A Toast to Robert Wilson
By popular request, here is David Watkins' Celebrate Architecture toast:
Thomas Jefferson had the vision to see in America not simply an extension of Great Britain but an opportunity to create something entirely new: a new kind of place where individuals could find their own way, a place where individual freedom was unencumbered, a place that valued personal expression, a place that could teach the rest of the world about "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Jefferson knew that this experiment would not easily succeed. There was no guarantee that our infant nation would even survive, much less thrive as a model for the rest of world. But Jefferson contributed his multiple talents to the effort. His writing skills allowed his fellow Americans to understand his vision. He talents as an architect led to the creation of new spaces for living and learning. His appreciation for the importance of education gave the nation the University of Virginia. His love of books resulted in the Library of Congress. And his life-long curiosity led to the exploration of the Western continent by Lewis and Clark.
Few individuals have lived in a more dramatic time or lived their lives more dramatically.
No stranger to drama himself, Robert Wilson has in a similar way created a new kind of place for theatrical expression. First drawn to the choreographic work of Balanchine, Cunningham and Graham, Robert Wilson has used his considerable talents as a writer, designer and artist to become, in the words of the New York Times, "a towering figure in the world of experimental theater." His groundbreaking pieces have included the twelve-hour silent opera, The Life and Times of Joseph Stalin and the landmark work, Einstein on the Beach with composer Philip Glass.
Like Jefferson, Robert Wilson's work has achieved international influence. His pieces are often performed in Berlin, Paris, Zurich, Hamburg and Athens. His work has been recognized by the American Institute of Architects, the Italian Music Critics Association, the German Theater Critics, Pratt Institute and Harvard University. In 1986, Mr. Wilson was the sole nominee for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama.
Robert Wilson created his own "University of Virginia" in 1992, The Watermill Center in eastern Long Island, a multi-disciplinary arts laboratory dedicated to developing new work and educational programs for a new generation of young artists.
Each year we come together to celebrate the success Thomas Jefferson's experiment in governance. Tonight, I ask you to join me in raising a glass to honor the experimenter we also celebrate tonight, Mr. Robert Wilson, this year's recipient of the AIA Houston Thomas Jefferson Award.
David Watkins, FAIA
Celebrate Architecture, 20 April 2002
