Fine-Tooning

Roz Chast details the fine art of blogging...
Courtesy: Roz Chast. All rights reserved.

The busy fall foliage season is winding down at Norman Rockwell Museum, and we celebrated in grand style yesterday with our "Back in Time" family cruise-in, featuring a classic car show and tribute to the 30th anniversary of Back To The Future. I was responsible for the latter, and couldn't be more pleased with how the event came together...it was one of the best days I have had in some time. I'll talk more about this, the other unique event I experience last Wednesday ("Future Day"), and provide a more thorough post about my all-time favorite movie, in the days to come.

For now, we bid farewell to Roz Chast: Cartoon Memoirs, which closes tomorrow, October 26. It has been a lot of fun working on this exhibition—not only creating the video (which one of my co-workers rather sincerely and kindly called, "a work of art in itself"), but spending some time with the artist herself. I had, once again, the unique opportunity to get to know a successful and influential artist, working in a medium I am passionate about. 

Last August I spent the afternoon with the cartoonist, driving her to New Haven, CT, for a special radio interview I arranged for her with my friends at WNPR Radio. Roz is not a big fan of driving, so I acted as her chauffeur for the day; I also appeared as a guest during a portion the segment, which you can listen to here. 

Keep Calm... and Mind The Cartoonist!
With Roz Chast and WNPR's Colin McEnroe.
Courtesy: Lydia Brown/WNPR

That late summer radio interview went well, gave us some great publicity for the exhibition, and I totally enjoyed Roz's company for the day; what I did not anticipate was feeling like I was in one of her cartoons! 

Before arriving at Roz's home/studio in southwestern Connecticut, I inadvertently drowned my smartphone (don't ask). Previously running ahead of schedule, I now found myself frantically trying to mop up the thoroughly drenched device...as the minutes began ticking. Trying my best to look upbeat, I finally arrived at the artist's home, and we hightailed it to New Haven. 

But the fun didn't stop there... suddenly we found ourselves stuck in mid-afternoon traffic, and the grey clouds started to form over my head, as I crossed my fingers that we would make it in time for the live interview. It worked out, with moments to spare, as we dashed from the nearby parking garage into the nearby studio, and proceeded with the interview. All went well and we caught an enjoyable lunch together, but when we returned to my car, I couldn't figure out how to get out of the garage...the gate was not accepting my credit cards, and there was no attendant in sight! We eventually tracked one down and got out of the "prison cell," and made our way back to Ridgefield. 

Not so fast, mister... after a few miles, we realized that my GPS was taking us in a completely wrong direction, and pulled over to attempt to reroute ourselves. At this point in the day, I wondered if I might find myself pictured in one of her quirky, New Yorker cartoons in the weeks to come... it was so neurotic... and totally me, not Roz (who was understanding, good-spirited, and funny as always). It reminded me of a question I had asked her last winter during our interview for the exhibition video. Here is an edited clip, where you hear me ask her about people recognizing themselves in her work:

Don't get me wrong... I was honored to spend the day with the artist, and we spent most of the afternoon talking about cartoons and comic art, which was my first real artistic passion and what I saw myself doing as a career in later years. What a wonderful opportunity and insight...it made me want to pick up a pencil and paper, and get cartooning again myself.

Related Links:

Roz Chast's website

"Roz Chast: Cartoon Memoirs" exhibition video

"Getting Graphic With Roz Chast," The Colin McEnroe Show, WNPR, August 19, 2015

The Future Is Now!

Greetings from the future!
DeLorean/hoverboard courtesy: Jeff Rothenberg

On this date at precisely 4:29 p.m., time travelers Dr. Emmett Brown and Marty McFly will descend on Hill Valley, California, from the year 1985...making movie history! Let's all give them a warm welcome, shall we?

And how! This month, media and fans have been talking up a storm about the 30th anniversary of Back To The Future and the arrival of Future Day (October 21, 2015, as depicted in the second film from 1989). I couldn't be more happier... as a fantasy film geek, it's fun to see how many things from the future did or did not pan out (how about those hoverboards?!?)

Back To The Future has to be my all-time favorite movie, and the combination of the first and second films (and their clever storytelling, performances, and effects) is really what inspired my idea to pursue filmmaking (for better or worse). In any event, I've been looking for the opportunity to celebrate the occasion, and this weekend it will become reality, as Norman Rockwell Museum will be presenting a "Back in Time" family festival, assembled in "heavy" amounts by your's truly.

This Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET, you can hear me and my colleague Rich Bradway on Pittsfield, MA radio station, Star 101.7, describing how this unique event came together. Rich, our new Director of Digital Learning + Engagement, has experience with and came up with the idea for a classic car show, and I proposed enhancing it with a celebration of all things BTTF in time for the anniversary. Yes, we will have a DeLorean on display!

In addition, I managed to line up a real, honest to goodness, flying automobile that appeared in the second movie. I contacted car owner, Jeff Chabotte, from Connecticut, after seeing this great video about how he restored the character Griff's Hover BMW:

The car is actually up for auction during the huge "We're Going Back" celebration, being held on the same day as our event in Los Angeles, California. Disclosure: it doesn't really fly (and actually needs a lift getting here), so this may be your first and last chance to see the car. Pretty exciting. 

Designs on the future:
Robert U. Taylor shows me examples
of his production design for "Back To The
Future: The Ride." Photo: JC

Another connection I made is with local filmmakers who worked on the acclaimed "Back To The Future: The Ride" for Universal Studios. I had heard that film visionary Doug Trumbull (2010, Blade Runner) had put this ride film together with a crew from the Berkshires, where he is based, but I did not know until last week that the film was literally created down the road from the Museum, in one of the old paper mills. I have lined up the ride film's production assistant, Robert U. Taylor, and model maker, Dai Ban, and they will join us on Saturday as well, to talk about their experience bringing the movie series to life. They lent some great illustrations, photos, and video, that we will  be sharing.

This afternoon I also received a rare, signed print from movie poster artist, Drew Struzan, who created the iconic posters for all three movies. This was very exciting (and generous on his part), and I expect that it will be a highlight among a small display of objects (I have quite a few that I have collected over the years, including issues of the old Back To The Future fan club, which was active during the release of the second and third movies).

Great Scott, I almost forgot to mention: we will be screening the new documentary, Back in Time, which looks at the cultural impact of the film trilogy. I have previewed the film, and it's very well-done, including interviews with fellow fans, screenwriter Bob Gale, director Robert Zemeckis, executive producer/Norman Rockwell Museum trustee Steven Spielberg, and members of the cast, including Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd... "heavy" indeed! 

Well... it's all about time, and I'm running out of it, but I will share more soon... "the future" has yet to be truly written!

Related Links:

Time is on our side! Photo: Universal Pictures

"Back To The Future" official site

Norman Rockwell Museum's "Back in Time: Cruise In"

"Norman Rockwell Museum Goes “Back In Time” with Family Festival To Celebrate 30th Anniversary of “Back To The Future” (press release written by JC)

"Back To The Future II: What did it get right and wrong?" BBC News, October 20, 2015 

"Back in Time" documentary site

Forwards, Backwards, Twisted Round

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” 
― Søren Kierkegaard

"Is it life or just to play..." Taking on 1985- again.

Try as I might, I can't seem to escape 1985...even after all of these years. Is it nostalgia for a simpler time? Remembering myself as a teenager, starting to get the hang of things? All I know is that I am constantly reminded of that particular point in time and, in some cases, quite determined to collect as many memories as possible. 

This Monday, October 19, starting at 11 p.m. ET., I'm going to have some fun with the idea, hosting another MyExit show for my friends at WEXT, and going "back in time" to play some of my favorite music from that year. Coincidentally, the radio show will be broadcast on the 30th anniversary of the date that A-ha's "Take on Me" hit number one on the U.S. Billboard charts. One of the most glaring differences since then: I'm rather sick of the song...can you blame me? For the most part, that is all the band is known for here in the U.S., and mentioning that you're a fan tends to mark you as being stuck in the '80s (well, guess this post isn't helping). 

Recent A-ha "sighting" in the U.S.

But, yeah, I can't avoid including some A-ha on Monday's show. As you know from this blog, I have been a pretty devoted follower of the band since 1985, when I could not stop playing their debut, Hunting High and Low (wore out that tape a couple times). The band has just released a super-deluxe version of the album, including about five discs worth of demos, alternate takes, previously unreleased songs, and the videos that helped make them famous. I'm even more excited about the news that next week they are giving a similar treatment to their later, more rock-oriented albums from the 1990s: Memorial Beach and East of the Sun, West of the Moon; the latter came out around the time they earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for largest attendance (198,000 people) at the Rock in Rio festival in Brazil. Last month, they revisited that experience by headlining at the 30th anniversary of Rock in Rio. 

I know what you may be thinking... didn't they break up? Yes, they went on a world tour just five years ago dubbed "Ending on a High Note," citing irreconcilable differences (I made all of the handful of U.S. dates, and busted my ass to finally finish my documentary, utilizing the interviews I conducted with the band in 2005). Maybe the lure of playing Rock in Rio, making more money in celebration of their debut...etc. etc... was too hard to refuse? 

Nowadays, retiring seems a flexible concept... bands do this all the time...and last month A-ha released a brand new album of material, Cast in Steel. Surprisingly, I wanted to hate it. Putting aside the emotions lingering from their retirement five years ago, part of me just wanted to move on. Yet I couldn't shake the curiosity... bought the album, really dug it, and now I'm back to feeling a little conflicted about it. The title track is a return to form, though:

One nagging thought though (made more clear after doing more of my own music) is that singer Morten Harket needs to adjust to a more comfortable singing range. There are plenty of old clips of him really belting out and sustaining the high notes that are a hallmark of their early '80s work, but listening to their new material and watching last month's Rio concert, it sometimes seems a little forced. Come on, the man is 56 now... give him a break and transpose those notes. Musically, A-ha is still great (minus the repetitive, cheesy keyboard or two), but they would do one better to shake things up. Below is a clip from Rock in Rio 2015 where I think they're on the right track; it's an album cut from the previously mentioned East of the Sun album, called "Sycamore Leaves." This live version harkens back to their prog-rock beginnings, which I covered in my documentary, and seems miles away (in a good, progressive way) from "Take On Me." Simply put, it looks like they are having fun, giving it some soul, and enjoying being back together for the right reasons:

As you'll hear in Monday's MyExit special, I actually find myself traveling "ahead" more than I do back... my tastes may be changing. However, I am well aware of my attraction to a retro vibe (come on, have you heard the dreck they call most modern top 40 radio?!) Nowadays, I find comfort and great musicianship in classic soul and the blues. I don't think I'm alone... hell, even vinyl has made a comeback.

Objects in the rear view mirror are closer than they appear...
Photo: Yutaka Nishimura / Rhino

So,sometimes the past = present: the Mets, "Bloom County," even Classic (aka Mexican) Coke have made comebacks (thankfully, New Coke remains forever trapped in 1985). As I have wrote earlier this year, I'd love to see a DVD release of that "future superstar" 84/85 season of Saturday Night Live; I still enjoy and have become known for singing some of those classic '80s tunes; and... my favorite movie of all-time, also from 1985, is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary in a big, 1.21 jigawatts way... Great Scott!

Back To The Future should be everywhere this upcoming week, as we finally reach October 21, 2015, the date that Marty and Doc traveled into the future. For a child of the '80s and fantasy movie geek like me, it is too cool to resist. I am going so far as to put together a "Back in Time" family festival next weekend at my workplace, to celebrate the occasion. 

But I think I'm getting ahead of (or behind) myself. This deserves a blog post all it's own. So expect more reflections on time (and travel) in the days ahead...

Related Links:

Exit 97.7 WEXT (listen live)

Rock in Rio 2015

"A-ha's Hunting High and Low 30 years on: classic or classical?" Sydney Morning Herald, October 9, 2015 (might be reaching here, but I think the writer's on to something about the album's lasting appeal)

People Person

This past month marks my fifteenth year at Norman Rockwell Museum. Originally starting as a docent, giving talks about the Norman Rockwell's life and career, I now serve as one of the Museum's chief spokespeople in my role as manager of media services. Time flies, and I can't believe how much I now know of the artist and the field of illustration.

So, as I'm often asked, what's new at the Museum? Well, our exhibition, We The Peoples: Norman Rockwell's United Nations was a big success at the United Nations Headquarters. I am particularly proud that this exhibition came out, since it is my video about Rockwell's 1953 United Nations drawing that caught the eye of the peacekeeping organization, and inspired the show to mark its 70th anniversary. Nearly 70,000 people, including important delegates, are estimated to have viewed the exhibition (which included my video) during its run.

Celebrating the "Golden Rule": Pope Francis and
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon share a
Norman Rockwell moment at the UN.
Photo courtesy: Samir Afridi/UN

Although the exhibition officially ended on September 15, the Museum continued to loan Rockwell's drawing and Golden Rule painting, in order for the UN to share the works with visiting dignitaries. High on that list was Pope Francis, who stopped by the UN this past month during his first visit to the United States. Alerted by my UN counterpart to his planned visit earlier in the week, I was charmed when he finally sent us photos of the pontiff admiring this beautiful painting from our collection. Just the day before the Pope referenced the concept of "the golden rule" during his historic address to Congress (I like the guy!), so it seemed a fitting backdrop. Days later, President Obama was introduced to the United Nations drawing during his visit, and apparently was impressed (remarking that he would like a copy). All in all, a great way to cap off this historic opportunity for the Museum; I felt honored to have played a part.

Fearless: with Rockwell model, Marjorie Coulter, "Freedom From Fear."
Courtesy: Norman Rockwell Museum.

The concept of "we the peoples" works so perfectly with Norman Rockwell's work, as he seemed to capture the hopes and aspirations of the general public from the twentieth century to this day. Since my earliest days at the Museum, I have taken it upon myself to document the stories of those people who worked with the artist. People were the focus of Rockwell's work, and so his models played an important role. As I told the website BerkshireStyle, "he made all the models very at ease, even the young children. He was a very personable individual and was able to get the expressions he wanted."

Over the years I have captured nearly 100 videotaped interviews with Rockwell models, that now serve as an important document for the Museum's archives. I have heard many stories over the years, yet still can be surprised...as I was back in 2009 when a woman named Marjorie Coulter visited and informed us that she was one of the young children in Rockwell's Freedom From Fear, part of his iconic Four Freedoms series:

Every first Friday of the month, the Museum holds a "Meet Rockwell's Models" program, where visitors have the opportunity to meet the figures presented in his work. Marjorie joined us in September, and for October I invited a woman named Pauline Adams Grimes to share her memories.

Rewind: meeting Rockwell models, summer 2001.
Photo courtesy: Norman Rockwell Museum.

I had first met Pauline back in 2001 during a big Rockwell models reunion that we held at the Museum; that is when I started videotaping models' oral histories, yet only managed to film a few remarks of her remarks. Eight years later, I traveled out to Arlington, Vermont, with one of my colleagues to attend a model reunion being held in the town that Rockwell called home, before moving to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and finally managed to sit down with Pauline and capture her story.

Pauline and her siblings were introduced to Norman Rockwell back in the early 1950s, by folk artist/neighbor Grandma Moses, who knew that Rockwell was looking for a multi-ethnic crowd to appear in a sketch he was working on about the United Nations. The family posed for several photos in Rockwell’s Arlington studio, and Pauline ended up pictured in the bottom right of the drawing. Although traveling to the UN’s headquarters to conduct research and photograph actual delegates to appear in the illustration, Rockwell eventually put the image aside (and revisited the concept for the painting Golden Rule in 1960, which featured Pauline's brother Paul). 

Rockwell model Pauline Adams Grimes
exploring NRM's archives, Oct. 2015.
Photo: Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell
Museum. All rights reserved.

Prior to the opening of We The Peoples, I tried to contact Pauline to let her know about the exhibition. I wasn't sure if she ever received my phone or post card, until I finally heard back from her at the end of the summer; she was thrilled to learn about the show and the existence of the drawing, and ended up visiting the UN with her family to view the original illustration for the first time (and meeting the UN's Deputy Secretary-General); "It was beautiful," she later remarked. "More than I ever dreamed it would be."

This aspect of my job has been one of my favorites: seeing the joy that Rockwell's work creates for people, and being able to help facilitate that and even introduce to new audiences. The fall is our busiest season, and as I helped greet the dozens of tour buses that arrived daily to view the vibrant art and foliage, I couldn't help but remember my start giving gallery talks at the Museum over a decade ago. 

One of my newest tasks is being appointed editor-in-chief of our members' magazine (who says print is dead?), and so I continue to play an important role at the Museum, through my knowledge, creativity, and own passion for the arts. If only my father, an admirer of Rockwell's work and artist in his own right, could see me now.

Related Links:

"Norman Rockwell's Models" (interview), BerkshireStyle, September 2, 2015

"Model UN/NRM" (written by JC), September 2015, Norman Rockwell Museum website

"Honoring The Golden Rule" (written by JC/videos edited by JC), September 2015, Norman Rockwell Museum website