Lowe who was one of my colleagues at Gus Davis was
of my colleagues at Gus Davis was
of my colleagues at Gus Davis was actually the director of and I worked
actually the director of and I worked
actually the director of and I worked with some really wonderful landscape
with some really wonderful landscape
with some really wonderful landscape painters from Minnesota
painters from Minnesota
painters from Minnesota Jill Evans Holly Swift and Andrew
Jill Evans Holly Swift and Andrew
Jill Evans Holly Swift and Andrew wieck’s on it
wieck’s on it
wieck’s on it and they’ve given me a lot of courage to
and they’ve given me a lot of courage to
and they’ve given me a lot of courage to continue to think about that it’s okay
continue to think about that it’s okay
continue to think about that it’s okay to use landscape as a subject matter so
to use landscape as a subject matter so
to use landscape as a subject matter so I had a wonderful opportunity during
I had a wonderful opportunity during
I had a wonderful opportunity during that film to show some work at the
that film to show some work at the
that film to show some work at the Minnesota Museum of American Art which
Minnesota Museum of American Art which
Minnesota Museum of American Art which is where this piece was exhibited it was
is where this piece was exhibited it was
is where this piece was exhibited it was created from my experience at Burnside
created from my experience at Burnside
created from my experience at Burnside Lake at listening point thinking about
Lake at listening point thinking about
Lake at listening point thinking about the temperature of my body being sucked
the temperature of my body being sucked
the temperature of my body being sucked away as I hit the surface of the water
away as I hit the surface of the water
away as I hit the surface of the water and it was a really cold June and I
and it was a really cold June and I
and it was a really cold June and I jumped into Mertz night late at night
jumped into Mertz night late at night
jumped into Mertz night late at night and you know my body temperature left me
and you know my body temperature left me
and you know my body temperature left me another way that I like to explain the
another way that I like to explain the
another way that I like to explain the sort of chaos for that perceptual
sort of chaos for that perceptual
sort of chaos for that perceptual paradox that were continuously not but
paradox that were continuously not but
paradox that were continuously not but coming up against in our world as a
coming up against in our world as a
coming up against in our world as a story that I read about Thoreau climbing
story that I read about Thoreau climbing
story that I read about Thoreau climbing Mount Tamalpais is a painting of and
Mount Tamalpais is a painting of and
Mount Tamalpais is a painting of and Thoreau starts off and he sees this
Thoreau starts off and he sees this
Thoreau starts off and he sees this summit in the distance and it’s
summit in the distance and it’s
summit in the distance and it’s beautiful and he wants to get there
beautiful and he wants to get there
beautiful and he wants to get there right and as he gets closer and closer
right and as he gets closer and closer
right and as he gets closer and closer somehow that experience of the summit
somehow that experience of the summit
somehow that experience of the summit Falls away you can’t see it anymore and
Falls away you can’t see it anymore and
Falls away you can’t see it anymore and I think we come up against this time and
I think we come up against this time and
I think we come up against this time and time again in our visual experience in a
time again in our visual experience in a
time again in our visual experience in a visual world it’s like we’re always
visual world it’s like we’re always
visual world it’s like we’re always trying to get somewhere visually and if
trying to get somewhere visually and if
trying to get somewhere visually and if you don’t just stop and take the world
you don’t just stop and take the world
you don’t just stop and take the world in you’re gonna lose that kind of sense
in you’re gonna lose that kind of sense
in you’re gonna lose that kind of sense of the horizon and as a painter it’s
of the horizon and as a painter it’s
of the horizon and as a painter it’s something I have to continually remind
something I have to continually remind
something I have to continually remind myself of here’s me thinking about the
myself of here’s me thinking about the
myself of here’s me thinking about the horizon and about the distance and a
horizon and about the distance and a
horizon and about the distance and a painting that ended up like this and I
painting that ended up like this and I
painting that ended up like this and I was very grateful enjoy Steffen actually
was very grateful enjoy Steffen actually
was very grateful enjoy Steffen actually asked it to be on the cover of her book
asked it to be on the cover of her book
asked it to be on the cover of her book our wonderful poet laureate and also a
our wonderful poet laureate and also a
our wonderful poet laureate and also a colleague at Gustavus I continue to
colleague at Gustavus I continue to
colleague at Gustavus I continue to think about water in my studio some of
think about water in my studio some of
think about water in my studio some of my specific subject matter has shifted
my specific subject matter has shifted
my specific subject matter has shifted I’ve been thinking a lot lately about
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about islands that are disappearing and
islands that are disappearing and
islands that are disappearing and glaciers that are melting in
glaciers that are melting in
glaciers that are melting in relationship to one another and to
relationship to one another and to
relationship to one another and to climate change I think a lot about these
climate change I think a lot about these
climate change I think a lot about these as metaphors for our own body
as metaphors for our own body
as metaphors for our own body I want to encourage you to think about
I want to encourage you to think about
I want to encourage you to think about your partnership with the world to think
your partnership with the world to think
your partnership with the world to think about extend observe and letting go
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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