there is no such thing as a tall male anglo-saxon protestant artist thank you
there is also no such thing as a tall or
there is also no such thing as a tall or short male or female Catholic Hindu
short male or female Catholic Hindu
short male or female Catholic Hindu Buddhist Muslim Jewish Rastafarian
Buddhist Muslim Jewish Rastafarian
Buddhist Muslim Jewish Rastafarian Shinto subterranean European Asian
Shinto subterranean European Asian
Shinto subterranean European Asian boreal austral Caribbean Arctic
boreal austral Caribbean Arctic
boreal austral Caribbean Arctic Australian New Zealand Canadian Asian if
Australian New Zealand Canadian Asian if
Australian New Zealand Canadian Asian if I didn’t already mention that have I
I didn’t already mention that have I
I didn’t already mention that have I left anybody out artists belong to no
left anybody out artists belong to no
left anybody out artists belong to no one and i say this i say this personally
one and i say this i say this personally
one and i say this i say this personally i guess this is affecting me now but i
i guess this is affecting me now but i
i guess this is affecting me now but i say personally we belong to no one to
say personally we belong to no one to
say personally we belong to no one to know latitude or longitude to know
know latitude or longitude to know
know latitude or longitude to know bloodline and to know borrowed system of
bloodline and to know borrowed system of
bloodline and to know borrowed system of beliefs we are responsible in the world
beliefs we are responsible in the world
beliefs we are responsible in the world for bridging the distances that come
for bridging the distances that come
for bridging the distances that come between us because of race because of
between us because of race because of
between us because of race because of nationalism and because of religion and
nationalism and because of religion and
nationalism and because of religion and it it’s a small community but it’s a
it it’s a small community but it’s a
it it’s a small community but it’s a vital community and the reason I’m
vital community and the reason I’m
vital community and the reason I’m speaking today is because I feel that
speaking today is because I feel that
speaking today is because I feel that that community is threatened and because
that community is threatened and because
that community is threatened and because it is threatened we’re all threatened
it is threatened we’re all threatened
it is threatened we’re all threatened when I was 20 many of my peers many of
when I was 20 many of my peers many of
when I was 20 many of my peers many of my friends intended to live the life in
my friends intended to live the life in
my friends intended to live the life in the arts and there we were standing
the arts and there we were standing
the arts and there we were standing together sure that this was the life for
together sure that this was the life for
together sure that this was the life for all of us and I never questioned that my
all of us and I never questioned that my
all of us and I never questioned that my friends maybe didn’t have it in them to
friends maybe didn’t have it in them to
friends maybe didn’t have it in them to pursue a life in the arts by the time I
pursue a life in the arts by the time I
pursue a life in the arts by the time I was 30 there were fewer in this line
was 30 there were fewer in this line
was 30 there were fewer in this line that seemed endless
that seemed endless
that seemed endless was when I was very young by the time I
was when I was very young by the time I
was when I was very young by the time I was 40 very few of the people i knew
was 40 very few of the people i knew
was 40 very few of the people i knew when i was 20 were still in pursuit of
when i was 20 were still in pursuit of
when i was 20 were still in pursuit of the arts and there are reasons for that
the arts and there are reasons for that
the arts and there are reasons for that the reasons they would give would be
the reasons they would give would be
the reasons they would give would be that they wanted a more sure life they
that they wanted a more sure life they
that they wanted a more sure life they wanted a little bit more comfort a
wanted a little bit more comfort a
wanted a little bit more comfort a little bit more convention they were
little bit more convention they were
little bit more convention they were finding that this life wasn’t the life
finding that this life wasn’t the life
finding that this life wasn’t the life they imagined and that’s understandable
they imagined and that’s understandable
they imagined and that’s understandable it’s a lot different on the inside of
it’s a lot different on the inside of
it’s a lot different on the inside of the arts that it is when even when
the arts that it is when even when
the arts that it is when even when you’re in the arts and you’re looking at
you’re in the arts and you’re looking at
you’re in the arts and you’re looking at it and you’re seeing success in the arts
it and you’re seeing success in the arts
it and you’re seeing success in the arts and I mean marketplace success what some
and I mean marketplace success what some
and I mean marketplace success what some of these friends of mine and what some
of these friends of mine and what some
of these friends of mine and what some of these peers of mine wanted was not a
of these peers of mine wanted was not a
of these peers of mine wanted was not a life in the arts what they wanted was
life in the arts what they wanted was
life in the arts what they wanted was success in the arts they wanted the
success in the arts they wanted the
success in the arts they wanted the rewards of an artistic life the artistic
rewards of an artistic life the artistic
rewards of an artistic life the artistic life is only going to reward a small
life is only going to reward a small
life is only going to reward a small portion in the way that we see it in the
portion in the way that we see it in the
portion in the way that we see it in the world and that’s an acceptable thing to
world and that’s an acceptable thing to
world and that’s an acceptable thing to those of us who are artists artists are
those of us who are artists artists are
those of us who are artists artists are an archetype we’re not we’re not
an archetype we’re not we’re not
an archetype we’re not we’re not choosing to go this path most of us
choosing to go this path most of us
choosing to go this path most of us especially when human you’re honored as
especially when human you’re honored as
especially when human you’re honored as long as I am and you’re not seeing those
long as I am and you’re not seeing those
long as I am and you’re not seeing those rewards truth be told people who are
rewards truth be told people who are
rewards truth be told people who are like me in the arts are in it because
like me in the arts are in it because
like me in the arts are in it because it’s our path it’s an archetypal thing
it’s our path it’s an archetypal thing
it’s our path it’s an archetypal thing if you if you take basic archetypes make
if you if you take basic archetypes make
if you if you take basic archetypes make basic human archetypes you have players
basic human archetypes you have players
basic human archetypes you have players seeker teach your guardian lover artist
seeker teach your guardian lover artist
seeker teach your guardian lover artist warrior and healer if you if you look at
warrior and healer if you if you look at
warrior and healer if you if you look at the pool of humanity we have
the pool of humanity we have
the pool of humanity we have representation we have we have healers
representation we have we have healers
representation we have we have healers we have artists we have lovers and we
we have artists we have lovers and we
we have artists we have lovers and we command many different forms that those
command many different forms that those
command many different forms that those archetypes but we are essentially
archetypes but we are essentially
archetypes but we are essentially fundamentally something when you find
fundamentally something when you find
fundamentally something when you find out about yourself that you’re an artist
out about yourself that you’re an artist
out about yourself that you’re an artist you go anyway because the rewards aren’t
you go anyway because the rewards aren’t
you go anyway because the rewards aren’t there as they are in other fields and
there as they are in other fields and
there as they are in other fields and that’s because the life of an artist has
that’s because the life of an artist has
that’s because the life of an artist has compared to other businesses other
compared to other businesses other
compared to other businesses other pursuits is it is an other interested
pursuits is it is an other interested
pursuits is it is an other interested suit it’s not a self-interested pursuit
suit it’s not a self-interested pursuit
suit it’s not a self-interested pursuit and there’s nothing wrong with
and there’s nothing wrong with
and there’s nothing wrong with self-interested pursuit if you’re if
self-interested pursuit if you’re if
self-interested pursuit if you’re if you’re not self-interested as a
you’re not self-interested as a
you’re not self-interested as a businessman or woman if you’re not self
businessman or woman if you’re not self
businessman or woman if you’re not self interested in most of the fields that
interested in most of the fields that
interested in most of the fields that are offering the world you’re not going
are offering the world you’re not going
are offering the world you’re not going to succeed you’re not going to fulfill
to succeed you’re not going to fulfill
to succeed you’re not going to fulfill those fields fulfilling a life in the
those fields fulfilling a life in the
those fields fulfilling a life in the arts is very much about sacrifice a lot
arts is very much about sacrifice a lot
arts is very much about sacrifice a lot of people think that at the center of
of people think that at the center of
of people think that at the center of the arts is talent and I assure you that
the arts is talent and I assure you that
the arts is talent and I assure you that it’s not it’s a big part of
it’s not it’s a big part of
it’s not it’s a big part of understanding that you belong in the
understanding that you belong in the
understanding that you belong in the arts when you start imagining that that
arts when you start imagining that that
arts when you start imagining that that is your path you can’t get there without
is your path you can’t get there without
is your path you can’t get there without requisite talent but you’re not going to
requisite talent but you’re not going to
requisite talent but you’re not going to be fulfilled on the path of an artist if
be fulfilled on the path of an artist if
be fulfilled on the path of an artist if you don’t have at your core a sense of
you don’t have at your core a sense of
you don’t have at your core a sense of sacrifice a sense of discipline in a
sacrifice a sense of discipline in a
sacrifice a sense of discipline in a measurable sense of beauty and also this
measurable sense of beauty and also this
measurable sense of beauty and also this this great commitment in this great
this great commitment in this great
this great commitment in this great embrace of imagination and even further
embrace of imagination and even further
embrace of imagination and even further creative original creativity which i
creative original creativity which i
creative original creativity which i think is at the heart so what is an
think is at the heart so what is an
think is at the heart so what is an artist by definition an artist is one
artist by definition an artist is one
artist by definition an artist is one who professes and practices an art in
who professes and practices an art in
who professes and practices an art in which conception and execution are
which conception and execution are
which conception and execution are governed by imagination and taste that’s
governed by imagination and taste that’s
governed by imagination and taste that’s a lot so when you examine that when you
a lot so when you examine that when you
a lot so when you examine that when you examine the definition that’s been given
examine the definition that’s been given
examine the definition that’s been given as I understand it it it does a line but
as I understand it it it does a line but
as I understand it it it does a line but that’s not the way the world sees it and
that’s not the way the world sees it and
that’s not the way the world sees it and it’s understandable and my sense about
it’s understandable and my sense about
it’s understandable and my sense about the reason the world doesn’t see it this
the reason the world doesn’t see it this
the reason the world doesn’t see it this way is because with artistry with the
way is because with artistry with the
way is because with artistry with the Arts comes something that I refer to as
Arts comes something that I refer to as
Arts comes something that I refer to as the afterglow and the afterglow is a is
the afterglow and the afterglow is a is
the afterglow and the afterglow is a is a critical part we understand maybe the
a critical part we understand maybe the
a critical part we understand maybe the meaning and the meaning is a reflection
meaning and the meaning is a reflection
meaning and the meaning is a reflection of past splendor success or emotion and
of past splendor success or emotion and
of past splendor success or emotion and when you hear that it sounds like a
when you hear that it sounds like a
when you hear that it sounds like a favorable ascription to life that’s what
favorable ascription to life that’s what
favorable ascription to life that’s what we want we want to experience something
we want we want to experience something
we want we want to experience something and then we
and then we
and then we to have a favorable memory of it we want
to have a favorable memory of it we want
to have a favorable memory of it we want to soak soak up some of the memories
to soak soak up some of the memories
to soak soak up some of the memories unfortunately in the world there’s a
unfortunately in the world there’s a
unfortunately in the world there’s a great command that the afterglow has
great command that the afterglow has
great command that the afterglow has over artistry and it’s a curiosity what
over artistry and it’s a curiosity what
over artistry and it’s a curiosity what what’s what’s the explanation for it I I
what’s what’s the explanation for it I I
what’s what’s the explanation for it I I think that it’s a challenge to perceive
think that it’s a challenge to perceive
think that it’s a challenge to perceive the arts from the perspective of the
the arts from the perspective of the
the arts from the perspective of the artist and so the arts aren’t perceived
artist and so the arts aren’t perceived
artist and so the arts aren’t perceived as such and they’re not even perceived
as such and they’re not even perceived
as such and they’re not even perceived as such by people who are pursuing the
as such by people who are pursuing the
as such by people who are pursuing the arts you have people going into the arts
arts you have people going into the arts
arts you have people going into the arts because they have talent justifiable
because they have talent justifiable
because they have talent justifiable sometimes sublime talent and we witness
sometimes sublime talent and we witness
sometimes sublime talent and we witness it and we marvel and we’re where the
it and we marvel and we’re where the
it and we marvel and we’re where the drop off in understanding the difference
drop off in understanding the difference
drop off in understanding the difference between an artist’s life and the effect
between an artist’s life and the effect
between an artist’s life and the effect of the afterglow in this life is is that
of the afterglow in this life is is that
of the afterglow in this life is is that the afterglow commands the Arts and
the afterglow commands the Arts and
the afterglow commands the Arts and there are different examples of the
there are different examples of the
there are different examples of the afterglow and I’ll give you some to
afterglow and I’ll give you some to
afterglow and I’ll give you some to illustrate just so you have a better
illustrate just so you have a better
illustrate just so you have a better understanding of what I’m saying a clear
understanding of what I’m saying a clear
understanding of what I’m saying a clear example of the afterglow is someone
example of the afterglow is someone
example of the afterglow is someone saying this band from 1971 is the
saying this band from 1971 is the
saying this band from 1971 is the greatest band of all time no one will
greatest band of all time no one will
greatest band of all time no one will ever be able to play guitar like the
ever be able to play guitar like the
ever be able to play guitar like the lead guitarist in that band no one
lead guitarist in that band no one
lead guitarist in that band no one there’s never going to be another lead
there’s never going to be another lead
there’s never going to be another lead singer like that person in the band it’s
singer like that person in the band it’s
singer like that person in the band it’s done sealed best number one superstars
done sealed best number one superstars
done sealed best number one superstars we move it aside so that’s an example
we move it aside so that’s an example
we move it aside so that’s an example another example that’s a very popular
another example that’s a very popular
another example that’s a very popular example that’s just come to pass as the
example that’s just come to pass as the
example that’s just come to pass as the Academy Awards a film comes out in
Academy Awards a film comes out in
Academy Awards a film comes out in November and some of us see it some of
November and some of us see it some of
November and some of us see it some of us don’t and all of a sudden we find out
us don’t and all of a sudden we find out
us don’t and all of a sudden we find out that it’s been nominated for let’s say
that it’s been nominated for let’s say
that it’s been nominated for let’s say five to ten Academy Awards and all of a
five to ten Academy Awards and all of a
five to ten Academy Awards and all of a sudden we have an eye on it and oh I
sudden we have an eye on it and oh I
sudden we have an eye on it and oh I don’t want to miss this film because
don’t want to miss this film because
don’t want to miss this film because this film everyone’s talking about but
this film everyone’s talking about but
this film everyone’s talking about but we’re not asking the question
we’re not asking the question
we’re not asking the question what’s the nature of the film that makes
what’s the nature of the film that makes
what’s the nature of the film that makes it that everyone’s talking about it we
it that everyone’s talking about it we
it that everyone’s talking about it we don’t we don’t necessarily even care at
don’t we don’t necessarily even care at
don’t we don’t necessarily even care at some point because this stuff is so
some point because this stuff is so
some point because this stuff is so built into the culture we have we have
built into the culture we have we have
built into the culture we have we have the Academy Awards coming every year so
the Academy Awards coming every year so
the Academy Awards coming every year so they’re coming whether you want them to
they’re coming whether you want them to
they’re coming whether you want them to come or not and the films will get
come or not and the films will get
come or not and the films will get nominated and the actors and the writers
nominated and the actors and the writers
nominated and the actors and the writers and the technicians they’ll all get
and the technicians they’ll all get
and the technicians they’ll all get nominated and we just go along for the
nominated and we just go along for the
nominated and we just go along for the ride and that’s a perfect example of the
ride and that’s a perfect example of the
ride and that’s a perfect example of the afterglow someone gets nominated and
afterglow someone gets nominated and
afterglow someone gets nominated and someone wins an Academy Award and all of
someone wins an Academy Award and all of
someone wins an Academy Award and all of a sudden we think this person is a
a sudden we think this person is a
a sudden we think this person is a better actor than another actor who’s
better actor than another actor who’s
better actor than another actor who’s never been nominated and that that is a
never been nominated and that that is a
never been nominated and that that is a sense in the culture of applying a
sense in the culture of applying a
sense in the culture of applying a business model the Hollywood billboard
business model the Hollywood billboard
business model the Hollywood billboard Broadway model to something that’s much
Broadway model to something that’s much
Broadway model to something that’s much more vital than that it’s a deeper
more vital than that it’s a deeper
more vital than that it’s a deeper commitment to life than that and it’s
commitment to life than that and it’s
commitment to life than that and it’s okay that people don’t understand it but
okay that people don’t understand it but
okay that people don’t understand it but the problem is that the artists are
the problem is that the artists are
the problem is that the artists are suffering in the world because of the
suffering in the world because of the
suffering in the world because of the afterglow there’s this is this this
afterglow there’s this is this this
afterglow there’s this is this this lambent overwhelming like like a shroud
lambent overwhelming like like a shroud
lambent overwhelming like like a shroud of snow that descends upon new artists
of snow that descends upon new artists
of snow that descends upon new artists in the world because we’ve already
in the world because we’ve already
in the world because we’ve already established in the world at every
established in the world at every
established in the world at every successive stage who’s the best who we
successive stage who’s the best who we
successive stage who’s the best who we can never out do and that’s something
can never out do and that’s something
can never out do and that’s something and let it be said that even in the
and let it be said that even in the
and let it be said that even in the Renaissance which is for those who don’t
Renaissance which is for those who don’t
Renaissance which is for those who don’t know the nature of the Renaissance it
know the nature of the Renaissance it
know the nature of the Renaissance it was a period in European history that
was a period in European history that
was a period in European history that ranged from the 14th century until the
ranged from the 14th century until the
ranged from the 14th century until the 17th century and it’s marked as a time
17th century and it’s marked as a time
17th century and it’s marked as a time of great expression in the arts its
of great expression in the arts its
of great expression in the arts its marked as a time that was considered a
marked as a time that was considered a
marked as a time that was considered a rebirth of the Arts and what’s
rebirth of the Arts and what’s
rebirth of the Arts and what’s interesting about it is that inside of
interesting about it is that inside of
interesting about it is that inside of it is also this great attention to
it is also this great attention to
it is also this great attention to history great attention to classical
history great attention to classical
history great attention to classical works what they call the antiquity at
works what they call the antiquity at
works what they call the antiquity at the time so you have this progressive
the time so you have this progressive
the time so you have this progressive movement but the progressive movement is
movement but the progressive movement is
movement but the progressive movement is mindful of things that have come to pass
mindful of things that have come to pass
mindful of things that have come to pass it’s just not blinded by them
it’s just not blinded by them
it’s just not blinded by them and I think that’s the difference in
and I think that’s the difference in
and I think that’s the difference in today’s culture when when people talk
today’s culture when when people talk
today’s culture when when people talk about the Renaissance they talk about
about the Renaissance they talk about
about the Renaissance they talk about its time frame and then its end and the
its time frame and then its end and the
its time frame and then its end and the curiosity is why would something like
curiosity is why would something like
curiosity is why would something like that end why are we left at the end of
that end why are we left at the end of
that end why are we left at the end of the Renaissance and those of us who are
the Renaissance and those of us who are
the Renaissance and those of us who are artists why are we looking back to the
artists why are we looking back to the
artists why are we looking back to the Renaissance saying ah now those were the
Renaissance saying ah now those were the
Renaissance saying ah now those were the days the question for each artist is are
days the question for each artist is are
days the question for each artist is are we not living the Renaissance unto
we not living the Renaissance unto
we not living the Renaissance unto ourselves and can we not teach that in
ourselves and can we not teach that in
ourselves and can we not teach that in the world because a renaissance is in
the world because a renaissance is in
the world because a renaissance is in everybody’s hands the afterglow doesn’t
everybody’s hands the afterglow doesn’t
everybody’s hands the afterglow doesn’t exist in my room when I’m working when I
exist in my room when I’m working when I
exist in my room when I’m working when I finish a piece but if I write a new
finish a piece but if I write a new
finish a piece but if I write a new piece of music and I sit with it I don’t
piece of music and I sit with it I don’t
piece of music and I sit with it I don’t have this afterglow sweeping in and
have this afterglow sweeping in and
have this afterglow sweeping in and saying that’s the best piece you’ve ever
saying that’s the best piece you’ve ever
saying that’s the best piece you’ve ever written you’re never going to write
written you’re never going to write
written you’re never going to write another piece like that forget it quit
another piece like that forget it quit
another piece like that forget it quit now the afterglow is us we are the
now the afterglow is us we are the
now the afterglow is us we are the keepers of the Renaissance and we’re the
keepers of the Renaissance and we’re the
keepers of the Renaissance and we’re the keepers of its end and were the keepers
keepers of its end and were the keepers
keepers of its end and were the keepers of its beginning there’s no question the
of its beginning there’s no question the
of its beginning there’s no question the power of the audience is not the power
power of the audience is not the power
power of the audience is not the power to dictate to the artist what to do it’s
to dictate to the artist what to do it’s
to dictate to the artist what to do it’s the power to understand aesthetic
the power to understand aesthetic
the power to understand aesthetic anesthetic is the last piece of this
anesthetic is the last piece of this
anesthetic is the last piece of this that I’d like to talk about aesthetic is
that I’d like to talk about aesthetic is
that I’d like to talk about aesthetic is a sense of the beautiful no it’s it’s a
a sense of the beautiful no it’s it’s a
a sense of the beautiful no it’s it’s a it’s it seems like a very simple thing a
it’s it seems like a very simple thing a
it’s it seems like a very simple thing a sense of the beautiful and do we not
sense of the beautiful and do we not
sense of the beautiful and do we not have that enough in the culture to
have that enough in the culture to
have that enough in the culture to anchor ourselves to to that notion do we
anchor ourselves to to that notion do we
anchor ourselves to to that notion do we not have that and in my thought is that
not have that and in my thought is that
not have that and in my thought is that we’ve killed off a lot of our collective
we’ve killed off a lot of our collective
we’ve killed off a lot of our collective aesthetic because of the afterglow
aesthetic because of the afterglow
aesthetic because of the afterglow because we’re so sure that something
because we’re so sure that something
because we’re so sure that something that’s come before has precluded any
that’s come before has precluded any
that’s come before has precluded any possibility of somebody like me making a
possibility of somebody like me making a
possibility of somebody like me making a statement and and I’ll never be I’ll
statement and and I’ll never be I’ll
statement and and I’ll never be I’ll never even be cow
never even be cow
never even be cow ented my friends who were in the arts
ented my friends who were in the arts
ented my friends who were in the arts right now will never even be counted
right now will never even be counted
right now will never even be counted because of people who have come before
because of people who have come before
because of people who have come before but art is inspiration art isn’t meant
but art is inspiration art isn’t meant
but art is inspiration art isn’t meant to to kill off the artist and to kill
to to kill off the artist and to kill
to to kill off the artist and to kill off all of our aesthetic we have to
off all of our aesthetic we have to
off all of our aesthetic we have to summon that for ourselves we have to be
summon that for ourselves we have to be
summon that for ourselves we have to be we have to be people of aesthetic and
we have to be people of aesthetic and
we have to be people of aesthetic and that’s that’s the great question can we
that’s that’s the great question can we
that’s that’s the great question can we become people of aesthetic who can see
become people of aesthetic who can see
become people of aesthetic who can see art a mile off they know artists just by
art a mile off they know artists just by
art a mile off they know artists just by meeting them and they understand that it
meeting them and they understand that it
meeting them and they understand that it is a culture that’s vital and has to be
is a culture that’s vital and has to be
is a culture that’s vital and has to be maintained not just for the artists sake
maintained not just for the artists sake
maintained not just for the artists sake but for everybody’s sake thank you
but for everybody’s sake thank you
but for everybody’s sake thank you [Applause]
”
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