Norton Wisdom - Interview

What this episode covers

Norton Wisdom arose, as an artist, from the tumult of the late 60s, when everyone was finding new ways of self expression, and of connecting with others. Through a series of experiences, he discovered the power of painting as a subversive, political act, one that called people to question their beliefs about what art is, and its roll in culture. Much of his current work in ephemeral, taking place on stage with musicians as they perform. He works on an illuminated mylar surface, sort of like a huge light box. Images emerge, evolve, and dissolve throughout the performance and, on a good night, his efforts come into alignment with those of the musicians and, together, their collective creation is greater than the sum of its parts. His list of collaborators is impressive. He's worked with with members of Jane's Addiction, The Rolling Stones, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck, The Grateful Dead, and DJ Nobody, but he's also deeply connected to the L.A. Improv Jazz scene, and specifically famed guitarist Nels Cline. Cline and Wisdom performed together as Stained Radiance, and a documentary of their efforts was recently released to great critical acclaim. The great thing about Wisdom, though, is that he's a true egalitarian, in that he brings his boundless energy and enthusiasm to performances with new and emerging artists as well. This interview is a bit less than 30 minutes long, and I think you'll get a sense of his character and charm.

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