(Wishing For) Peace on Earth...

We've been enjoying our visit with family in Rochester, but were saddened by the news yesterday of yet another senseless tragedy... this time in Webster, New York, the very next town over from where I grew up. The site where two first responders were killed and two others injured after arriving at the scene of an early morning fire, is actually right near one of my parents' favorite restaurants... What makes this even more sickening is that the fire was an apparent ambush by yet another crazed gunman. 

These men died as heroes, no doubt about it... but following the tragic school shooting in Connecticut two weeks ago, and happening on Christmas Eve... it's all so terribly sad. This is far from what I expected to hear about during my return home... reminding how precious life is. My heart goes out to the victims' friends and families during this Christmastime.

Related Link:

"4 Firefighters Shot, 2 Killed at Webster, N.Y., Fire," Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, December 24, 2012

Glory Be

It's Christmas Eve and we're back at my Mom's place in Rochester. We just got back from a candlelight service at this beautiful church in the city, not far from where I used to live... I always enjoy going to this service, and I was reminded tonight about how much I love this song:

This year I felt like I needed to sing a little harder, hold on to my candle a little longer...   I'll write more about my thoughts tomorrow... I'm a little too tired right now, and need to get to bed to avoid running into Old St. Nick (I still remember the empty plate of crumbs and thank you note, whose handwriting looked oddly similar to my Dad's). 

On our drive out here last night, we heard another holiday standard, Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas" on the radio... I was reminded of my days portraying the King of Rock and Roll, which was fun. This holiday song by Elvis is really good, and Sarah mentioned hearing about a Porky Pig(!) version of it... we had to look it up, and it had me tearing up it was so hilarious:

I haven't laughed so hard in ages... definitely needed that. I also realize how much I needed to get away... I'm thankful to be home for the holidays.. The snow started coming down steadily after the service, so it looks like it will be a White Christmas after all... yay.

"Sleep in heavenly peace... sleep in heavenly peace..."

Wrap Up

Spent the day trying to tie up a lot of loose ends−literally and figuratively. On the eve of Christmas Eve, I naturally ran around a bit trying to figure out some last minute gift-giving ideas... never recommended. However, being as busy as I have in the last month (I pinpoint the craziness starting around the opening of the Alex Ross exhibit), I haven't had a lot of time or resources to devote to planning for the holidays. Anyway, I'm in good shape: presents are wrapped, tree is up, bills are paid, and I'm ready to spend a couple days on vacation with family and friends. 

I keep hearing more "best of 2012" lists. Even Chris Matthews' Sunday morning talk show listed the top news stories today. There were a few things I forgot about, and some I'd like to forget...

As I wrapped presents this afternoon, I looked for some music to play as motivation. It suddenly dawned on me that I forgot to add the Australian musician Gotye to my list of top 10 albums last week. At the beginning of the year, his song "Somebody That I Used To Know" was everywhere... rightfully so. A soulful, eerie, heart-felt song about relationships... the song seemed to touch a nerve (mine included). It sounded different than anything else out there, for sure. I ran out to buy Making Mirrors on the strength of that song... and even though none of the other tracks on the album really match the intensity of that single, it is an interesting work... including nods to several different styles, produced in an adventurous manner. I guess I'll consider it my #11 favorite album of the year.

I found this interview interesting on radio host Jian Ghomeshi's program, Q (particularly where Gotye talks about filtering traditional instruments through new technology to create new sounds):

Can you tell that I'm a music fan? To have a job like Ghomeshi's would be a true delight. Unfortunately, I still haven't found the time to finish up my own music interview programs that have collected over the years... it's just been too crazy this year. Now that I'm feeling more settled, maybe I'll be the "next big thing" in 2013.

Related Links:

http://gotye.com

Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas...

We headed back to Hudson, New York today to pick up a Christmas tree. This came courtesy of my family's farm property, and was Sarah's first! 

Funny how they look different once you get them inside... it's huge! Probably the largest tree I have ever had. Now to decorate... 

Mayans, Love, and You

Woke up to heavy rain, 40 mph winds, and a bill for new car repairs... yikes! Maybe the Mayans were right!!!

Ok... if you're reading this after December 21st, the world did not come to an end... even though there have been plenty of times this past year that felt like it was coming close!

If this had been an actual armageddon, I want these guys on my side:



Both DC and Marvel approved of me using these images in this "movie trailer," so yes... miracles can happen!

<<Video produced by Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.>>

Related Link:

"A dynamic duo: Alex Ross and Norman Rockwell," The Advocate Weekly, December 20, 2012

Big In Japan

Today it was my turn. The Japanese TV crew interviewed me about Norman Rockwell's work for the TV show Bi no Kyojin Tachi (I think it translates to "The Great Masters of Art"). Look for the segment this winter on TV Tokyo! Being a fan of Norman Rockwell and visiting Japan several times over the years, my father no doubt would have been proud...

Posing with producer Mas Kondo of Robin/Tani Media Factory right after my interview at Norman Rockwell Museum. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

A Norman Rockwell Moment

Well, this certainly was a memorable day... 

A Japanese TV crew visited the Museum today to begin filming a segment on the work of Norman Rockwell. Today was devoted to recreating the scenes depicted in two of Rockwell's most famous paintings−The Marriage License and The Runaway. My friend Mas, the producer, asked me ahead of time if I knew of anyone who could play the part of certain figures in the illustrations...

My friend/Museum volunteer Carlton agreed to play the part of the clerk in The Marriage License. By the time I got to the shoot (held in the Stockbridge Town Hall) he was already suited up and doing several takes, as if he was waiting on the couple stopping in to get their license. He even got a couple lines... it will be interesting to see if they are dubbed over in Japanese! 

Later in the afternoon, my nephew Sam joined us to play the "title character" in Rockwell's 1958 Saturday Evening Post cover illustration, The Runaway. The crew set the scene in Elm Street Market, where I had actually once interviewed the original models for the painting. The production company, Robin/Tani Media Factory, always has a great eye for detail, and they had my nephew fitted with an old-style knapsack (like the boy in the painting), and found a real-life Massachusetts State Trooper to play the kindly cop. They also went beyond the illustration, filming the little runaway walking outside on his journey... Sam did a great job, and we were even greeted unexpectedly by Ed Locke, the original model for the little boy, who just happened to be driving down the street where we were filming!

But the biggest surprise was yet to come. My sister-in-law's boyfriend had confided in me and Sarah the previous week that he had planned to propose to her... however, he was having a tough time figuring out a time when someone could watch after their own separate children, and make it happen. I suggested that he head out to Stockbridge during the shoot, where she would be present with her son. I told him I would figure out some way to get her back to where we had staged The Marriage License earlier in the day (have to thank the production company for their willingness to help us pull it off). After the Runaway shoot, we all walked back over to the town hall, under the pretense that she needed to sign a couple extra appearance forms for her son... When she got there, her guy was waiting for her at the makeshift set that the TV crew had constructed (even Carlton agreed to "reprise" his role as the clerk). It was here that he popped the question (surrounded by members of her family)... luckily, she said yes! 

As I said, it was a fun, memorable day... I truly cherish when I have the opportunity to help make others happy... when I have the chance to do so in a creative way, that's even more satisfying!

All photos ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.