Friday, May 18, 2012

The awesome winner of the MacArthur award

 
 Ubaldo Vitali, Alchemist
Black marker on drawing paper
9 x 12 inches
Barbara Muir © 2012
This week I was contacted by HLN CNN and asked if I'd like
to talk on my blog about the silversmith, Ubaldo Vitali, who
won the MacArthur Genius Grant in 2011.  I watched the clip
and was so impressed with this lovely, humble man --
a fantastic artist, with a wonderful face, that I had to draw him. 
The show The Next List, with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on
CNN at 2 p.m. this Sunday, May 20, will feature Ubaldo Vitali,
and I think you will love it.

Something he said in the short clip I watched impressed me
so much.  He said, "I know exactly who I am; I know where
 I'm coming from, and I know where I'm going."  How many
 people do you meet today who have that kind of self-knowledge?
 As a teacher interested in helping people improve their self-esteem,
this one sentence and Vitali's feeling of being part of a long line
 of artisans delighted me.  He added that in the computer age more
 and more people are disconnected from actual art, and how seeing
art in museums and galleries is transformative. Wouldn't it be
great if more people voiced this message?

Vitali's designs are exceptionally beautiful, but one of my
favorites is the classic take-out paper coffee cup, only this time
in silver, lined in gold.

Watching the video I can easily understand why Vitali won this
prestigious award.  His work and his story are inspiring, so if
you get the chance -- check him out. 

Have a being-inspired-by-magnificent-art day.

6 comments:

Liza Hirst said...

Hi Barbara, I haven't checked him out yet but will do! But I wanted to tell you immediately, now that I've seen your post, how very impressed I am again and again by your magnificent drawings! They are soooo good!
It's great that you had such a wonderful time in NY - makes me want to visit as soon as possible too.
Have a nice weekend, cheerio, Liza

Kim Rempel said...

A great face indeed. You've intrigued me through your post. I must check him out.

Nicki said...

I will also check him out. What a feat... to know who you are, where you've been and where you are going. Truly inspirational and I look forward to watching the clip.

And I agree that seeing art in galleries is trans-formative. Absolutely. I know how I have felt standing before the work of Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven at the AGO. It stirs the soul. So does living with original art. I don't say that because I make it, but because I collect it and live with pieces by artists I love and admire.

XO Nicki

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Liza,

Thanks so much. I did have a great time. Ubaldo Vitali seems like someone we have to meet.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Kim,

I hope you saw it. He is a wonderful person, as well as an amazing artist.

XO Barbara

Barbara Muir said...

Hi Nicki,

Thanks so much. I cannot tell you how moved and changed I feel after looking at art I love.

I'm sure I'll say more about that because I have so many pictures from New York. We have to meet there some day.

XO Barbara

Portrait Artist

My photo
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I paint and draw on commission and for shows. To commission a portrait, or purchase one of my paintings please contact me at: barbara.muir@sympatico.ca
A major highlight in my career? Drawing Oprah Winfrey live via Skype for her show "Where in the Skype are you? Galleries: Studio Vogue Gallery, Toronto, Canada. The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City. Gallery at the Porch Door, Kingston, Canada. Your positive comments on this blog mean the world to me. I'd love to hear from you!