I remember going to an art museum for the first time with my new I-phone. I don't think I've ever been so excited by how much a piece of technology could enhance something I loved to do. I could google an artwork on the spot, listen to music while I wandered through the galleries, take photos, zoom in effortlessly to details on those photos, and compare a photo of an artwork from a far-off part of the museum with the artwork I was standing in front of. The I-phone fundamentally enhanced my enjoyment of art and made many of the techniques I like to use so much easier to apply. And I won't mention how valuable my I-pad and MacBook are to me. I owe so much to his innovations. However, as I was reading over the story of Steve Jobs life in a NYT article, I cringed a little.
I cringed a little when I came across an episode from when he was teenager. One of his early projects was to help create and sell a device that would enable free long-distance calls... illegally. That bothered me. I didn't like that this creative genius had done something illegal. And then, like a slap in the face, I remembered a painting, a painting that reminded me that I didn't need to cringe, that the early attempts to express creativity do often take on a messy, unconventional, rule-breaking form. It just so happened that I filmed a video about this painting last week (see below). I'm not cringing. I'm inspired. As he said during his commencement speech at Stanford, "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."
I plan on it. And during TTA's second year of life I look forward to sharing with you all the innovations that result. Thank you Mr. Jobs. Thank you for giving me the means and for inspiring me.