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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 24, 2000)
Lecturer brings medieval painting into modernity ■Terry Tempest Williams is fixated with Hieronymous Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights” By Serena Markstrom Oregon Daily Emerald The lights of the EMU Ballroom went down and all eyes focused on Terry Tempest Williams. The petite author’s head scarcely cleared the podium, but her read ing held the attention of the near full capacity audience for almost two hours. Williams was this year’s Robert D. Clark Professor in the Humani ties, a position that was estab lished in 1995 to promote public discussion on the natural sci ences, the history of Oregon and the connection between science and social affairs. The lecture, “Hieronymous Bosch in North America,” ex plored Williams’ seven-year ob session with Bosch’s famous 15th century painting, “The Garden of Earthly Delights.” Steven Shankman director of the Oregon Humanities Center, said of Williams in his introduc tion “she is an extremely genuine and generous person.” Slightly poking fun at her Mor mon upbringing, Williams intro duced the lecture by saying Eu gene forever changed her life after she had her first cup of coffee and first chocolate covered espresso beans. In the presentation she mixed poetry and storytelling to cre atively weave together a story of how studying the painting, which resides in Madrid at the Prado museum, and writing about it in “LEAP,” Williams’ book about the painting, has been a journey for her as a person and writer. Williams’ writing is generally about nature and she is a noted environmental and political ac tivist, but, as Shankman noted, the focus of the lecture was a dif ferent sort of landscape — the painting. She talked about how the painting, which was projected on a screen over the stage, captivated her imagination for seven years. “We have forgotten who we are,” Williams read. “We have distorted our power.” Bosch, she said, “reminds me.” The transparency of the paint ing was the only lit constant as she described the people, the col ors, the fruit and the animals in the painting. Williams said as she worked on the project she did not reveal to many that she was taking pilgrim ages to Spain to view the paint ing. “It was a secret I did not tell for fear of being called mad,” she said. She described moments when she would stare at the painting with binoculars to see the differ ent animals closely, often with guards laughing at her. The names of species became poetry as she listed them; mallards, owls, swifts, cuckoos, white peli cans, stork and gold finch. When the mood became in tense she often interjected a joke. She said in medieval times cher ries were associated with female genitalia and that the Utah state fruit is the cherry. “I wonder if the legislators knew that,” Williams, who is from Utah, said. Though she chided her own obsession with the painting, she noted that others, such as Ernest Hemingway, have been likewise fascinated by it and have offered their interpretations for what it means. “Hieronymous Bosch painted our passions,” Williams said. Williams believes the leap the painting suggests in contempo rary times is one of restoration and a renewed belief in the im portance of saving the earth. “I believe this painting has nev er been more relevant,” Williams said. “There is a war raging within our nation,” Williams read. “And it’s not civil.” Audience members shared their thoughts and asked ques tions after the lecture. One audience member walked STUDENTS We ship your stuff home! Take advantage of our Student Discounts Ask about FREE BOXES! Furniture, computers, stereos, TV's Insured, custom packing — UPS, Ocean Freight, Motor Freight VITH ca*e 344-31062705 wi,|amette st (convenient parking) CAN NOW READ THE El o.d.e. on the w< IT’S JUST LIKE REALLY BE Kevin Calame Emerald Terry Tempest Williams discusses her book, “LEAP,” and her love for Hieronymous Bosch’s fruit-and-animal-filled painting. Bookmaker uses press to print poems, projects By Serena Markstrom Oregon Dairy Emerald Bibliopegist Sandy Tilcock has been operating her business, the Lone Goose Press, for 10 years, but a year ago she con tracted with the University. Now Tilcock makes books in the name of Knight Library Press •— the University’s first fine printing press since the 1930s. Tuesday the press’s most re cent project, an excerpt present ed on broadside from Terry Tem pest Williams’ new book “LEAP,” was sold at the Robert D. Clark lecture at the EMU Ball room. Only 125 copies of the indi vidually numbered broadsides, which sold for $65 each, were for sale. “They’re just gorgeous/’ Chad J. Barker, who is Tilcock’s lone paid employee, said of the three paneled broadsides. Williams said Tilcock is a re spected artist and friend and she is pleased to see her own words displayed so beautifully. Barker sold the broadsides at the event and said “the people really seemed to enjoy it. “They seemed thankful they had something special to take home and commemorate the event,” Barker said. Each item that comes out of Tilcock’s west Eugene shop is made entirely by hand, down to each letter set and every piece of paper folded. Once a project is complete it is never reprint ed. “That’s what makes it unique,” Tilcock said. All projects must be approved by the board of directors. She usually prints poems, short sto ries and parts of novels created by regional artists. “I don’t think everyone’s work is appropriate,” Tilcock said. Since Lone Goose Press and Tilcock have added the respon sibility as Knight Library Press, her work has become higher profile, a position she said she is not necessarily comfortable in. But she takes it in stride as part of the job and the work re mains the most important thing to her. “This is more than a job, this is who I am,” Tilcock said. up to the microphone with a mes sage for Williams. “I have been to literally hun dreds of readings,” he said. “You have the most beautiful voice.” A book signing and reception followed the question and answer session where audience members bought copies of “LEAP” and an autographed, limited edition broadside, produced by Knight Library Press. For those who wish to see the lecture, the videotaped version will be broadcast on channel 12 in the fall. For more information call the Oregon Humanities Cen ter at 346-3934. Class of 2000! senior Thursday, May 25 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. send EMU Amphitheater FREE FOOD & GRAD PACK Bring your invitation with you I I TO RECEIVE YOUR MEAL & GIFT In case of rain, event will be held in the EMU Ballroom. qfeg? UQ '■s*.*- vo ’ C I »■* Credit Union If you have any questions about your academic standing as a senior, please contact the Registrar at 346-3243. Event questions call 346-5656. 4ERALD FROM ANYWHERE IN THE ipld wide web: www.dailyemerald.com :iNG HERE, BUT WITHOUT ALL THE RAIN.
