author...illustrator...guerilla artist
author...illustrator...guerilla artist
I was sad to hear of the death of canadian radio host Lister Sinclair, who hosted the enlightening show, "Ideas", (one of my favourite nightime companions for many years.) His passion for knowledge and for his work was completely contagious, and (like my favourite teachers) left me wanting to go out and do my own investigations into the topics he presented. In explaining mr. sinclair's process, the executive producer of Ideas Bernie Lucht said,
"He felt that the job of humanity was to find out what it was about, what we were about and what our surroundings, the universe into which we had been born, were about."
something about these words hit me at a deep level. kind of an "aha" moment. it so simple, this is our only work, to find out what we and the place that we live are about. maybe the big conclusions never come. i am an investigator, doing reseach and documenting my findings.
I suppose this is exactly what I have been doing all along, yet lately I am wanting to have a distinct conclusion, a formulation of meaning, clear results from my findings. But what if my only role is in documenting, investigating, observing?
yes, i can do that.
"Same old eyes, same old world but the difference is how you look at what is in front of you, not what it is." ~Lister Sinclair
thank you for sharing your heart mr. lister sinclair.
Posted by kerismith at October 17, 2006 09:39 AMI love "Ideas"..disagree with u about one thing: "maybe the big conclusions never come.." not my experience, anyway! :)
Posted by: skeeter on October 21, 2006 06:56 PMI was quite startled to hear that he had passed as well. I was listening to the CBC when the it came on the news. My heart sank. I have memories listening to him on ideas at my nan and pop's house in Newfoundland. He will definitely be missed. Thanks for the quote.
Posted by: Rochelle on October 21, 2006 06:11 PMBeing in Western Australia, I had not heard of Lister. However, you have written a moving tribute to him.
The lines........... "to find out what we and the place that we live are about." Have been buzzing through my head tonight. Tomorrow I return to a community project...we are making a huge wall mosaic depicting the local area. I think that will start the process of finding out!
Thankyou for crystalizing it all again K.
profound.
Posted by: Leonie on October 18, 2006 06:23 PMWhat a nice tribute keri. I have not heard Ideas since moving down to North Carolina several years ago. Just the mention of it, took me back to my little apartment in Ottawa with my gold lame papered bathroom, where I would get ready for bed listening to Lister Sinclair on an old radio I had picked up for $3 at a garage sale. I think I will go to the Ideas site now, and see if I can stream an old program. Thank you for letting us know.
Posted by: nadine on October 18, 2006 05:09 PMI was a great fan of Lister for many years and then actually had a chance to host him for a conference and took him around Halifax for a day and a half while he waited for his flight back to TO. He was every bit as brilliant, facinating and charming as on Ideas. It was a great event in my life, and you have captured him well in your comments! Thanks!
Posted by: Alan on October 18, 2006 11:46 AMOh no, I hadn't heard. The passing of another one of my giants...
I grew up confusing Peter Gzowski with my father. (I think Peter was more of a constant presence). I still can't believe he's gone.
Posted by: kyran on October 18, 2006 07:48 AMGreat quote from Lister. I am still pondering the idea of finding out what we and the place we live are all about. This ties in so deeply to my life at the moment. I am working on creating pieces of art for a show called 'the art of survival'... It has made me a bit more reflective as I look at what I seek in order to live a fulfilled life.
Posted by: kristine on October 18, 2006 03:32 AMI had a similar experience tonight after seeing Brilliant, a play about the life of Nikola Tesla. It left me feeling a void in my heart and a desire to go investigate.
K
Posted by: Kelly on October 18, 2006 12:06 AMI had never heard of him, but he sounds amazing. Now I'm off to investigate the world through Lister Sinclair.
Thank you for that.
Posted by: patry on October 17, 2006 11:03 PMGreat quotes that leave much to ponder. Thanks for sharing!
A fellow Lister Sinclair fan,
Miyuki
oh. i hadn't heard. (apparently not news down here.) he kept me company many a night. so sad.
Posted by: tracy on October 17, 2006 04:17 PMNot only are you documenting, investigating, and observing, you inspire others to do the same...
Posted by: Jannie on October 17, 2006 02:29 PMi dont know the radio host but loved reading about him and the quote at the end...so true...
Posted by: julie on October 17, 2006 12:59 PM