Tom Morello, a wise man.

I love days where I feel like I accomplished something. Accomplished, yes, but more importantly, learned something.
Went to the Hammer Museum in Westwood to hear a conversation between artist Sam Durant and bad ass guitarist/social activist Tom Morello. It was not my first sighting of Tom as he was on my plane from LAX to Chicago last Christmas- I would say we're almost to first name basis status.
The program and the two artists covered a gamut of issues- from censorship to the Black Panther party to Morello's earliest accounts of racism in his suburban Chicago town. It was just really cool to see two artists of different genres having a thought provoking discussion. Until dumbass people gotta get their question/statement in during q&a time...
BUT...Morello is an inspiration not only because he's a fucking amazing and groundbreaking guitarist but he's also fucking smart. not smart. wise. He's one of those people that is clairvoyant and moreover acts on what he believes and wants to change injustices around the world.
Not to mention Rage is one of my favourite favourite bands. Just raw energy, man.

Furthermore, the power of art has been on my mind recently. Reading Patti Smith has made me think of this even more. She talks a lot in her book about the times she questions why her and Robert Mapplethorpe lived their lives for art. To be an artist you can half ass it. Art is your life, your sole devotion.
Artists live their lives for art and dedicate their life to it.