"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 onCNN 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."