 By
Judi Lakin
photos by Tom Kimmell
A fire crackled in the large stone fireplace in
Bemis reception hall as students gathered for a
class from Nobel laureate Toni Morrison. Sofas,
overstuffed furniture, and chairs were filled with
eager students from three classes, giving the room
a comfortable, informal feeling. To begin, a single
hand was raised to ask the author about her choice
in voice when she wrote about one of her characters.
As Morrison explained her deliberate use of tender
language to describe what she called a “vile
act,” every student listened attentively.
For more than an hour and a half in this intimate
setting, more and more hands were raised as students
took advantage of speaking directly with Toni Morrison
about her books they had read for class.
Morrison’s visit to Colorado College kicked
off Cornerstone Arts Week. Developed to celebrate
and explore innovations in the arts, the Cornerstone
Arts Initiative stresses interdisciplinary arts
teaching and collaborative techniques.
Addressing an audience
that overflowed Armstrong Hall and filled Shove
Chapel, Morrison explored the concept of an integrated
education that combines different genres and disciplines
in unique ways in her talk entitled, “Is Nothing
Sacred?” In answer to that question, Morrison
emphatically expressed that knowledge is sacred.
“Knowledge is so precious, so weighty, so
powerful and empowering it might even be dangerous
unless treated at least with seriousness and at
most with reverence approaching holiness.”
Much of Morrison’s talk centered around the
creative process. According to Morrison, our critical
processes are often aimed at analyzing the end result
of the creative process and not the process itself.
Morrison pointed out that it’s the process
“where the transcendent properties of art
lie.”
Morrison shared her experiences at Princeton, where
she developed ateliers, or workshops, that explored
interdisciplinary studies. Students often worked
on projects with visiting artists, including Yo-Yo
Ma, director Peter Sellars, the Anonymous Four music
group, and photographer Andrea Modica, with the
focus on the creative process. “I want to
give students participation in the genuine life
of the mind that is available in the process of
creating art,” she explained.
A luncheon in Bemis Great Hall capped off Morrison’s
visit to Colorado College. The majority of the guests
were Colorado College students and area high school
juniors and seniors. In her short talk, Morrison
exhorted students to “demand your education.
If necessary, fight for it.”
Next Previous
|
