Step In Time

Happy New Year... or in my case, happy new 'ear-! We literally ended 2013 on a quiet note, as I recovered from an ear infection I picked up over the holidays... oof. 

Otherwise, we've been having a good time. On New Year's Eve we decided to go see the new movie Saving Mr. Banks, which tells the story of Walt Disney's attempts to win over author P.L. Travers for the rights to bring her book Mary Poppins to the big screen. Sarah and I both enjoyed it, agreeing that actress Emma Thompson, starring as Travers, really made the movie (I liked the New Yorker review of the film, which remarked that "a spoonful of her medicine makes the sugar go down."):

Of course I have always enjoyed Tom Hanks (at one point in college, I made a point of watching EVERY film he had appeared in); here he does a commendable job of bringing Walt Disney to life. It's a Disney film, and some of the scenes are fictionalized, but I felt that it struck a nice balance between the magical kingdom and "real-world"... in other words, the story was well-written, engaging, and didn't seem as sweet as the jelly beans sitting on Uncle Walt's desktop. Having recently become addicts of the TV show Mad Men, we also enjoyed watching the filmmakers' attempts to recreate the time period: 

Cover of 1957 biography on Walt Disney, signed by the filmmaker
to my father (a big Disney fan). The book was co-authored by Walt's
daughter, Diane Disney Miller, who died this past year.

It seemed somewhat fitting to end the year on a Disney note, after I had spent a good part of the year promoting our Snow White exhibition at Norman Rockwell Museum. In the process, I learned quite a bit about Walt Disney, including his friendship with Norman Rockwell (it was fun to see Rockwell's portraits of Disney's two daughters hanging in his office in the film). Sadly, Walt's daughter Diane Disney Miller, a member of the Museum's National Council, passed away in November, and never did make it to Stockbridge to see the exhibition. A nice touch was a note of dedication to Disney Miller in the movie's end credits—it was her love of Travers' original Mary Poppins books that inspired her father's 20 year effort to bring the character to the big screen.

Sarah ushers in the new year...
with another book (a 1943 P.L. Travers
original)!

A big part of Saving Mr. Banks also deals with Ms. Travers unresolved feelings for her departed father, who inspired several themes and characters in her novels. There was a great moment in the movie where Disney finally convinces Travers to bring her creation to the big screen, revealing the conflicted relationship he held with his own father and how also had used creativity to overcome some of life's trials: “That’s what story tellers do. We restore order to imagination. We bring hope.”

Damn it, Hollywood... another film this past year about the legacy of fathers, and it nearly choked me up (again). 




Later that night we ushered in the new year by watching the original Mary Poppins—I don't think I'd ever seen the movie all the way through. It was charming in many ways:  Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke (his physicality was amazing!), the music, and some fun special effects. Yes, I'd say it was a supercalifragilistic way to end a fairly pleasant year... 

Related Links:

"Saving Mr. Banks" official website

Norman Rockwell Meets Walt Disney (short clip from interview I conducted with artist Jarvis Rockwell, son of Norman Rockwell)

Marge Champion, the original "Snow White" (short clip from interview I conducted with the famed dancer/model for Disney's first feature-length film) 

Radio Disney Albany's "Backyard Show" (interview I conducted with the station re: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic"), July 28, 2013

Marge Champion: The Real Life Snow White, 94, Danced in Her Dad's Footsteps," Babble, July 2, 2013

"Walt: The Man Behind the Myth" (trailer for decent documentary I saw this past year)

The Best Medicine?

What a difference a week makes. Last Monday morning who could have predicted the events that would transpire in the days ahead? The Boston Marathon bombing... Senate vote on gun control... the Texas fertilizer plant explosion... oy. Hard to find much to laugh about, yet last week also marked my return to performing with the Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe, and we had our first rehearsal on the same day we all learned about the bombing.

The Berkshires are not that far from Boston, and over the last ten years I have made frequent trips to Beantown... I have some truly fond memories, both personal and professional, and would certainly count it as one of my favorite cities. So it was unnerving to learn about this attack on a city with such charm and history, during a public event that has come to symbolize such good will.



As an event, the Marathon is also about endurance and triumphing over adversity. Keeping this theme in mind, the city of Boston certainly honored the victims of this tragedy. Last Friday was surreal, as I drove to work and heard news about the manhunt for the bombing suspects and subsequent lockdown of the area. All day long we were glued to the internet or TV trying to keep up on the latest of this very tense ordeal...

Photo courtesy and © Spectrum Playhouse. All rights reserved.

So as the evening rolled around, it was something of a release to join my improv comrades for our show at Lee's Spectrum Playhouse. It's odd... I remember starting RBIT over twelve years ago, right after September 11th, and there was something similarly poignant back then about being able to soldier on in the midst of darkened skies...


I haven't been to a RBIT rehearsal or gig in a few months, and there were a few changes. First, our friend and co-founder Frank La Frazia has moved to Brooklyn to further pursue his career. This meant filling the leadership role which he had provided for most of the last decade. I decided to step up and host the show, which was a new experience... not something I have done too often in this context, but it felt good. We had a meeting this past weekend to talk about the future of the group and it seems there is a desire to keep moving forward.

Waving goodbye to our friend Frank. Photo courtesy and
©Spectrum Playhouse. All rights reserved.

At this point, if I am to remain active with the group, I need to be able to take it to the next level as a performer. I have been checking out some performances recently with Schenectady's resident improv group, The Mop & Bucket Company— these guys certainly know their stuff... dipping into long-form improv, and benefitting from a fairly seamless presentation of their performances. 


My fellow improv buddy Paul and I decided to take one of their open drop-in classes, and it was nice to get some outside feedback on how to strengthen our improvisational skills. The best piece of advice: jump into scenes without knowing what you're going to do. I tend to want to come up with the most clever lines, but that's not what this is about... it's more about being instinctual and truthful, which I understand... it is challenging, but most definitely funny seeing actors react in the moment and try to figure it all out.

Courtesy and ©Spectrum Playhouse.
All rights reserved.

So in the midst of all this uncertainty, our Friday show went great. It felt a bit more spontaneous, while still having the benefit of good rehearsal to support an underlying structure. I think I could actually keep at this for a little while, as long as the rest of the group stays committed... they seem to be. And so we move on... until the next big challenge... unavoidable, but not necessarily insurmountable. 

Post-show, as we celebrated at a nearby pub, news came over one of the TV screens that the second bombing suspect had finally been caught. It was pretty wild how in this new technological age things had been "resolved" so quickly... of course I feel for the friends and families of the victims, who are left with the task of finding some kind of peace...

Related Link:

www.berkshireimprov.com

Break On Through To The Other Side...

Spent the day trying to finalize the script for the tribute show I am finally recording for WEXT, that looks at the career of Norwegian rock band A-ha. I have to say, it's been one of the more difficult projects I have attempted to work on since it was initially pitched to me in 2010... because I'm such a big fan of their music, there's so much I could say... but I need to figure out how to edit it all down to two, digestible one hour segments for broadcast. Hmm... I guess I should take a cue from this blog, where in the past year I have attempted to do the same kind of streamlined storytelling.

Music is the most important thing, and luckily I have that more or less fleshed out... with selections spanning from the band's 1985 breakthrough to final recordings in 2010. Here is one of my favorites, "Dark Is The Night"−a very U2-esque song from 1993 (I also included it in the "My Exit" program I recorded earlier this year):





Believe it or not... for a band known for their groundbreaking videos, this one was actually banned by MTV America when it was released (guess the guy on stilts was deemed too "disturbing"). I love it myself... the dark tone is sublime, and both the song and video perfectly sum up the challenges of being creative (among other things) during this lifetime. It's an important track for me, and I think I'll call it my "theme song" as I try to finally wrap up this project (the video documentary is yet another thing... sigh...)!

Stay tuned...

Days of Wonder

Tuesday night I joined Sarah and her family for Yom Kippur service. Coming from a Christian background and knowing little of the Jewish customs or the Hebrew language, I was a little bleary-eyed by the end. One of the rabbi's themes did hit home with me though: returning to your "better self." I don't remember if she mentioned childhood, but that is the way I interpreted it... before you become discouraged by the day-to-day trials and tribulations. I guess related to the Christian teachings I know, it makes sense to atone for letting your spirit get discouraged--it can be challenging. This has been a year of many blessings for me, but also difficult at times... 

Here is the writing I had first heard at Rosh Hashanah service last week. I thought it was beautiful, and reminded me to keep looking for those moments of wonder that are also present during our lives...


“DEATH IS NOT THE ENEMY"
(Joshua Loth Liebman)

I often feel that death is not the enemy of life, but its friend; for it is the
knowledge that our years are limited which makes them so precious. It
is the truth that time is but lent to us which makes us, at our best, look
upon our years as a trust handed into our temporary keeping.

We are like children privileged to spend a day in a great park, a park
filled with many gardens and playgrounds, and azure-tinted lakes and
boats sailing upon tranquil waves.

True, the day allotted to each of us is not the same in length, in light, in
beauty. Some children of earth are privileged to spend a long and sunlit
day in the garden of the earth. For others, the day is shorter, cloudier,
and dusk descends more quickly as in a winter’s tale.

But whether our life is a long summery day or a shorter wintry
afternoon, we know that inevitably there are storms and squalls which
overcast even the bluest heaven and there are sunlit rays which pierce
the darkest autumn sky. The day we are privileged to spend in the great
park of life is not the same for all human beings; but there is enough
beauty and joy and gaiety in the hours, if we but treasure them.

Then for each of us the moment comes when the great nurse, death,
takes us by the hand and quietly says, “It is time to go home. Night is
coming. It is your bedtime, child of earth. Come, you’re tired. Lie
down at last in the quiet nursery of nature and sleep. Sleep well. The
day is gone. Stars shine in the canopy of eternity.”

Shoot The Moon

I've been having trouble sleeping lately.... not quite insomnia, but I have been regularly waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning over the last couple weeks... It's pissing me off. 

I think what has been keeping me from sleep is a constant wondering of how I am going to move forward in certain areas... how I'm going to complete various video productions that I have lying around... how I can find sustained fulfillment as a creative person. 

I have been trying some new tactics... figuring out ways to get ahead of things in my day-to-day... budget my time more effectively.

News came over the weekend that astronaut Neil Armstrong had passed away. I was born exactly a year after the historic Apollo 11 spacecraft landed on the moon, and Armstrong took his "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." I can only imagine what   the world was feeling on July 20, 1969... a sense of wonder and hope... achieving the impossible... especially after a decade that had ended so violently...



Instead, I grew up in a time where space travel and flights to the moon had become routine events... only perhaps fully realizing the risks involved after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. I have, however, grown up in a time of great changes and achievement... the development of the internet... smartphones... that boggles my mind, after growing up in the era of the landline phone.

I have had the opportunity to interview an astronaut: Story Musgrave flew several missions for NASA, repairing the Hubble Space Telescope along the way. He grew up on the Linwood Estate in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, which is now the grounds of Norman Rockwell Museum. When I interviewed him at the Museum back in 2004, Musgrave talked about growing up on the former farm property, climbing up trees and running tractors at an early age. He had a very peaceful and philosophical sense about him... something I gathered he might have acquired from viewing the world outside of our own. 

Apparently Neil Armstrong also grew up in a small town, mastering flight even before he got his driver's license. People talk about how, despite his great achievements, he was a humble and quiet man--he avoided the spotlight.

I'm interested in learning more about individuals who reach such heights... literally. What type of character finds a way to mount the insurmountable? Now that is humbling... maybe it is about just doing your thing... not giving up... operating from the gut. Maybe certain people don't have this type of personality... this level of intelligence...

One thing I appreciated from my wedding was when the rabbi listed the favorite things both me and my wife and had shared with her about our each other: one of Sarah's was my persistence... not giving up. That both surprised and pleased me, because I often don't believe it myself... get easily frustrated... lose sleep. It's easy to forget that even Armstrong had a co-pilot (Buzz Aldrid) to help get where he needed to go...



Related Links:

"Man on the Moon" (blog post I created for Norman Rockwell Museum), August 27, 2012

"Neil Armstrong, First Man on the Moon, Dies at 82," New York Times, August 25, 2012

"Neil Armstrong: Private Man, Public Hero," Life magazine slideshow

Pole Position

Well I have been interested, but haven't really managed to watch much of the Olympics this summer. I catch glimpses here and there... swimming like the dolphins can swim, knock-down volleyball matches, gravity-defying gymnastics, and this event, which I actually used to do for a brief spell back in high school:

Well... she makes it look a lot better than I did (uh, yeah... I better watch that again). Actually, Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva was on "track" to be the first woman in history to win the same individual event in three straight Olympics, but Team USA put a stop to that--last Monday, Jenn Suhr of nearby Fredonia, New York, won the gold medal for polevaulting, after clearing 4.75 meters at her second attempt (Isibayeva took the bronze, behind Yarisley Silva from Cuba, who won silver). As for the men, it sounds like an interesting year... with a #PoleVaultersMutiny over how many competitors will be in contention for a medal tomorrow (14 over the planned 12), and... this (oh snap!).

I'm actually much more into running now than I was back in my high school track days. Over the last decade, I have gone through periods where I have been pretty active with my running (and my legs prove it). 

Following our wedding, I have found myself a little exhausted and overbooked to keep a consistent workout routine... and I've been feeling it. Some aches and stiff back last night told me that I have to find a way around this.

So... this morning I woke up early and went for a good, healthy run in the Hudson Valley--first thing, right before work and other distractions entered my field. The difference in the way I felt was obvious as the day wore on. 

Again and again I realize that it's better to just face life's adversity head-on, and do away with it. I have had some rather blue feelings over the last couple weeks, but am finding new ways to deal with that, rather than just accepting it. Some of my hang-ups have been rather silly, but it still has something to do with my sense of controlling my own destiny.

We're getting ready for a weekend camping trip with some longtime friends--I'm looking forward to getting out in the fresh air, but also anxious to get back next week to continue some of my independent creative projects... yes, looking to vault ahead even further in the second half of 2012.

http://www.london2012.com

Uncle!

un.cle

"n. 1. a. The brother of one's mother of father."

 Sam I am. Helping out with the "I Miss America" pageant/
protest, Schenectady, New York, May 2008.
Photo ©Schenectady Neighbors for Peace. All rights reserved.

So, I just received the news... I'm an uncle again-- for the sixth time! My new niece looks adorable. Of course my friends are asking me "isn't it about time..." yeah. I know. Hanging out with my lovable new nephews is making it harder to come up with reasons not to...

"Idiom: 1. cry/say uncle 
Informal
To indicate a willingness to give up a fight or surrender."

Well, I can't take that definition to heart, but life sure gets tough sometimes... I wish I could make changes happen sooner in other areas. It's been a long time comin'...

T.G.I.F.!

We Can Be Heroes...

Leaving the theater in style (others used the
front door)! Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights
and Spidey-sense reserved.

Yesterday was a good day. Sarah treated me to dinner (including my free mega-margarita from Bombers Burrito Bar) and a movie. We finally went to see the new Amazing Spider-Man movie—I had been waiting to see it.

Now, as a long-time Spidey fanatic, I was skeptical about this new version, following so soon on the heels of director Sam Raimi's trilogy of films. I liked Tobey Maguire in the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and first thought this new actor (Andrew Garfield) looked a little too hip... pretty. The more I saw the trailers, I started to change my mind—it seemed to have a different aesthetic from the previous films, and the introduction of Parker's "other" girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, was an interesting move. In the comics, there was a tragic storyline involving Gwen's character... I wondered how closely they would follow this in the new movie.

Well, we enjoyed this new movie. It did, indeed, have a different tone than Raimi's version. One thing that struck me was the acting—a little more natural... realistic... Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy was quite refreshing. But I'm not saying it is better than the other films (except for #3), just different. The other thing that struck me was the cinematography—much darker, with many shadows falling. It made me think they were taking a cue from Christopher Nolan's new Batman movies (that's next on my list). The storyline was very well-done, relying less on the original story, but weaving (pun intended) some interesting details into the plot, like how Spidey received his super powers. It gelled rather nicely with the introduction of the super villain, The Lizard (who looked pretty cool). 

I think the big advantage this film had over the previous adaptations was the special effects. The use of CGI in Raimi's films can be a little distracting at times, and it was better executed here. I really liked Garfield in the Spider-Man costume... more than I did Tobey Maguire, but I'm torn about the other way around. Maguire is closer to how I picture Peter Parker... Garfield does have the angsty thing down, but he also is... maybe a little too hip. Perhaps it's the way I see the younger generation now... pulling out their computer games or texting... seemingly indifferent... apathetic... oh man, am I getting old? 

Overall, it was a very nice night, and my inner fanboy was thrilled. I always related most to Spider-Man... lots of adversity thrown his way (almost too much), but he perseveres. 

Alex Ross, “Mythology: Superman,” 2005
courtesy of the artist, SUPERMAN,
®, TM and © 2011 DC Comics.
All Rights Reserved.

Earlier in the day we had a meeting at Norman Rockwell Museum regarding our upcoming exhibition on comic book illustrator Alex Ross. I have been a big fan of Ross' work since his extraordinary Marvels books from the 90s, which contained his beautifully executed, realistic paintings of superheroes from the eyes of normal, everyday people. He has become quite a big deal in the comic book industry for his work, and back in 2003 I took my "little brother" (also named Jeremy) to New York City to see an exhibition on his work at Illustration House. We had a chance to meet with the artist, who is a big fan of Norman Rockwell, and I told him at the time that it would be wonderful if someday we were able to exhibit his work at the Museum.

Well, that day has arrived—the show, curated by the Andy Warhol Museum, will open at the Rockwell on November 10, 2012. Heroes and Villains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross looks at the acclaimed artist's career (including work for Marvel and DC), and also will feature some original Andy Warhols (interesting to note that he also started his career as an illustrator). 

I felt good that I had so much to offer during our planning meeting... I grew up completely immersed in this world (and collected regularly up through my first year in college), and still go back to visit from time-to-time. Similar to the way that my father and others of his generation learned an appreciation for art through the magazine covers of Norman Rockwell, I gained an appetite for the arts, partly, through the imaginative world of comic books. Yeah, I've got this one covered...

Related Links:

www.theamazingspiderman.com

www.warhol.org/exhibitions/2011/heroesandvillains

"A Nerd Is Not a Geek: Two Spins on Spider-Man," NPR, July 3, 2012

For Better or Worse

We`re having a wonderful time in Montreal. Last night we caught a live theater show, which in some ways was wilder than anything that took place during my bachelor party-!... Canadians seem to have a lot less hang-ups than their North American counterparts. We have also been enjoying some amazing meals... usually served with fruit, which is ok by me.

Of course we keep thinking back on our wedding--in some respects it all seems a little surreal... having all of our loved ones in attendance... having all the attention focused on us. We have been so happy to get a sneak preview of photos, and can`t wait to see what our professional photographer and videographer have come up with.

Having said that, there are things I wish could have gone differently (damn melancholy). We received a bit of rain, but there`s nothing we could do about that, and it seemed to add to the poetic nature of the ceremony... starting almost on cue, and then clearing up not long thereafter (there was also a rainbow at the end of the day). People tell me it is good luck, so I`ll keep that in mind... at the moment, I just wished I had a handkerchief. I have to remember to be more vocal about what I want... not be concerned about coming off too pushy... I mean, this was our big day!

Most everything went off without a hitch, but I do have some mixed feelings about the music. We had compiled a huge list of songs, and it seemed like many were ignored. I don`t know if it was poor communication on our part, or the DJ didn`t have the songs... but this went differently than I had expected. I`m not saying it was all bad... our guests were having a blast, but again... it was our big day--once I realized it was the last song, I felt a little cheated. We`re thinking about throwing a big dance party to make up for it, and celebrate our wedding and my upcoming birthday... maybe I`ll look into renting the dance club where we met.

Of course we`ll look back and have the fondest of memories, but right now the perfectionist in me is trying to get over a few sour grapes- a reminder not to rely on others for the fulfillment of what you want out of life. I think it might be harder for people who are sensitive... but this also makes our intuition stronger, and I am never wrong when I listen to that.

One of the highlights of our trip has been a trip to the botanical gardens yesterday... you could spend a full day in this beautiful area of the city, not far from where the Olympics were held. Sarah wanted to visit the Japanese garden, and it was a real treat--it was partnered with a Chinese garden, and an insectarium. Walking around these beautiful gardens had a real calming effect on me, and reminded me of the value of getting out into nature, as well as the power of feng shui--I believe very strongly in the effect that your surroundings can have on you, in both well-being and creativity.

How can you not feel creative in this city? As an English-speaking American visiting a largely French-speaking area, it is a lesson in seeing the everyday in new eyes... and I`m finally getting the hang of the French-Canadian keyboard! More adversity, more challenges to conquer... in my life it seems unavoidable, but the benefits of perserving are ultimately quite rewarding... like a kiss in the rain...

Wild Thing: You Made My Heart Sing

Sigh... I have more sad news to share. Maurice Sendak, the beloved children's book illustrator/author, has passed away at age 83. Sendak was responsible for my absolute favorite book as a child, Where The Wild Things Are (1963). 

Thank you Mr. Sendak for the wild journey. Photo ©2004 Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

As a kid I read and re-read the story of young Max, who was sent to his room without any supper for being unruly. Clad in his "terrifying" wolf suit, he sulks and then conjures up a grand tale of sailing off on the open seas to the land of the Wild Things. Under a moonlit sky, he is first scared by and then commands the group of grotesque monsters, who come to call him King-- "Let the wild rumpus begin!"

What glorious pages of imaginative, beautifully caricatured, colorful work that book contained. The things that stood out for me most were the monsters, Max's headstrong and shifting moods, the way the room changes into a forest, and finally the way Max misses his well-meaning family. He returns to his room... to find his dinner outside the door−and it was still warm.

While a student at the University of Southern California in the early 90s, I came across the book again in the campus bookstore, and had to buy it. I delighted in revisiting this tale that so captured my imagination, and wondered where the "missing pages" were? 

An article in the Washington Post perfectly sums up the artist's gift to sensitive children like me: "Sendak’s work allows children to come to terms with their fears and nightmares. The Wild Things can be tamed, turned into big teddy bears, no longer frightening monsters of the id..." Another Post writer comments: "The books showed that even children, confronting a range of often terrifying emotions, could through courage and resourcefulness begin to make sense of the world around them."

Taking a walk on the wild side at the Strong Museum, 2004.
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

After I started working at Norman Rockwell Museum and doing interviews with various children's book illustrators, I began to think about trying to contact Sendak. I got to know one friend who had corresponded with Sendak on a number of occasions−he gave me his address, and I started to work on a letter to send the artist... but I hesitated... what could I say that this brilliant man hadn't heard a thousand times before? 

Occasionally I would bring up the idea of doing an exhibition on his work. I had a chance to view some of his original drawings that were on display at the Strong National Museum of Play back in 2004, during the same time a video I created for one of our traveling shows was being exhibited (I longed to sail into the life-size Max boat and get cracking on a similar show).

During lunch with a visitor to my Museum later that year, I learned that the director Spike Jonze was going to be doing a film adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are. Being an admirer of the director's work, I got even more excited... 
When I had the chance to meet Jonze just prior to the movie's release in 2009, I couldn't hide my enthusiasm, telling him how much I loved the book as a kid. This was met with a somewhat wary look from the director−I couldn't tell if it was because the film had been quite difficult to produce, or he was concerned about not meeting my expectations.

The truth is, he couldn't−even the most creative film director couldn't manage to bring this book to life the way I envisioned. Ultimately, I think only Sendak could pull off Sendak. Books like Where The Wild Things Are and In The Night Kitchen (1970) have such a distinct stamp on them... they are journeys into an imaginative realm that begins in your room, kitchen or garden. You are most definitely transported in the way great books do. The stories also had a slight darkness about them that stood out against the more sanitized books for children. They felt real and extraordinary at the same time.

Along with the movie adaptation of the Wild Things, Jonze produced a documentary about Sendak's work. I reached out to try and assist on the project, but didn't get too far (it may have been near completion).

When I finally watched the completed documentary, I felt depressed. Sendak seemed so melancholy and analytical−I couldn't believe that a man who had contributed so much could feel anything but fulfilled.

After I watched that documentary, I think I turned away from the idea of trying to interview him myself. As a child, he was the man with the answers... I looked to his books for comfort, and don't know what I could say to him during moments of his own questioning.

Deep down he must have known what a great gift he gave to us. He helped us stare down the monsters, as he worked on his own. I thought that Maurice Sendak would be around forever, and through his work he always will...  

Related LInks: 

"Maurice Sendak remembered for dark but engaging children's classics,"
The Washington Post, May 9, 2012

"Maurice Sendak, Author of Splendid Nightmares, Dies at 83," The New York Times, May 8, 2012