Artist Quote by Terry Tempest Williams
““Is it possible to make a living by simply watching light? Monet did. Vermeer did. I believe Vincent did too. They painted light in order to witness the dance between revelation and concealment, exposure and darkness. Perhaps this is what I desire most, to sit and watch the shifting shadows cross the cliff face of sandstone or simply to walk parallel with a path of liquid light called the Colorado River. In the canyon country of southern Utah, these acts of attention are not merely the pastimes of artists, but daily work, work that matters to the whole community. This living would include becoming a caretaker of silence, a connoisseur of stillness, a listener of wind where each dialect is not only heard but understood.””
About This Quote
Source Essay Collection “Light and Silence”, 2021
She explores living by observing light and silence, seeing them as essential for understanding revelation, concealment, and community connection.
In simple terms: Living by watching light and silence reveals deeper truths.
Seek stillness and observe light.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Hiking in can can
- painting with light
- listening to wind
- practicing silence
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you incorporate light observation into daily life?
- What does silence teach you about community?
The practice may be inaccessible to those in urban settings.