100 Daze

Albany, NY, Jan 21, 2017. Photos ©Jeremy Clowe.

Upper Hudson Peace Action - photo album

Diamonds Are Forever

Happy New Year.

Stardust Memories, 2016

So far so good. Last night I checked out the Savoy Soul Club--the premier soul night (a la Northern Soul) in the Capital Region. The other day we caught the movie La La Land-- one of the best films I have seen in some time... bring back the musical!

Speaking of music, WEXT will be re-airing my David Bowie tribute this Monday, January 9, at 11 p.m. ET. It's slotted one day after his birthdate and one day before the anniversary of his passing. I remember my dismay at hearing the news a year ago, and I have been thinking a lot about his musical influence ever since.

With this My Exit special, I tried to pick songs by the artist that had an immediate and lasting impact on me. I only had an hour, so I had to give it a good deal of thought (hard to narrow down). 

As I mention on the show, the first I remember being truly aware of him was during the Live Aid concert in 1985, performing with Mick Jagger in that silly "Dancing In The Street" video. That song was catchy enough, but the tune that really caught my ear was a year later-- his theme song for the British film Absolute Beginners, which he also starred in. 

At the time I actually wondered if he was a retro artist, since that lead me into the 1950s-styled Let's Dance album. 

Digger deeper, I found myself captivated by such moody tracks as "China Girl," "Cat People," and "Ashes To Ashes"-- I was beginning to discover the weird, artsy Bowie, and there was no turning back.

My wife's museum, The Albany Institute of History and Art is currently showing a really nice exhibition of rock and roll photography (Bowie included!) by local artist Patrick Harbron. In conjunction with the show, they held an open mic night tonight. We weren't sure what the turn out would be, so I brought my electric guitar just in case. I have been taking guitar lessons for a couple years now, still struggling to find time and motivation to practice, but I decided to give it a shot. Now I have no problem getting up and singing/performing in front of an audience, but playing the guitar and singing adds another level of complexity. Oof... I probably should have sat it out, but I gave Bowie's "Starman" a try. Coincidentally, the line "that weren't no DJ that was hazy cosmic jive" has some relevance with the current news about the discovery of mysterious radio waves from outer space. David, is that you? "Ground control to major Tom..."

Best In Show: "Diamond Dogs" 2016 Memorial Edition.
©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

More successful for me at Albany Institute was my taking part in a recent album cover design contest (also tied in with the rock photography exhibit). Again I chose Bowie as the subject, and reinterpreted his 1974 album Diamond Dogs. 

I had the perfect model: our dog Trixie. My illustration took things quite literally-- I sprinkled diamond shapes across the vinyl sized design, and Trix was decked out in full Bowie "Ziggy Stardust"-era glam (even the shoulder pads from the "Ashes To Ashes" video). The assemblage was mixed media, with elements of collage, colored pencil, paint, and glitter, as well as type created on the museum's old printing press. You can view some photos of my creative process in this Facebook album.

In addition to David Bowie, the through line for these projects is that they were about me focusing on artistic projects. I wish I could master the fearless creativity that Bowie had--I guess that's a big reason I admired him so. The other attractive part of his legacy is that his work transcended--as if he was the conduit for its creation. Although he is gone, his songs remain... and I think he understood, whatever his obvious fears and demons, that he should get out of the way of being creative. 

My Diamond Dogs reissue ended up winning the cover design contest! I know... it may seem a little fishy with my wife working at the museum, but this was entirely voted on by the public. I even saw a couple of people admiring the work when it was on display (even taking photos). So "bully for you, chilly for me..." I'll try and keep David Bowie in mind, and keep out of my own artist's way in the new year.

Listen Live: exit977.org

The Kids Are Alright

2016? With the exception of my family, friends, and Bernie(!), it was a frequently trying year. What else do you say about a year where Gen X-ers like myself lost such cultural icons as Bowie, Prince, Mohammad Ali, George Michael, and Carrie Fisher, and can look forward to being Trump-ed in the new year? Makes you want to turn the lights out and pull the covers up for a looong nap.

Photo: Jeremy Clowe

There were, however, a couple projects that I was involved with this year that raised my spirits. They involved the next generation - Millennials and Generation Z, if you will.

Last February I spent some time working from home in New York's Capital Region, and decided to document a group of local high school students who were busy preparing work for an exhibition reinterpreting President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Four Freedoms (which celebrated its 75th anniversary this year). The show was to be presented at Norman Rockwell Museum, where we own and display Norman Rockwell's original 1943 paintings that famously interpret Roosevelt's speech. It sounded like an interesting project, and I was curious to see what freedom meant to young people in the 21st Century.

"Freedom of Speech," one of FDR's original ideals, was perhaps the most popular, and was interpreted in some interesting ways--as a form of protest; in being able to express yourself through dress, music, or the visual arts; and speaking up for your rights as a young person. The other freedoms (want, religion, and fear) were less frequently illustrated, with these studio art students deciding to expand on the original concept.

Not surprisingly, one of the biggest concerns was privacy--in this day of social media and smart phones, young people had mixed feelings about the freedom to share information, but also the need for it to stay protected. Others addressed the idea of equality for people of all genders, races, and sexual identities. I enjoyed working with and finding the common threads between the three schools that I visited, and telling the students' story; several were looking at issues that seemed far beyond the typical high school concerns. The students pleasantly surprised me with their generally polite and thoughtful nature.

From there, I helped the Museum cover a number of other interesting education initiatives during 2016. One of the most unique was a group of students we had been working with from Edward A. Reynolds High School in New York City, who learned that Norman Rockwell was born just a few blocks from their school (206 West 103rd Street). After learning more about the artist and how he illustrated humanitarian themes right through and including the civil rights era, they decided to form a committee to see about renaming the corner near Rockwell's birthplace (West 103rd and Broadway) in the artist's name. On Election Day, November 4, 2014, the students canvassed voters at their school, a polling location, and picked up 300 signatures in favor of the idea.

Civics - the Norman Rockwell way.

With support from the Museum, the effort became a useful lesson in civics for the students, involving them directly in the political process. In February 2016, New York's City Council voted to officially rename the corner, and a special signing ceremony, officiated by Mayor Bill de Blasio, was held at New York's City Hall on February 25-- I was on hand to film the occasion, as well as the official unveiling of "Norman Rockwell Place," which took place on June 9, with City dignitaries, Museum officials, Rockwell family members, and fans in attendance. It was a meaningful day, and I was again impressed by the perspective and determination of these young people.

This past June we held our annual gala, which celebrated our education efforts. Former First Lady Laura Bush, who was an educator, was on hand, as well as children's book illustrator Jerry Pinkney, who was honored as our new Artist Laureate (I had previously interviewed and created a video for our 2009 exhibition of Pinkney's work). The night of the gala we also premiered a video I created to highlight several of our education initiatives, including the Four Freedoms and New York City student efforts. Again, I found it be an involved project, sorting through tons of footage to find the through line to tell an effective story. However, all the work paid off and the video was quite well-received, helping us raise considerable new funds to continue our education efforts.

As I mentioned, it was a trying year... easy to get discouraged... but thinking back about these projects and talented teens I met along the way, I continue to find hope for the future. 

Reimagining The Four Freedoms exhibition photos- NRM Facebook

Freedom For A New Generation - photos by JC- NRM Facebook

"Manhattan Street is Renamed After Norman Rockwell," New York Times, June 8, 2016

Spirit of The Holiday

On this day, remembering my father - 

a compassionate man, and talented musician/visual art 

(the apple did not fall far from the tree).

Thank you for the love and example you set for us 

- in essence, the spirit of Christmas. 

Do The Right Thing

Dear Electors,*

*Photos taken in Albany, New York, December 3, 2016 
by Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

(view more at Upper Hudson Peace Action Facebook page)

Related Links:

Hamilton Electors website

"Editorial: Electors, reject Mr. Trump," Albany Times Union, December 14, 2016

Soul Power

Day off! I spent today doing my own thing... working on some music research, and practicing my own (with help from my new purple velvet guitar strap - R.I.P. Prince). 

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings giving the people what they want
in Cooperstown, NY, May 28, 2016. Photo: Jeremy Clowe

It’s been a rough year for music losses this year. This past month, soul diva Sharon Jones joined the ranks of the dearly departed, finally succumbing to the pancreatic cancer she had bravely battled over the last couple years.  

Classic soul music has long been one of my favorite musical genres, yet it took me a while to truly appreciate Ms. Jones’ talent. Oh sure, I had admired her backing band The Dap-Kings, after hearing their work with the late Amy Winehouse, and knew the Daptone record label was quality, but at first I wasn’t sure Jones (or her songs) had enough grit for my taste… but, as she sang, “I learned the hard way…”

In 2013 I heard her song “Retreat!” a perfect, urgent slice of retro soul. Suddenly I found myself digging (and digging) a little deeper into their discography. The music was hearfelt... impeccably performed and produced, and preserving a style I have grown to love over the years. Seriously, I love soul music… can't get enough of it. I feel like I was born a little late (well, I was in the single digits when Philly Soul and funk were happening). My admiration for  Sharon Jones grew even more when I heard her state in a radio interview that she could be doing any kind of musical genre (and there are plenty more successful at the moment), but her heart was with classic soul.

Photo: Jeremy Clowe

I think it was around the same time they released the brilliant album Give The People What They Want, that we first heard about Jones’ cancer. Talk about heartbreaking. This past weekend I finally watched the 2015 documentary Miss Sharon Jones!, which follows the singer’s musical and personal life from the onset of her illness. It was touching and inspiring to learn how she battled the cancer and found strength to keep performing (with help from her bandmates). The documentary was also revealing in the way it showcased the very real struggle that working musicians face when their livelihood becomes threatened… they loved Sharon and they loved the music, so they found a way.

Photo: Jeremy Clowe

I was so glad we finally had a chance to see Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings perform this past May. It was one of those shows that just made me happy. Of course I was dancing… of course I was taking loads of photos. The concert took place at the hip Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, and I just learned from the documentary that Jones was receiving much of her treatment in the area. Rest in peace, miss lady soul. I cross my fingers that the Dap-Kings find a way to continue... in these “dark times,” we need them more than ever.

On a brighter note, I just learned that Albany has it’s own monthly soul music night at the swanky Savoy Taproom. I think we’re talking DJs spinning their own boatload of rare vinyl (a la Northern Soul)…. Wow. Very exciting news. I’m also looking at ways to return to radio... use music as a way to get through the next year and new administration. I’ll keep you posted. Sho’nuff.

sharonjonesandthedapkings.com

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!

Changing Scene

Late October can really creep up on you. Where did the summer go? Where did fall go? It snowed the other day.

Photo: Jeremy Clowe / Norman Rockwell Museum

As the seasons turn, I am reminded that our exhibitions will also be changing at Norman Rockwell Museum. This is your last weekend to see Rockwell and Realism in an Abstract World, which ends on October 30.

This exhibition has examined the shifting trends in the art world during the twentieth century, when traditional narrative painting fell out of favor for more conceptual work. Abstract expressionism really took hold in the 1950s, with artists like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko becoming the new gold standard. Illustrators, on the other hand, attracted even more criticism, and perhaps none more so than Norman Rockwell. Over time the prejudice has faded, and realism has found a place again in the contemporary art scene (fortunately for our Museum). 

My father, an industrial designer, was a big fan of Rockwell but also tried his hand at some Pollock-style paintings back in the day. I don't know that the shifting fashions of the art world, largely fostered by art critics, really bothered him during the AbEx movement. 

Personally, I am attracted to strong expression and concepts in visual art, but equally impressed by a realist approach. This has been an interesting show, inviting visitors to think about what they consider art, and view a style of work not normally on view at our Museum.

I was tasked with creating a video for the exhibition. Once again, I had the pleasure of visiting a handful of artists in their studios (Marshall Arisman, Robert Cottingham, Eric Forstmann) and learning about their background and work. It's quite a window for me, and useful in my own knowledge of the creative process.

The challenge comes in putting it all together. Not to overstate things, but it is like approaching a blank canvas. In this case, the video was narrative, so I needed to figure out how to connect the artists' various stories. I enjoy letting personalities come through, and have been told that I have a knack for making people feel comfortable in front of the camera. Indeed, Robert Cottingham became so relaxed, that I just kept rolling as the photorealist settled into painting in his studio (it's my favorite part of the finished video). 

Sound + vision: interviewing Marshall Arisman in his NYC studio, May 2016. 

Happy with the material I collected, I faced a bit of a creative obstacle when it came time to edit. As I separated the audio channels, I discovered that the lavalier mic I had been using was spotty. In most cases, the on-camera mic was a suitable backup, but some of the rooms proved less conducive to our recording. A hard lesson to learn in the middle of post-production. Oy. 

Making the most of a stressful situation, I got a crash course in audio sweetening. Delving into my Adobe Audition and old Soundtrack Pro software, I learned a thing of two about EQ, compression, and high/low pass filtering. I appreciated the help from experts who explained possible solutions. Once I worked out some of these kinks, I was able to find a couple great jazz tracks that helped the flow and really brought the piece together. 

Onward! Our next show should be fun: a look at the art of animation studio Hanna-Barbera. I grew up with those cartoons, and had the opportunity to conduct a promo video with two of the original animators. Stay "tooned." 

In other news, the Museum recently received a generous grant from the George Lucas Family Foundation to support its multimedia efforts, and has initiated a feasibility study to look at expansion. A wise philosopher once said: "There is nothing more constant than change."

View from the office. Photo: Jeremy Clowe / Norman Rockwell Museum

Standing Tall

#StandingWithStandingRock

#NoDAPL

Solidarity gathering, Great Barrington, MA, September 13, 2016. Photo: Jeremy Clowe

#StandingWithStandingRock #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/dGASsx9zTV

— Jeremy Clowe (@BlueEyedSoulPro) September 14, 2016

Related Links:

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe website

Democracy Now! coverage

Pop Life (Everybody Needs a Thrill)

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to give to this thing called life..."

On what would have been his 58th birthday-- remembering Prince (1958-2016), one of my all-time favorite musical artists. I just received a CD of his 1987 album, Sign O' The Times- that's where it really started to click for me...right through my college years- I could not get enough.

In 2004, he released the album Musicology, which was a return to form. Around the same time, I started hosting a TV music show, and had a chance to record part of his concert in Boston.

As I set up backstage, I had one of those truly surreal moments... I looked up to see the artist himself, walking straight towards me in all of his purple glory! I didn’t know quite what to do… except say, “Hey, you're Prince!” (well, not quite that obvious, but a greeting nonetheless).

It turns out he was walking over near me to check on the set up for his opening act, legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker (he also played during Prince’s set, and on the Musicology album). I was working, so I tried to remain somewhat professional... so that I didn’t get kicked out. As he started to leave, I patted him on his purple shoulder pads, and wished him a good show. It was. 

R.I.P. and thanks for your talent. 

"I wish you heaven..."