Like so many of you, the passing of Dick Wolfgang has made me pause and take stock of the man he was and gifts he gave us. I have long known that (with the exception of my parents) Wolfgang was and is the most influential teacher of my life. No one before or since has had such a profound influence on how I view everything in our world, and seek to treat to treat others. In fact, as I pondered how to start this post I heard his voice say, Geez DeGalan. Just start it, man. As a freshman art student I was overwhelmed by an art project. I simply didnt know where to start, so there I sat - doing nothing and stressing out. Wolfgang wandered by and seeing me motionless told me this. I have heard him say this so many times through my life I can not even being to count them. Wolfgang loved what he did and loved sharing it with others. Each class was its own happening. He did it with such ease that you were instantly comfortable with the environment, and what an incredible environment it was. He gave us permission to not only be ourselves, but to grow. It was the only class in school where it was always alright to make mistakes. It was just as natural as breathing. Because he loved art with such a passion he could push, lay back, criticize and compliment you - as long as you showed him through your actions that you were taking his class seriously. Because Wolfgang was always serious about developing you as an artist. He wanted you to see things differently, not to assume, not to be safe, and absolutely not be trite. We also knew that Wolfgang was himself, a great artist. He walked the walk. He never bragged, but occasionally he would bring in one of his completed works and the talent was so overwhelming that he didnt need to say a word. And usually he didnt. He was also interested in you as a person and not just a student. He would challenge you to defend your opinions without calling you out. He would share his opinions - but let you know they were his opinions. He rarely talked down to you - it was as if he was a mentor of sorts to any kid that was serious about his class. You looked up to him not because he was an authority, but because you genuinely liked and respected him. Because he liked and respected you. He was rarely judgmental. How utterly unique that relationship was. Few teachers could pull that off, and we were the beneficiaries. He listened. We listened. In case you were wondering; yes - I studied Wolfgang as much as I studied art. He was the type of person I wanted to be. It was a unique opportunity to watch a man so comfortable in his skin, and joyous to be around. I cannot begin to tell you about how often I have tried to used those lessons in all phases of my life. I hope that others have benefited - even if just a little - by the life lessons I learned from him. I can only hope to do what I can, for I am no Dick Wolfgang. Nor will I ever be. There was only one, and we were blessed to have him for as long as we did. So now he is no longer with us and I grieve that. I grieve for all that were his family and his friends. And I grieve for all of those that he touched. His life was like tossing a stone into a still pond. The ripples go on and on. I have determined that I want to be one of those ripples that adds to others lives - partially because its who he made me and partially because its now my turn. Time to play it forward because thats what he did - for us. Its my hope that we all reflect on the lessons we learned from Richard Wolfgang - teacher, artist, friend and mentor; and then do something with that. He would never ask us to do so - he was too humble for that. But I think he would be pleased that we did. I just heard him (really), Geez DeGalan. Just start it, man. Im listening Mr. Wolfgang. I get it. Ill pass it along. Ill be a ripple.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:46:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015