What are you reading?

I read a lot on the Middle East, in particular, because we're engaged in war. I always read art books, too; I'm reading "Goya" by Robert Hughes. ... Also, I've been planning a motorcycle trip, so everyone's required to read "The Monkey Wrench Gang" by Edward Abbey. He's known for his landscapes of the Southwest, and eventually these grand stories evolved into funny epic stories of this foursome of odd, unrelated characters. ... I'm also reading "Freedom From Fear" by Aung San Suu Kyi. It's a classic about the struggle to free Burma. ... She's been my role model for years.

Why is she so influential?

Not too many people are willing to put their lives on the line to help others in this world and stay the course. She's a role model like Nelson Mandela. She stays the course with principles of democracy for her people.

You have such diverse pursuits and reading. Do you connect and further them as Suu Kyi does — by staying the course?

I don't see it as being that diverse. I've been an artist my whole life, and I find that art and politics are so close — it's been art that's raised our consciousness throughout time and draws us back to the sense that as human beings we only have limited life span and we have to deal with things constantly, like fear. ... I've always looked at the world in that way. I've learned a lot through politics about how people determine their paths these ways. It comes down to spiritual decisions based on these very humane ideas.