I would like to pay tribute to my mother Marie Louise Rouff, a woman I believe to be a remarkable artist. She continues to paint every day and produce a remarkable arrange of vivid paintings. I remember as a child living in a home full of the smell of paint and paint thinners. In some respects I did not enjoy all the benefits of richer kids I knew because of the decisions my mother made, but I always supported her in her efforts. He choice was at a deep level also my choice. I learned an immense amount from her over the years both through what she said, she painted, and she did. And she remains my closest confident in all matters.

She was, after all, the one who thought me that if you want to change the world, you must first change how people see the world. If you want to change how people see the world, you must do so with art or literature. That is literally the only way to do so. Politicians and diplomats can never have that sort of power. Only artists can have that sort of impact.

She has moved over the years to monotypes and away from her still life works of apples and pears that I remember from the 1970s.