Artists Receive Honorary Degrees In Chapel Ceremony

Last Friday, on November 12, Trinity College awarded eight honorary degrees to artists who have shown courage in their creative endeavors.

The ceremony commenced with a traditional academic procession headed by the Bread and Puppet Theater's brass band and an assortment of costumed actors alongside flag-carrying members of the Trinity community. The flamboyant, ragtag procession of performers volunteers, and stilt-walkers clunked along to the loud and brassy band that accompanied them. Uncle Sam, the tallest of the stilt walkers, could almost see into the second story windows of Jarvis as he processed along the Long Walk. He even stopped to lean against a tall tree in front of the chapel to help the band a bit by taking out his own instrument. The procession followed the perimeter of the Main Quad and ended in the Chapel, where the congregation met them for the start of the ceremony. John Rose, Director of Chapel Music, played the organ as the faculty entered the Chapel.

The invocation was performed by the Right Reverend Nihal de Lanerolle, the College Chaplain. President Evan Dobelle in his welcoming remarks honored the recipients commending their "courageous commitment to the creative process." Dobelle also remarked what a beautiful setting the college Chapel was for the ceremony, commenting on the artistry of the rose windows and carved pews.

Willie Colon, an eleven-time Grammy nominee, was accompanied by Professor of Music Lise Waxer as he walked up to the podium to receive his honorary degree in music.

Leon Golub, widely exhibited and celebrated artist who addresses violence in large-scale paintings, was accompanied by Joseph R. Burn, Professor of Fine Arts as he approached the front of the Chapel to accept his honorary degree in Fine Arts.

Dollie McLean, a celebrated Hartford leader and cofounder of the Artists Collective was escorted by Val Ramos, Director of Community Service. McLean received a honorary doctorate in Humane Letters.

Her husband, Jackie McLean, a world-renowned jazz musician and founder of the African American Music Program at the Hartt School of Music, and cofounder of the Artists Collective, was ushered by Michael S. Washington, Professor of American Studies. McLean accepted an honorary degree in Music.

Susan Meiselas, a widely published, award-winning photojournalist, accepted her doctorate in Fine Arts as she was accompanied by Pablo Delano.

Patrick O'Connell '75, founding director of Visual AIDS and the Day Without Art campaign, was escorted by Judy Dworin, Professor of Theater and Dance as he approached the podium to receive his degree in Humane Letters.

Tina Packer, founder, president, and artistic director of Massachusetts' Shakespeare and Company, was ushered by Arthur Feinsod, Professor of Theater and Dance before accepting her honorary degree in Humane Letters.

Peter Schumann, creator of Vermont's internationally known Bread and Puppet Theater , was accompanied by Jeffrey Walker, Director of the Austin Arts Center, and receive d his honorary degree in Humane Letters.

Leon Golub offered the Convocation Address, remarking that it was it was an "extraordinary time" to be creating art although "all times are extraordinary to the people living in them." Another topic that Golub touched upon in his address was the role of institutions of higher learning in providing both students and artists with new ideas as well as a establish a sense of history. He also gave advice to aspiring artists who wish to create controversy with their work, stating that provocative subjects include "religion, politics, the American flag, and sex."

Golub concluded with a quote from August Sander, stating, "In order to see the truth, we ought to be able to tolerate it." Dobelle followed the keynote address with a few closing remarks. After Dobelle's closing remarks, the Bread and Puppet Theater treated the congregation to a Canta Storia, appropriately titled Courage. Two performers held up a large banner with the word courage and several numbered illustrations scrawled in a crude, childlike hand. Performers and volunteers, wearing paper wings, came running down the aisle of the chapel. The winged performers then plopped down in the aisle and learned how to fly by performing various exercises. After these physical warm-ups, one performer taught his students how to have courage and through clapping and chanting he went through all the way s in which people have and use courage by pointing to the numbered pictures on the banner. The list began with "Naked Courage," a picture of Adam and Eve, and went on for several pictures until he reached one called "The Courage to Fly." After pointing out this picture, all of the winged students glided through the chapel clucking and tweeting. This final, fluid bird procession ended the evening's events in a beautiful, creative and artistic way.