The Loss of an Artist and Colleague
Yesterday, I came to work to discover that one of the young artists on our story crew had collapsed in his cubicle and died the night before. Justin Wright was 27, and a happy, energetic, and talented guy. I can't say he was my friend as I barely knew him on a personal level. We had talked about music a bit, shared some cd's, had some amiable debates about the aesthetics of video games (about which he clearly had strong opinions). I watched him give a story pitch a few weeks ago, and was really entertained by his timing, drawing prowess, and ability to stage shots and blend humor and action... He was a talented young artist who was just digging into his work.
Justin was only 7 years older than my own son, and it put me in the position of the parent contemplating that loss, as well as that of the co-worker, whom you may or may not have gotten to know so well. The interview he gave to his former college alumni assoc.:
http://alumni.puc.edu/index.php?id=20,231,0,0,1,0
I think explains not only the reason for Justin's short time on Earth, but why he was happy to be alive. Anyone, any age, can learn from this. Life is short for all of us. Tragically short for some. Fortunately, Justin lived long enough to realize his desire to work as a story artist at a studio he admired. Some of his dreams came true.
My heart goes out to his family and friends, as well as his colleagues here at work who will miss his spirit and contribution to their lives.
Justin's blog:
http://justincwright.blogspot.com/
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Bill,
Just found your site. Boy, I really admire your art. Hope all is well with you, Tia Krater, Bob Pauley and everyone at Pixar.
It's really sad about Justin. Pixar has lost too many talents at far too young an age. I know the company I work for is smaller than Pixar -- but I can think of only one real shocking death in my 18 years there.
I understand how one would take such news about Justin and reflect on their own mortality or the mortality of a son.
Joe Ranft's death -- and some parallels to my life -- certainly led to my own period of examination and questioning.
Anyway, take care of yourself. Live, laugh, love with passion and intensity always. As Joe said, "the journey is the reward" and I try to remind myself of that on a fairly regular basis.
I am so sorry for the loss of your colleague. As a mom to a soon-to-be 27 year old son, your post is a jolt. Justin sounds so similar - that zest, the urge to grab everything by the horns and go for it. So sorry to be gone so soon . . .
I found your blog through Robin Purcell's blog. Enjoy so much your portrayal of your landscape and thoughtful writings.
I stumbled upon your website while searching out watercolor artists online. I was drawn into your art and also reading about Justin. I read the article on Justin and have been touched by both your creativity and his. Your work is beautiful and I'm so sorry about your friend.
I was Justin's youth pastor from 94-99 in Napa. When I met him he was short and plump and his face was ballooned up from reaction to the anti-rejection meds for his new heart. After he finally got off of them, it was a joy to see him grow tall and slim down. He just blossomed. But his joyful and fun-loving spirit was always there from the first day I met him. On a side note, his mother who taught at our church school, knowing my love for reptiles, gifted me the classroom pet. It was a leopard gecko named Lizzie. Lizzie was lost in the classroom for 5 months. When she was found at the end of the year, she was skin and bones. Mrs. Wright said if I could nurse her back to health, I could keep her. That must have been around '96 or '97. Well, Lizzie is blind in one eye and can't see out of the other so I have to feed her crickets and mealworms by hand, but she's still alive! I often think of the Wright family when I care for Lizzie. My heart aches with them now for their loss, but rejoices with them in the hope of the resurrection when Justin will receive a new body with a perfect heart. Eagerly looking forward to that great day of reunion, NLK
Nice Page!
飯店,住宿,HOTEL,婚宴,台北住宿,台北HOTEL,台北婚宴,飯店優惠,訂房,國內訂房,結婚,,婚宴,,台北結婚,婚宴場地,推車飲茶,港式點心,場地,尾牙春酒,學區,捷運,小套房,看房子,買房子,建商自售,自售,台北新成屋,台北豪宅,新成屋,豪宅,美髮,儀器,髮型,EMBA,MBA,學位,EMBA,專業認證,認證課程,博士學位,DBA,PHD,在職進修,碩士學位,推廣教育,DBA,進修課程,碩士學位,課程介紹,學分班,文憑,學位,碩士學位,進修,在職進修,課程,教育,學位,證照,mba,文憑,學分班,在職進修,MBA,EMBA,留學,MBA,EMBA,留學,進修,在職進修,牛樟芝,段木,牛樟菇,牛樟芝,段木,牛樟菇,日式料理, 台北居酒屋,日本料理,居酒屋,SEO,廣告,關鍵字,關鍵字排名,網路行銷,網站排名,網路廣告,SEO,廣告,關鍵字,關鍵字排名,網路行銷,網站排名,SEO,關鍵字,關鍵字排名,網路行銷,EMBA,MBA,PMP,在職進修,專案管理,出國留學,漢高資訊,漢高資訊,比利時,比利時聯合商學院,宜蘭民宿,台東民宿,澎湖民宿,墾丁民宿,花蓮民宿,SEO,找工作,汽車旅館,阿里山,日月潭,阿里山民宿,東森購物,momo購物台,pc home購物,網路購物,手機,手機王,數位像機,衛星導航,GPS,小筆電,機油漢高資訊,漢高資訊,在職進修,漢高資訊,在職進修,住宿,住宿,整形,造型,室內設計,室內設計,漢高資訊,在職進修,漢高資訊,在職進修,住宿,美容,室內設計,在職進修,羅志祥,周杰倫,五月天,住宿,住宿,整形,整形,室內設計,室內設計,比利時聯合商學院,在職進修,比利時聯合商學院,在職進修,漢高資訊,找工作,找工作,找工作,找工作,找工作,蔡依林,林志玲,政治大學,政治大學,政治大學,政治大學,政治大學,非凡美食大探索,非凡美食大探索,非凡美食大探索,非凡美食大探索,非凡美食大探索
Post a Comment