In a way, artists are shamans, facilitators who take what's there, channel it through themselves, then put it out there for people to appreciate.

When I was growing up, there were a lot more arts in the public schools. Politically, America has screwed up on that.

Americans are attracted to the dark side. But which movies should be allowed to be violent and show that dark side, and which should not? I don't believe in censorship, but I do think there are horrible movies that are bad for you.

One of the reasons why I love to do Shakespeare is that this great artist was able to talk to a wide variety of audiences. He could do the bawdy plays and the humor and the clowns-as you know, because you're a wonderful Stephano-that speaks to the populace, the masses, the groundlings, whatever.

There is incredible power in the arts to inspire and influence.

When I'm sculpting, I work with wood and clay, and though some say that an image is already in the material and the sculptor just has to discover it, I also believe you have an image in your head that you're trying to get to. So you're in a dialogue with the piece, a back-and-forth.

I am, to be quite honest, sick of hero stories.