Giving Thanks

This #Thanksgiving, paying respects to the Native American population. Giving thanks to the earth, and sending support to #standingrock pic.twitter.com/mQ3YwzNHPk

— Jeremy Clowe (@BlueEyedSoulPro) November 24, 2016

In The Name of Progress

It’s been an interesting week.

From viewing beautiful photos of women and their children voting, and paying respects to suffragette pioneer Susan B. Anthony in my hometown (Anthony might have been proud to learn that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote); to learning about racist graffiti sprawled across public property, just miles away, following the election.

The divide in America seems greater than many of us thought, yet I’m not entirely surprised.

As someone who campaigned hard for Bernie Sanders, I sympathize with the struggle of the working class (hell, you could say that I am part of that class). I understand that in addition to fighting for equality, we need to work to improve the standard of living for all Americans. Unfortunately, many people have felt left out of the conversation, and perhaps voted to send a message. I just hope those voters took time to consider the more troubling aspects of this past election, and what might lie on the horizon.

During the election season, I found perspective in an unexpected source. Last spring I started gathering materials again for the Google Arts & Culture, centered around the theme of American Democracy. Trying to come up with a suitable online exhibition for Norman Rockwell Museum seemed a no-brainer for me, as we were just preparing to open an exhibition at our Western Massachusetts site on the art of Thomas Nast. The 19^th century political cartoonist was known for his great influence in affecting the outcome of presidential elections, and his biting commentary shined a light on issues that remain important to this day—from political corruption to imperialism, inflation, and civil rights (his political cartooning career began right alongside the presidency of Abraham Lincoln).

My work on the Nast online exhibit was primarily an exercise in graphic design and layout (I did not create the text or, unfortunately, even the video attached), but I also appreciated the increased knowledge it provided me, to better understand the events that shaped our national identity and politics (how fascinating that the platforms of the Republican and Democratic parties were essentially flipped over the course of a century).

Google was generous enough to allow me to create two online exhibitions for their American Democracy forum. The second idea I had was to repurpose materials from the Museum’s 2008 exhibition, Norman Rockwell: Illustrator in Chief. That show, which we presented during another historic election year, looked at the many portraits that Norman Rockwell created of presidential candidates during his lifetime.

Working at the Museum for over a decade, I was already aware of the great number of presidential portraits that Rockwell created—from President Dwight D. Eisenhower to John F. Kennedy to Lyndon B. Johnson to Richard Nixon. We have a great number of reference and candid photos of Rockwell with these presidents, and I included them in this new online exhibition titled Norman Rockwell:Presidential Elections Illustrated (also included: old video clips I conducted with my friend and the Museum's former archivist, Corry Kanzenberg).

Photo of Norman Rockwell, looking a little weary after illustrating
the election of 1968. Photo by Louie Lamone. Norman Rockwell Museum
Collection. ©Norman Rockwell Family Agency.

What I knew less about were many of the candidates who challenged these politicians during their respective presidential primaries: Adlai Stevenson, Barry Goldwater, Nelson Rockefeller, Eugene McCarthy, and Hubert Humphrey; the latter three names, in addition to Robert Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, were all candidates during the election year of 1968—it’s ironic that an artist who strove to illustrate the “best of America,” found himself commissioned to paint one of the most turbulent and tragic elections in modern U.S. history.

I had been hearing a lot about 1968 during this year’s presidential election. They say it was a year that really heightened the divide between Democrats and Republicans. The dissatisfaction that many voters were expressing during this year’s primaries, and surprising rhetoric espoused by Donald Trump, made me curious to learn more.

my "light" summer read

My research lead me to a wonderful new book called American Maelstrom. Author Michael A. Cohen covers the events and each of the candidates (by chapter) that were major players during the ’68 election. At the beginning of the year, if you had told me that a thick tome devoted to national politics would be my “summer read” I would have called you crazy…. but I could not put it down.

What I read surprised me. President Johnson’s Great Society, which sought to eliminate poverty and racial injustice, seemed a noble and humane plan, but many Americans felt we were moving too fast on these platforms, and that their own concerns were being left behind (sound familiar?). Growing up in the Reagan era, I never would have imagined that the south once identified more closely with the Democratic Party. Cohen’s book explained the “southern strategy,” which Nixon utilized that year, preying on some of the fears that white voters had in that region of the country. Nixon preached “law and order,”  and his TV commercials further tapped into those fears and uncertainty. Again, many parallels to 2016.

Beyond that, I learned about such divisive figures as George Wallace, who did nothing to hide his racism while running as a president during both the 1968 ad 1964 elections; what is interesting to learn is that he ran as a Democrat during the 1964 election (and 72 and 76, for that matter!).

Barry Goldwater also ran in 1964. He was another polarizing figure, who planted the seed for a new conservatism, which eventually won out in the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan. But in the early 60s, it appeared that liberalism was favored by most Americans.

Lyndon Johnson is really a tragic figure. He could have been a “great" president. The book explains how his unyielding support of the Vietnam War was really his undoing. As today, many liberals opposed tough military intervention in regards to foreign affairs, and you saw figures like Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy voice opposition and eventually enter the election as candidates.

"A More Perfect Union" exhibit, Tang Museum. Photo: Jeremy Clowe

But nothing is “black and white." Although Kennedy, who along with Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated that year, was a champion of civil rights, he hardly connected with working class voters. McCarthy, one of the most vocal opponents of the Vietnam War, otherwise ran a rather ineffective campaign on domestic issues.

On the other side were Republican candidates like Nelson Rockefeller and George Romney, who the book called “moderate Republicans.” Again, having grown up in a much more conservative era, I was surprised to learn about Republicans who favored some form of government assistance on social issues (are they, essentially, modern Democrats?). I guess you would include President Eisenhower in this camp, who warned, among other things, about the growing military industrial complex.

Artist Steve Brodner illustrated both the Democratic and
Republican convetions this year. This particular cartoon haunted me.
Courtesy and ©Steve Brodner. All rights reserved.

Anyway, this past year has been an incredible learning experience for me. As I have written before, I have a newfound wariness of the mainstream media, seeing how they handled the candidacy of Bernie Sanders (the Associate Press, of all things, went so far as to basically call and influence the Democratic primary, even before all voting had even started in the last couple states). And as troubling as internet hacking is, I was not surprised (and somewhat vindicated) to learn of the content of emails presented by Wikileaks. Fortunately, the two party conventions did not end up like the violent 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, but I must admit that I appreciated some of the delegates' protest within the halls this year (particularly on the first day).

Talking Four Freedoms with scholar Harvey J. Kaye.

It seems obvious we can learn as much from history, as we can from the unfolding present. I have been very interested in the writings of Thomas Frank, author of Listen Liberal. Like Sanders, Frank has presented a critique of the current Democratic Party, which he states has become too comfortable with Wall Street, money in politics, and the idea of meritocracy. People are hurting, and for all the great social good they have done over the last decade, it’s ironic that the Democratic Party has not connected more with the working class. Author/scholar Harvey Kaye, who I helped interview this past year for the Museum, has been pretty vocal about the idea that the United States has, in fact, a proud history as a progressive nation, fighting for equality, that we should embrace—that’s what President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was all about and expressed in his "Four Freedoms speech," later painted by Norman Rockwell, which still resonates 75 years later.

Looking for unity."A More Perfect Union" exhibit, Tang Museum.
Photo: Jeremy Clowe

I’d like to think most Americans are tolerant—of race, gender, sexuality, and different beliefs—however, some of the hateful displays since the election really disturb me. Even before the election, I picked up Strangers in Their Own Land by Arlie Russell Hochschild. In this new book, professor Hochschild leaves her liberal hometown of Berkeley, California, to venture deep into the Louisiana bayou—a stronghold of the conservative right. The book presents an understanding of the plight of fellow citizens who come from different backgrounds, and some hope in the form of common concerns. I have tried to remain open-minded to my own friends and acquaintances, who hold different beliefs. There have been some tense exchanges over the past week, but I’d like to keep the dialogue open and hopefully realize some common ground.

That being said, I remain committed to fighting back against discrimination. We have come too far as a nation to go backwards (similar resistance, in fact, happened following both Reconstruction and the civil rights era of the 1960s). My plan is to remain vigilant; continue this pledge of solidarity through peaceful demonstration and thoughtful discourse.

On that note, it’s funny how suddenly everyone wants to know what Bernie Sanders thinks; this quote, given during a speech he gave here in the Capital Region this summer, says it all:

“Never lose your sense of outrage… democracy is not a spectator sport… and when we stand together, we can transform this country.”

Explore: Google Arts & Culture online exhibitions - Norman Rockwell Museum

Interview: "Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge partners with Google to share presidential portraits, artifacts," Springfield Republican, July 20, 2016

Recommended Progressive Resources/Thought Leaders:

Senator Bernie Sanders
Senator Elizabeth Warren

Professor Robert Reich

Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader
Harvey J. Kaye
Democracy Now!

Peace Action New York State

Saturday Morning

"Hanna-Barbera: The Architects of Saturday Morning" exhibit
at Norman Rockwell Museum. Toy collection by Dave Nimitz.

And now for something completely different... Saturday cartoons!

I literally grew up in front of the TV set on Saturday mornings, watching Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, Hong Kong Phooey, Laff-a-Lympics, and hours of other creative cartoons produced by Hanna-Barbera. They seriously fueled my own creativity as a kid. Today, we're opening a new exhibition at Norman Rockwell Museum on the art of the successful animation studio - unleash the flood of memories!

Hong Kong Phooey! Artwork by Willie Ito.

Last April I traveled out to Toronto to attend a huge animation festival, and interviewed two of Hanna-Barbera's original animators: Tony Benedict and Willie Ito. Tony, who wrote the script that introduced Astro to the Jetsons, will be attending tonight's opening. I have also been talking with Willie recently on the phone, and hearing more great stories about the studio and animation field; he was part of the team that brought Hong Kong Phooey to life, and was kind enough to give me a great drawing of the "#1 super guy" back in April.

Should be good fun. Scooby Doo was always my favorite... I'm tempted to dress up like Shaggy tonight, but it's been a rough week- no mask to pull off the head of the villain this time, so maybe I'll just let these great drawings take me back to a more innocent time. I'll share my video interview soon.

Suffragette City

Proud of my hometown... 

and yes, I voted for a woman for President. 

"At Susan B. Anthony's Grave, Visiting Hours Extended For Election Day Crowds," 

NPR, November 8, 2016

Coverage from the two stations I worked at in the Flower City: WROC and WHAM

Starman

I am the DJ, I am what I play...

I should have known back in January that this would be a rough year. Let's keep good thoughts — if you need a little musical inspiration, tune into my tribute to the late, great David Bowie tonight at 11 p.m. ET on 97.7. WEXT's MyExit. 

I've been wanting to do this ever since the news of Bowie's passing, and finally got around to recording the other week with the great KTG. If you have listened to one of my (or others) MyExit shows, you know they let you play an hour of your favorite music...so obviously, this was a daunting task when it comes to a musician with the body of work like David Bowie. I'm happy with the way it turned out though... and only just learned that it would be played tonight, election eve (cue "I'm afraid of Americans"). If you miss it, it should be replayed on Saturday, November 12, at 11 a.m. 

Speaking of Bowie, this past weekend I visited family in my hometown, and had a chance to meet up with a local filmmaker who is working on a documentary about the artist's arrest in Rochester back in 1976. You have probably seen the infamous mugshot that was "discovered" several years ago. It's a haunting image, and I enjoyed hearing about all of the threads that the filmmaker has discovered about this story (I believe the only time Bowie was arrested - for pot). Perhaps it explains why he never returned to the Flower City... I had tickets to his 1987 Glass Spider tour that was supposed to take place in Rochester in September of that year, but it was mysteriously canceled (we all thought it was because U2 was coming to town the next month in support of the breakthrough, The Joshua Tree... which I did see!). In any event, Bowie's legacy lives on... I hope I'll be able to assist with the documentary in some way — I'll be sure to keep you posted.

Afraid of Americans (or maybe just Rochesterians), 1976

Hopeful lyric for tonight/tomorrow. Inspired by LA riots (which I survived):

"We reach out over race and hold each other's hands
Then die in the flames singing 'we shall overcome'
Whoa! What's going on?
There'll be some blood no doubt about it
But we'll come thru don't doubt it" - "Black Tie, White Noise" (1992)

Shell-Shocked!

A couple months ago, Springfield Museums hired me to create a commercial for its upcoming exhibition Turtle Power! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Samurai Heroes, which will feature original TMNT art, as well as samurai swords, armor, and Japanese prints from its collection. Of course I yelled "cowabunga!" at the opportunity. 

Although I went to college in Hartford and have been working in Western Massachusetts over the last decade, I had never been to this fellow cultural organization, referred to as the "Quadrangle" for its assortment of museums in one central location (a new museum dedicated to Dr. Seuss, originally from Springfield, MA, will be opening in the new year). In late September I had a quick tour of the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, which is where Turtle Power! will be exhibited. A successful 19th century businessman (carriage manufacturing), Smith had quite the collection of European, American and Far Eastern objects — the oriental arms and armor are impressive, and will make up a good part of this new exhibit.

Turtle teammate Steve Lavigne
at Albany Comic Con, Oct. 2016.
Photo: Jeremy Clowe

As for the Ninja Turtles, I admit: I'm old enough to remember them as an edgy black and white comic book during late high school/early college. Shortly afterwards, they mightily morphed into the Turtle Power rangers that became a sensation in their own animated TV series, and toy stores (I had a suction-cupped Turtle on my car/apartment window during college). I wouldn't say I followed the franchise too carefully... in fact, I only just watched the 1990 movie (directed by Steve Barron of A-ha videos fame, with puppetry by Jim Henson). Like a good slice of pizza, I understand the Turtles' appeal. 

While working on the trailer, I also decided to watch Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a documentary that came out a few years ago. It was interesting to hear how this modest late-night creation by two comic book artists, then based in the Springfield area, exploded into such a global, merchandised phenomenon (in the UK they were known as the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, due to a ban on ninjas in the media of that part of the world). The doc also provided several interesting interviews detailing the Turtles' history, including illustrator Steve Lavigne, who was part of the early creative team.

So, imagine my surprise when I attended the Albany Comic Con last weekend, and Lavigne happened to be there! I spent a good amount of time speaking with him, and learning more about their creation (there actually used to be a TMNT museum/gallery in nearby Northampton). Peter Laird, who developed the characters with fellow artist Kevin Eastman, apparently still lives in Western Massachusetts as well. Maybe I'll run into them again during the run of the exhibition.

Turtle Power! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Samurai Heroes opens November 8 at Springfield Museums, and my commercial will start airing on TV stations in Massachusetts starting next week. Totally tubular, dudes!