Glenn Gould

The Pianist Glenn Gould was an interesting and rather odd fellow who I am still learning about.  Sometimes I listen to some of his recordings while painting.  The following quote from him is attached permanently on my studio wall:
  
"I believe that the justification of art is the internal combustion it ignites in the hearts of men and not its shallow, externalized public manifestations.  The purpose of art is not the release of a momentary ejection of adrenaline but is, rather, the gradual, life long construction of a state of wonder and serenity.  We are rapidly and quite properly learning to appreciate the elements of aesthetic narcissism— and I use that word in its best sense— and are awakening to the challenge that each man contempatively create his own divinity."

If you are interested in finding out more a good place to start is this 2002 NPR discussion with Scott Simon and Tim Page on the release of both versions of the Goldberg Variations that Gould recorded 25 years apart.