Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
So this is the last video in the laureate series
and I just want to thank the whole Penn State community for your
encouragement and support this year.
I particularly want to thank Cody Goddard in terms of
our collaboration - we've been so busy we've sort of had to do these
videos somewhat on the fly. And also to
Bryan Keith and his assistance as well. I really also want to thank
Graeme Sullivan, the director of the School of Visual Arts
for his ongoing encouragement and sage insights.
They've been very helpful. I've been asked, have you enjoyed
being the laureate this year? Somewhat surprisingly,
but maybe not so, I've really enjoyed my visits to the commonwealth campuses
and working with the students in classes. And just asking questions and listening.
I've found it has made me think about listening.
One of the questions I ask sometimes, who's the best listener in your life?
What makes a good listener?
How do you become a better listener?
Listening is not like
just hearing, there's a degree of intention when you listen
in terms of understanding or comprehending.
Quite recently I was talking to a former student that is
actually a great potter, and he's really struggling for his life with cancer
named Taylor Watkins, and he said something really profound
in the middle of this heartfelt conversation, he said "you know, life
ultimately is about relationships. It's really about relationships
with family and friends, and the depth of those relationships."
And a huge component of those relationships is our capacity to listen.
I would ask you, and I ask myself, are you a good listener?
Art has a real strong connection to listening, because
there's sort of a suspension, a pause button on our egos, or on our self.
We have to use our imagination, and all of a sudden wonder about something
that's beyond us. And that's where this sense of curiosity of "other"
takes place. I think one of the great gifts that art has
is it's - this really is an exercise in listening.
Becoming aware of other possibilites, or looking at the world in a different, a new, way.
I just want to thank all of you for this year, for
taking the time to listen and
I am grateful to all of you and wish you well. Thank you.
[pop]
Yeah. Any thoughts
or suggestions?