Double Artist Close- Up: Patti Smith/ Waltraud Meier

Alright, I know that these two artists are not newcomers in this music game, but on Sunday, I had the pleasure of witnessing them in discussion of their masterful lives. Thanks to the National Sawdust+ series, which is a non-profit blossoming into a Brooklyn cultural staple, these two women gave a beautiful lecture. In it, I learned how to be a better person and artist.

Patti Smith is a surprisingly emotional artist. She is completely in tune with her feelings and fearless when releasing them. She will cry for joy or cry for pain with a childlike quality that allows her to remain present and bounce forward. Her admiration for art, and particularly Meier, explains why she is so heartfelt in her own work. Smith is known as an acclaimed songstress/songwriter that headlined the punk rock movement. Her book, Just Kids, is a National Book Award winner and hailed as one of the best memoirs written. If you have had the pleasure to read it, you will understand that she writes with her heart and see why I say she is so kindly sentimental. From her, I learned that to be a better artist you must love what you do purely. You must embrace your craft with a joy that is always dynamic, enlightened, and ready to persevere through everything that comes its way.

Waltraud Meier is the perfect blend of fierce diva and humble humanness. If you have not heard of this Opera queen, I suggest you YouTube her legendary rendition of “Isolde” from Tristan Und Isolde. The performance is so rich with spirit that you feel transfixed by her every move. Meier is known for her celestial voice and exceptionally real portrayals of her characters. She is, basically, the Meryl Streep of Opera, and is known to not act but embody. The lessons she taught on giving a performance can be used for a lifetime. She uses her entire being to give an emotion, and focuses on her breathing, body, and emotional analysis of a character’s text to assure their soul is elevated through her performance. Her spiritual connection to her craft is mesmerizing. Like Smith, you feel moved to see people that have achieved stellar accomplishments and fame still feel so connected with their work.

Ultimately, Meier and Smith taught me that excitement is the key to longevity. With each woman having decades in the music industry as professionals, you understand that the key to their success is in their open demeanor and creative freshness. They see the world so clearly: with no judgment or inhibitions. This openness allows them to connect to the human spirit and represent it with a clarity rarely accomplished.

Thanks To National Sawdust For Another Cool Lecture!