visions of a blue-eyed soul...

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Higher Resolution

Happy 2013! Hope your new year is off to a good start...

So it has taken me a few days to get back to blogging, but fear not dear readers! No, I haven't abandoned the idea of keeping you up-to-date on my ever blue-eyed soulful self during this new year... maybe just easing up on the daily assignment from 2012 (man needs a life too, you know)...

The new year has been fairly good for us so far, starting with a great night out with some of my improv friends for New Year's Eve. Along with a spirited Beatles sing-a-long, we couldn't resist doing a few improvised musical numbers (consider it early rehearsal for our January 18th performance at the Spectrum Playhouse in Lee, MA).

I was also excited to hear about a film short that my friends Mike and Lex had been busy working on at the end of last year. No strangers to theater (both on-stage and directing), movies are a relatively new venture for them... however it sounds like it was supported in the very best, independent way, with help from fellow artists, friends and family.

On New Year's Day I felt a little "under the weather," so reading and watching movies was about all I had the motivation to do. Sarah and I rented Gayby, an independent feature about two single friends who decide to have a baby... it was an interesting, romantic comedy about a couple that aren't really romantic (Jenn is straight, Matt is gay). With a clever, well-written script, the movie explored some of the issues that such a scenario might hold for these two individuals. We didn't realize how independent the film was until the end credits, which included a thank-you to those who supported the film through the donation website, Kickstarter. It was an impressive debut for writer/director Jonathan Lisecki, and I appreciated the comic book references (the character Matt, played by the charming Matthew Wilkas, works at a comic book shop).

The next day I was supposed to head back to work, but found myself with some car issues...

Hawkeye #1. ™ & © Marvel & Subs.

On the way back from picking up my car (which suffered from a case of exhausted sparkplugs) I stopped by a comic book shop myself... to promote the Alex Ross exhibition, of course! I also managed to pick up a couple new titles... the book I am especially intrigued by is Hawkeye, which explores the off-duty exploits of the long-time member of the Avengers (also seen in last year's movie). I have always liked the "down on his luck" archer hero, and I have to say that this new book, written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by David Aja, is a perfect bullseye! It is presented in a very subtle, comedic style, and the artwork is just exquisite... somewhat different from typical superhero comic book fare. My first thought, in fact, was that it all unfolds like a good independent movie. Some of the other titles I picked up haven't been quite as successful, and I realize that great art is still dependent on strong storytelling in this medium. Really, the same holds true for television.

We both enjoy The Big Bang Theory, but there aren't too many other shows I consider worth sitting through... clever writing seems to be sacrificed for shock value and crass jokes nowadays. With a lack of quality options, we decided to tune our new HD television into the Me-TV Network, which runs old-time TV classics (Sarah's new favorite is I Dream of Jeannie... :) ). Things really started cooking when we got to The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Bob Newhart Show— I didn't really grow up with these programs (which were airing right around the time I was born), but we have been enjoying them! There is a noticeable difference in the quality of these sitcoms from what is airing today— a little more intelligent and sophisticated... often dealing with cultural issues of the day. The Odd Couple airs right after these two programs, proving that 1970s TV, like film, might indeed have been a "golden age" (the crazy fashion and design choices don't hurt either)!

Yesterday we headed outdoors... braved the elements to help our extended family move, go skiing, and then back inside to watch another movie with Sarah's folks later in the evening: the classic Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, one of my all-time favorites. It's funny, we had just been talking about actor Bob Hoskins ("watching" the British comedy Mrs. Henderson Presents the night before... well, Sarah watched it, I fell asleep... surprising since it dealt with the real-life story of a 1930s burlesque show-!).

Back to Roger Rabbit, what a joy it was to watch this movie again! I had fond memories of the film when it was originally released back in 1988, right before the advent of computer generated imagery. No, this part-animated/live feature was done the old fashioned way... hand-painted animation, puppeteers, robotics, and a little lighting help from George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic. But where this film differs from Lucas' infuriating Star Wars prequels from the late '90s, is that you actually feel like the animations and live actors are interacting. I think a lot of the credit must go to director Bob Zemeckis (Back To The Future), who I greatly admired for his creativity and technical skills... at least back then. It seems that the late '80s were also a strong time for filmmaking, where more organic, technical achievements more than held their own. Seriously, watch something like The Polar Express or Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and tell me if it succeeds on the level of our friends Roger and Jessica Rabbit. Bob Hoskin's detective character, Eddie Valiant, is fun too...the film noir, detective-style writing adds to this cinematic delight.

So when it comes to visual storytelling, I guess it's important to remember what has been working in the first place, while being open to explore new technological advances.On that note, has anyone seen The Hobbit? I'm sort of curious... but that comes more from my memories of the great storytelling that my elementary school teacher shared with us back in the day ("precious" indeed)...

P.S.-Sarah is just settling in to watch one of her NEW favorites, Dowton Abbey. A modern-day classic? Ok, maybe I'll give it a shot...

Related Links:

www.gaybyfilm.com

"Conversing on Comics with David Aja," Comic Book Resources/Robot 6, December 28, 2012

http://metvnetwork.com

"California Films: Who Framed Roger Rabbit," KQED, January 5, 2013

Monday, December 31, 2012

Auld Lang Syne

Wow. It's hard to believe that I started this blog a year ago today, and still managed to meet my challenge of creating a post EVERY DAY to document this significant year!

Looking back, moving forward! Photo by John Whipple.
All rights reserved.

To be honest, this was also meant to be a way to get my name out there on the inter-webs (while I work on a professional website), and there were times when I literally groaned at the thought of having to come up with some creative, coherent post by the end of a long day... seriously, it's difficult to talk about yourself all the time! But I did manage to pull it off (often to the late-night chagrin of my patient wife), and must say that it's nice to have a real-time record to look back on the events from the past year. I think there is also something to the idea of putting myself out there to the "universe" because there were some truly great moments and opportunities that came my way. Without further ado, here is my personal Top 10 for 2012 (hey, I told you I liked creating these things!):

10. Connected (Writing's On The Wall)

NYC's Spoken Word Almanac Project (with visuals by yours truly).
Photo by Jonathan Weiskopf. All rights reserved.

As I mentioned, the goal of this blog (in addition to giving my Mom some daily morning reading material) was to get my name out there− seemed to work! A few professional contacts I made this year mentioned finding this site, or asked− out of the blue− about such endeavors as my improv group that they could have only read about here(!). I also continued my work with the Spoken Word Almanac Project earlier in the year, creating visuals for their "news in review" style format of performance poetry.

"Troy Record," April 26, 2012

2012 also saw further work with Peace Action New York State, where Sarah and I helped out with a July peace march to commemorate the World War II era victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and I videotaped special lectures for the group on such topics as the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

I continued to land other interesting, independent video projects, although I had to be conscious of biting off more than I could chew up to and around the time of my July wedding. I didn't come as far as I had hoped this year in terms of advancing my career, but it was a year that saw me making significant strides and remain in the game.

9. King of All Media

Well, it was certainly a year where I stepped it up in terms of my outreach towards the media. 2012 saw me interviewed by such outlets as The Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, The Springfield Republican, The Schenectady Gazette and New England Public Radio in regards to various exhibitions and programs at Norman Rockwell Museum. I took my Manager of Media Services title to new heights by leading the effort to launch our own page on the Google Art Project, and twice appeared as a guest on The Roundtable, produced by the Albany NPR station, WAMC. This past month I even went international with an interview for TV Tokyo's Bi no Kyojin Tachi, regarding the career of artist Norman Rockwell. It felt good to be able to use my experience and knowledge gained on the job in a creative way... after more than a decade of working at the Museum and in TV news, I certainly feel confident in my abilities.

8. We Are Family

Updating Norman Rockwell's "The Runaway" with
my nephew. ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

My family grew this year, and part of what made this year so memorable was being able to help celebrate their own milestones and achievements. First off, I became a uncle again... times three! Sarah's two nephews ushered in the new extended family by being the ring bearer and master of butterflies at our wedding. And although she was pregnant and couldn't attend our big day, my sister gave birth to another beautiful little girl weeks later... apparently she hasn't stopped smiling since she arrived! The smiles continued in October as my mother-in-law received a special honor for her ongoing efforts for peace.

Proving that weddings are contagious, my two twin cousins announced their own engagements this past fall, and my sister-in-law just got engaged... I was happy to lend a creative hand in the planning of the latter, where my future brother-in-law took me up on my idea of proposing to his girl during the previously mentioned Japanese TV shoot that my nephew took part in... now THAT was a Norman Rockwell moment.

7. The Art of Improvisation

At the beginning of this year, my friend/groomsman Frank announced that my old improv group was going to start performing in South County of the Berkshires again, which is where I continue to work. "How can I get in on this?" I wondered aloud, and suddenly found myself "back on the boards," playing gigs with The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe at the beautiful new Spectrum Playhouse, located in my old hometown of Lee, Massachusetts. It has been a wonderful experience reconnecting with these old and new friends, and challenging myself with some performing again... the late night karaoke after-parties were pretty great too.

6. I Am The DJ, I Am What I Play

Broadcasting live from the WEXT studios!
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

I was fortunate to return to another favorite activity this year− during and after college, I had enjoyed being a music DJ (including a stint with independent rock station WBER in Rochester, New York).... well, thanks to Capital Region station WEXT, I found myself doing my best Casey Kasem on a couple of occasions this year: first during an hour playing some of my favorite songs on their MyExit program, and also earlier this month as I recorded a tribute show to the Norwegian band, A-ha. The latter program was in celebration of the band's 30th anniversary (and knighting in their home country!), and should be airing at the beginning of the new year. Hopefully there will be more on-air opportunities... did I mention that I'm a bit of a "ham" radio operator?

home sweet home.
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

5. New Digs

After an extended "transition" period, which included apartments in the Berkshires, New York City, and the Hudson Valley, I finally settled into a lovely old, renovated home in downtown Schenectady with my wife Sarah. In addition to enjoying the resources of "The Electric City" and Capital Region, it is just nice to finally have some room to spread out, get organized and creative again (bonus points for this past week's clean up). Yes honey... "feels like home."

4. Mr. Ed

One of the most satisfying moments this past year was the opportunity to continue furthering my education. I FINALLY took another graphic design course, which is something I have been wanting to do for some time now and made possible by the excellent Arts Center of the Capital Region. The class helped me understand key design principals, come up with ideas for creating a logo and website for my business, and learn the ins and outs of Adobe Illustrator. I also utilized some of this newfound knowledge in the design of our wedding invitations and thank-you cards... turned out beautiful (thanks to instructor Taylor Gillis of Troy's Design It Together for sharing his own knowledge and insight).

Invitation only... by design!
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

The Arts Center also gave Sarah and I a chance to brush up on our swing dancing during a course timed perfectly ahead of our wedding, and offered me a chance to play around with a DSLR video camera during two weekends of their video art course. This was a great, creative exercise... the DSLR takes a little getting used to, but the picture quality is fantastic.

Extra kudos to the Center for letting me take the camera out on yet another afternoon (outside of class) to further acquaint myself with one of the newest tool for filmmakers, and continued appreciation for my friends at CTSB-TV in the Berkshires for letting me try out a number of other new HD video camera models for various projects. As they say: learning is fundamental!

3. Four More Years

Promo for Darian Dauchan's Obamatry,
a spoken word remix, featuring multimedia
design by JC. Courtesy Darian Dauchan.

The fiscal cliff, Obamacare, gun control... it was a tense 12 months, made more so by the fact that this was an election year. Although I don't approve of everything that unfolded during his first term (read: drones), I still supported President Barack Obama, and felt that he held the conviction and intelligence necessary to lead this country back to greatness. I felt a little guilty that I could not actively help his campaign as I did four years ago, and for a while it got to be a nail-biter... Republican candidate Mitt Romney made some last-minute strides this past fall that had many of us wondering if the country would be heading in another direction. What a relief it was to wake up on November 6th to the news that Obama had won a second term, and that many of the initiatives that progressives had been working so hard to advance (health care, marriage equality, immigration, etc.) would be saved. It's hard to believe that the state of the union was swaying precariously in the balance just over a month ago. Of course we've still got a long way to go, and I wish President Obama the best of luck over the next four years... forward!

2. Hero Worship

Interviewing acclaimed comic book artist Alex Ross
in his Chicago studio. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

2012 found me getting back in touch with my "inner comic geek," and thrilled at the arrival of our new exhibit, Heroes & Villains: The Comic Book Art of Alex Ross, at Norman Rockwell Museum. I have been a fan of Ross' work since 1994's Marvels, so it was a great thrill to meet the artist again and see his stunning, original art. The icing on the cake: the chance to travel to Chicago and interview Alex Ross for a new exhibition video. I had to push for this one, but it felt great to utilize not only my video production skills, but also knowledge of a medium that I, like Ross, grew up with.

(Above is a movie trailer I also created for the exhibition− good fun!)

Yours truly... your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights resereved.

Another idea I had was for my colleagues and I to dress up like our favorite superheroes for the exhibition opening and related programming... my childhood dreams came full-circle as I walked around in my own Spider-Man costume, with several admiring youngsters following in my footsteps! Did I mention the billboard?

By the end of the year, I had reconnected with an aspect of my youth that I have sometimes felt embarrassed over the years to admit to enjoying. However, the success this past year of such films as Spider-Man, Batman: The Dark Knight Rises, and especially The Avengers (♥) made it seem slightly less geeky to proclaim my superhero/comic book love... I even proudly represented the Museum's exhibit at the Albany Comic Con in October, and have become a frequent visitor to the area comic book stores... Bazinga! (must-read of the year: Sean Howe's Marvel Comics: The Untold Story).

1. Our Big Day

Mr. and Mrs. Clowe!
Photo by John Whipple. All rights reserved.

Of course the highlight of the year was finally getting married to my long-time love, Sarah. The first part of the year was great fun, planning all the various details for the ceremony and reception− we both certainly got to use our creativity. It was challenging at times... I admit, it took me longer to find a tux than I would have expected, and it was tricky to figure out some aspects of an interfaith ceremony. However, the sheer joy of planning for our new life together made it an exciting adventure...

The big day arrived fast and was not only emotional, but a little surreal... to have so many of our loved ones surrounding us (and our friend Tom co-officiate the ceremony), and find myself standing at the alter as my new bride walked down to the aisle to The Beatles' "Here Comes The Sun"...

At that moment, the skies opened up on our beautiful outdoor ceremony, and it began to rain. I certainly wasn't expecting this, although it came as some relief to the summer's extended dry spell and intense humidity... but on my wedding day?

As a spiritual person, I couldn't help but wonder what the sign was... I struggled even more when one of my close family members had a bit of a health scare following the ceremony. The day could have taken a dark turn, but luckily things recovered, and we had an absolute blast during our reception (never seen so many people out on the dance floor at a wedding!). I should point out that the ceremony was also truly beautiful, filled with friends and family reading, singing, and even bubbles and butterflies... the intermittent rain showers let up towards the end of the ceremony, and we were treated to two magnificent rainbows later in the day.

We followed the wedding with an absolutely magical week in Montreal and Quebec City, chasing after more waterfalls, and enjoying getting lost in Canada. Married life has been great! It's good on the other side, and I wonder why I waited so long...

***

As with any year, 2012 was filled with many highs and lows... laughter and tears... I sometimes found myself questioning my faith, wondering how a higher power could allow such tragedies to unfold as the summer shooting in Aurora, Colorado; the destruction from Hurricane Sandy; and the recent fatal shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, and Webster, New York (near my own hometown)... I made a point of going to church on Christmas Eve to have some time to reflect on this past year's events, and try to come to terms with some of my own personal anger at events that took place in my own life this year, which I felt I had little control over...

***

So, I literally just opened today's mail (snail not e), and found a late Christmas letter from my friend Tom, the reverend. At the top of his own yearly review, he noted our wedding and how beautiful it was to take part in the service... in describing the previously mentioned downpour, he referenced one of the scriptures Sarah and I had chosen for the ceremony, from Song of Solomon 8:7: "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it..."

What a fitting way to end this memorable year: hearing these lines again and truly taking them to heart... because it's the end of another year, yet my love for life still burns bright. Thanks to friends and family who have joined me during this past year's journey, and here's to a happy and prosperous new year ahead...

Updated Soundtrack for 2012:

Port of Morrow, The Shins

Signs & Signifiers, J.D. McPherson

The Lumineers, The Lumineers

England Keep My Bones, Frank Turner

Laura, Diego Garcia

Django, Django, Django, Django

Boys & Girls, Alabama Shakes

Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen

Delta Spirit, Delta Spirit

A Thing Called Divine Fits, Divine Fits

Making Mirrors, Gotye

There's No Leaving Now, The Tallest Man on Earth

Out of My Hands, Morten Harket

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Feels Like Home

Ha ha... I have been acting goofy, and keep saying this subject line to Sarah during the holidays, but for this post it is absolutely appropriate! Tonight we entertained for the first time in our new home. Sarah's parents stopped over for a cup of tea, as well as a chance to look at our Christmas tree and what we have done with the place.

It's funny what a scheduled visit can do... I have been on a tear these past few days unpacking, cleaning, and straightening up our place to get ready (think my own Mom would be proud). I have to say, I'm quite pleased with the results. I think the artistic side in me has always liked to decorate, and definitely get organized... no matter how challenging or time-consuming, and believe me... it was. The place feels great, and I'm looking forward to a successful and creative year ahead.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Viewed From a Different Lens

So I think we're making up for all of the snow we failed to receive last winter. In addition to the big storm earlier in the week, it hasn't stopped snowing all day today. That's fine by me... it gave us a chance to stay cosy inside and continue to organize our place. We also took care of preparing a few late holiday gifts... as a result, my new niece can expect a few hand-crafted goodies created by her artistic aunt and uncle.

Last night we did manage to get out of the house to finally check out the movie Argo. The film centered around the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1981, and the incredible true story of an attempt to rescue several members of the hijacked American embassy, who escaped and were hiding in seclusion at the onset of the crisis. This rescue mission was achieved by way of a cover story created by the CIA, claiming that all of these American citizens were actually Canadians scouting out Iran as the location for a science fiction film... it makes you wonder what other real-life situations are actually stranger than fiction!

The hostage crisis was the first big news story I remember growing up. Really, how could you escape that news? It was an unbelievably tense situation, yet I was only nine years old at the time and knew little about why it all happened. This film opened my eyes to some of the international politics that originally sparked the crisis. I must admit that I'm only just getting my head around the history of Iran− Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel Persepolis was quite helpful and creative in providing insight about the region's changing culture before and after the Islamic Revolution.

Argo definitely makes great use of news footage and other images from that time period. I think this is one the film's great triumphs− they definitely recreated the look and feel of the time period. Director Ben Affleck continues his string of interesting projects, yet I am still undecided about his acting− most of the time in this film he runs around looking overly serious... maybe it was the itchy 70s beard. I did love Alan Arkin and John Goodman during the scenes set in Hollywood... but as you see in the trailer, it does make for something of a thematic shift for the movie. I still think the filmmakers achieved a successful, cohesive project− the story was incredibly interesting, and threw several surprises at us during it's brisk two hours. Ultimately, it made me want to learn more about the crisis from the eyes of an adult, knowing the world and international politics the way I do now.

On a related note, last month during Thanksgiving dinner my mother surprised me by bringing out some old artwork I had created as a kid. As we all had a good laugh looking through my comic books and marveling at my imagination, I was struck by the cover I created for the January 1980 issue of Fun-Book, a comic/activity book I regularly created for my friends. Pictured on the cover amidst various sci-fi characters of the day and my own "Super Babies" creations, I had drawn a pretty impressive caricature of both American President Jimmy Carter and Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini. I have to say that this caught me completely off-guard... not only seeing the artistic ability, but the topical nature of the work. †he Iran hostage crisis did make a big impression on me, but I did not remember creating this... my first political statement as it were. Here you see Hulk Baby about to tackle the Ayatollah, while President Carter literally stands on my head... even back then, current events seemed to weigh heavily on my mind.

Related Links:

"'Argo's' Real People: Individuals Who Inspired Characters Speak Out About Film, Hostage Crisis," Huffington Post, December 28, 2012

Argo official website

Friday, December 28, 2012

New Year, New Laughs

One of the very positive things about this past year has been my return to performing with The Royal Berkshire Improv Troupe. In addition to offering me a rather flexible opportunity (time and physicality) to further hone my performing skills, it also has reconnected me with some of my dearest friends−old and new!

I'm happy to announce that I will be continuing with the group in the new year, and we already have several promising gigs booked for the next two months. Do stop by and see us if you're in the Berkshires and looking for a laugh (where else would you go, right?). Here are the dates planned so far:

The Spectrum Playhouse, Lee, MA

Friday, January 18, 2013, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.

UNICO Dinner: NAMI Fundraiser, Featuring RBIT

ITAM, Pittsfield, MA

Thursday, February 7, 2013, 6 - 8 p.m.

The Spectrum Playhouse, Lee, MA

Friday, February 15, 2013, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.

10 X 10 Festival

The Garage at the Colonial Theatre, 111 South Street, Pittsfield, MA

Sunday, February 24, 2013, 3 – 4:30 p.m.

Making our partners look good... since 2001.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

House Warming

Better late than never. I'm betting that decorating our first Christmas tree together will lead to us into finally getting the place in order. Hallelujah...!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Picture Perfect

We had a great time in Rochester, even though we decided to leave a little earlier than expected today. With predictions of the first big winter storm on the way and up to a foot of snow possible in the Capital Region, we decided not to chance it since Sarah is scheduled to work tomorrow. Sure enough, the snow has been coming down steadily since we got back this evening, and I can already hear the plows out and about. Luckily, a stop at the grocery store means that we are all set in the event we get stranded overnight (oh please, oh please!).

If we do find ourselves with grand mountains of fluffy white tomorrow, I'll be well-equipped to document it... yes, one of the Christmas gifts I received yesterday was a sweet Canon EOS Rebel T3 camera. Finally... a true digital camera worthy of the cameraman!

I have been having fun taking some shots here and there, and look forward to sharing some of the better ones here on this blog. Thanks again to my lovely mum and stepfather for all the hospitality...