3. Dedicated in Luminous Memory of Thomas R. Skelton 1927 - 1994 “When the Student is ready, the Master will appear.” - Buddhist Saying

5. My name is Mark Kruger, and I’ve had a many-decades long and storied career in both lighting design and lighting education, based for the most part in New York City. I have travelled a great deal in both capacities, and as a photographer, pilgrim and “ex-pat”. I thoughtfully “observe” the lives of others and the environments around me. I also have “lived” life to the fullest in every decade of my own past, just as I do now, in this one. What that means is that I am, amongst other things, a perpetual sojourner, seeker of my own “truth”, and an avid student of life and of light. Amongst the most important lessons learned, for example, is that cover stories, awards and applause garnered, profits and losses in business, etc., are very far from being the sum and substance of a real legacy in this, or any other art. The transmission of acquired knowledge is. Hence, this project… You’ll find out a bit more about my recent decades in lighting and lighting education towards the end of this, the first volume of a “A Chronicle of Light”. Subsequent volumes will be added over the coming months, dedicated to various aspects of the art and craftsmanship involved in mastering the ever-evocative and ephemeral medium of light. In some instances I will lead you “by the hand”. In other moments, I hope to both inspire and prompt you to discover on your own by simply scattering a sinuous trail of luminous glitter, be it by the wisdom and wit of others and their quotations, or by peppering this tome with dazzling imagery and music that will allow you to shut your eyes so that you might “hear the light”. Some allied topics, like electrical and HVAC engineering, can be taught by dry rote and thorough practice in formulaic solutions. Lighting design is not like that, nor is this first installment of “A Chronicle of Light” intended to be a “syllabus” of any kind. It’s both factual and anecdotal. It is historically referential and, hopefully, presented with a token measure of whimsy. We must fully respect the many adjunct disciplines and technologies that come to the “design/build” process, just as we must suffer the inflated egos, lack of creative inspiration and failed attempts at building important interpersonal connections that sometimes accompany the collaborative efforts. This is true, as well, in the classroom. Some students are like a sponge, while others are like a sieve. In any case, it is my personal goal to advance the central issues of collective interactivity, mutual understanding, stimulating the imagination and, in the end, taking great satisfaction in the beautiful artistry ~ or the mutual “learning” ~ that has been created. So, welcome to this learning experience. I ask that you open your “mind’s eye” to both the physical prism and to the purposefully colorful presentation of this book. This volume is dedicated, by and large, to some of the fundamentals of the art, including color, angle, shadow/silhouette, composition, etc. There is, I believe, a starting place for all acquired knowledge, just as there is for practical experience. Fundamentals should be, and are hopefully here, presented as “fun”. Set aside your preconceived notions and “rules” about learning. There should be joy in the heart and soul of every true artist and avid student of the arts. As the great Katharine Hepburn once said, ”If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” ~ Mark D. Kruger BY WAY OF AN INTRODUCTION