It's been a busy end of the week at Norman Rockwell Museum, as we prepare for the opening of two exhibitions this Saturday: Masters of the Golden Age: Harvey Dunn and His Studentsand Love a Vet: Honoring Our Veterans. Both exhibitions are exceptional displays of talented illustration art; the Harvey Dunn exhibit, in particular, blew me away... You can preview the show through a photos I took and posted on the Museum's Facebook page.
Hot off the press! "Portfolio," NRM's members magazine, November 2015-February 2016 issue. Courtesy: NRM
Looking to get further in-depth? Tune into WDEL Radio's "Saturday HotSpot" show tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET, to hear me interviewed by host/comedian Frank Gregory for a full half-hour about the Museum's current and upcoming exhibitions and programs. I was a guest on Gregory's show (based in Wilmington, DE) a year ago, and he is quite the character...of course we hit it off. You can listen live here.
Finally, the latest issue of Portfolio, the Museum's member magazine, has arrived... my first as Editor-In-Chief! Designed by the talented Toni Kenny, with some writing provided by your's truly, I think it turned out great. I realize that I have been suitably prepared to manage the magazine, after all my years creating zines and comic books. If you're a Museum member, it should be in your hands soon. Interested in becoming a member (and who wouldn't want to be)? Learn more here.
In honor of Throwback Thursday, here's a red letter date: November 5th! Not only is this the date that Doctor Emmett L. Brown invented time travel (60 years ago), it is also the date that my mother was born (Happy Birthday, Mom!). Here are a few photos to mark this significant date in history. That's me and my Mom (below) at Universal Studios Hollywood, taken during my year in Los Angeles, studying film. I remember being thrilled to see the actual set where they filmed parts of Back To The Future, as well as taking part in a little performance based around the film. Believe it or not, that's me standing on a mock clock tower set in a Doc Brown wig (one of my finest performances, I assure you). Also, a shot of me in front of one of the actual vintage cars used in the series. Somewhere I also have a photo in front of one of the screen-used DeLoreans, but it seems to have gone missing (as has my copy of the Gray's Sports Almanac...hey!).
If I had access to that time machine, I wouldn't mind traveling back to June of 1964, and watch the two crazy kids pictured on the left (my Mom and Dad) get married...talk about the power of love! Thinking a lot about family and friends today, and those I have loved past, present, and future. "Nov. 5, 1955: A Flux of Genius,"Wired, November 5, 2009
Future's so bright...looking McFly outside WAMC studios. Photo courtesy Jim Levulis.
Although we're setting our current clocks back, it's official: the events taking place in the Back To The Future trilogy are now firmly in the past (or some alternate version of it). I know, this is heavy!
No, flying cars and hoverboards have yet to be mass-produced for an eager public, and the Cubs didn't quite sweep the World Series. However, the movies did get quite a few things right (flat screen TVs, video conferencing, drones, voice and fingerprint recognition), and the last week reminded us of our timeless appeal.
What a week it has been. I started "Future Day," October 21, 2015, with an early morning interview at Berkshire radio station Star 101.7, to promote Norman Rockwell Museum's "Back in Time" family festival. The host, Evan Valenti, is a fellow BTTF fanboy, so I quite enjoyed speaking with him at great length about the event and movie series. To honor the occasion, my colleague and I were decked out in our best Marty McFly outfits; as Evan started the segment (speaking into the mic with his back to us), I quickly donned my 80s-style Ray-Bans, and he burst out laughing when he turned around to greet us..."rock and roll!" If you have "the time," you can listen to the segment here.
After the interview, I posted some quick selfies and checked into my work email by phone (who saw that coming 30 years ago?). There was a new message from another area radio station looking to do their segment about the family event, in celebration of "Future Day." This was suddenly turning into quite the press tour!
Prior to learning about this request, I had tagged my selfies with the movie-referencing line, "to the clock tower!" By complete coincidence, that is literally what I did—WAMC's Berkshire Bureau is actually housed in Pittsfield's Clocktower Business Park. I enjoyed speaking again with reporter Jim Levulis about our upcoming festival, and why the Back To The Future films continue to resonate for me and many others. "Jeremy Clowe is a, uh, big fan of the trilogy" joked Jim, as he introduced me, still clad in all my stonewashed '80s glory, during the segment. You can give it a listen here (no flux capacitor necessary).
But the real reason for my getup had more to do than just radio interviews that day. The previous week, I had read a somewhat "dubious" post about Back To The Future on Facebook, offering the chance to attend a Future Day screening of the second movie and talent Q&A(!) in New York City. The invitation pointed to a rather non-descript Google doc, but I RSVP-ed anyway. Reading comments that there was a limited seating of 750 made me further question my chances, but since I was taking the rest of the day off, I figured "what the hell?"
"Look me up when you get there": "Back To The Future" cast reunion in London, July 2015 Courtesy: Lea Thompson (Twitter)
With no flying cars in sight, I took the train. My excitement grew as I sat back and watched a segment with the movie's stars, MIchael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson, broadcast on the Today Show that morning. I was really touched to see these actors together again, looking great and talking about the movie's legacy (and what did or did not come true for 2015). My only wish, at that point, was that my entry into the evening's screening would be filed in the "did happen" column.
So, a couple hours later I arrived in the city to find a souped-up DeLorean and sizable crowd already winding it's way around Lincoln Square's AMC Theater...sizable, but not overwhelming (thank God!). I quickly staked my place in line, and began chatting with others, who also confessed to some uncertainty about the Facebook invite. After a while, it looked like this was indeed happening; I began to see other "Martys" (from 1985 and 2015... a pardox!) take their place in the queue. It was interesting to spoeak with other fans, and learn about the own affection for the films; I was surprised to hear several comment about how the much "darker" Part II was actually their favorite of the series. Different generations seem to respond in different ways—I was an early teen when the first movie came out, so that one still holds a special place for me (more on that later). An independent film crew was also on hand, and even interviewed me in costume... it gave me a chance to practice my improv, while waiting: "Doc was ahead of his time...many times, actually!" Honest to God, at exactly 7:29 p.m. (the time Doc, Marty, and Jennifer arrived in the future/present) I received my bracelet to go into the theater. My new friends and I made our way into the beautiful, vintage-tinged AMC movie house, and were delighted to learn that not only was the screening/Q&A complete free, but also as many complimentary beverages and snacks as we wanted (As Lorraine would say, "an absolute dream!").
The Future is Now! Left to right: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Huey Lewis, Bob Gale, at AMC Loews Lincoln Square, NYC, October 21, 2015. Photo: Jeremy Clowe.
After the full crowd settled in, an announcer welcomed us all, and began to introduce the cast and filmmakers: Donald Fullilove ("Mayor Goldie Wilson"), Claudia Wells ("Jennifer"), and Alan Silvestri (whose stirring musical score for the trilogy still inspires me to this day)... the crowd went wild, and then it was time to welcome the group taking part in the Q&A: musician Huey Lewis (his hit "Power of Love," featured in the first movie, still gets me going), screenwriter Bob Gale, and actors Lea Thompson (Lorraine), Christopher Lloyd (Doc), and Michael J. Fox (Marty). A standing ovation...and rightfully so! All involved seemed to be having a blast, and I had to pinch myself that I was actually witnessing a live reunion of my favorite movie series of all-time. There were some fun questions, including Fox talking about playing his daughter Marlene in the second movie, and "riding" the hoverboard. I'm still looking for the full talk, but you can view a short, edited version here.
One last look into the future, courtesy of "USA Today." AMC Loews Lincoln Square, NYC. October 21, 2015. Photo: Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.
All this set the stage for a screening of Back To The Future II, which I hadn't seen on the big screen in about 25 years. As the music swelled, cast appeared on screen for the first time, or bad guy Biff slammed into another manure-filled truck, the theater cheered. It was great fun seeing the film with other fans, as enthusiastic as I was. After the screening I spent time chatting with other fans, took photos of those dressed up as characters from the films, and handed out flyers for our BTTF-themed event at the Museum. However, the late hour reminded me that where I was going I needed roads. My train and car ride delivered me back home at the ungodly hour of 3 a.m., but it was absolutely worth it. A memorable experience, capped off by the front cover of USA Today the next morning, made to look like it did from the second film (great marketing move there).
But no rest for the weary... I still had to finalize details for the Museum's weekend festival, including the transportation of vehicles; the framing of our signed Drew Struzan movie print, donated by the artist; preparing of display items and a Powerpoint for our speakers; and continuing press outreach. There was certainly a lot of excitement in the air surrounding the event, and it propelled me forward (despite my lack of sleep).
Where these guys are going, they don't need roads! Jeffrey Rothenberg (DeLorean) and Jeff Chabotte (Griff's actual flying BMW) at Norman Rockwell Museum's "Back In Time" festival. Photo: Jeremy Clowe/Norman Rockwell Museum
The day of the event arrived, and I drove to the Museum while listening to a live, rebroadcast of the BTTF-themed MyExit show I had created for WEXT (perfect timing!). The entrance to the Museum unfolded to reveal a handful of classic, vintage cars, which really did make it look like you had traveled "back in time." I greeted car and BTTF enthusiast, Jeff Chabotte from Connecticut, who I had discovered lived an hour and a half away and owned an actual car used in the movie series; I told him how I had just seen Griff's flying BMW on the big screen during the New York City screening. Jeff very personable with fans and visitors, and even let me take Griff's hover-converted car for a spin; I was excited, but a little cautious, since the vehicle was up for auction later that day (it sold for over $32K We also had to have a DeLorean (the signature car in the movie series), and local owner Jeffrey Rothenberg was equally gracious with his time, letting kids (of all ages) sit behind his "time machine." There were a number of other beautiful cars on site that day—from the early 1900s to 1980s; you can view an album of some of my photos on Norman Rockwell Museum's Facebook page. As if that wasn't enough, we also had Halloween arts and crafts for kids, and I invited my friend, DJ/musician Mike O'Brien to spin some golden oldies and karaoke for the crowd (my "Elvis" made a return to the grounds of the Museum, literally feet away from my office).
Celebrating the art of cinema, with Robert U. Taylor, production designer, "Back To The Future: The Ride," and donated sign print from Drew Struzan, during "Back in Time" festival at NRM. Photo: Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.
Later in the day, I presented my own Q&A with Berkshire-based filmmakers, Robert U. Taylor and Dai Ban, who worked on Back To The Future: The Ride with special effects wizard, Doug Trumbull. It was great to make that local connection, and the full crowd seemed to enjoy learning about and seeing what went into this pre-CGI immersive experience. Taylor mentioned that it would sometimes take a full day just to film less than a minute of stop-motion footage: you can see the impressive results yourself on the 30th anniversary of the Back To The Future series, which was just released on DVD and BluRay. From there I hustled to prepare for our main feature: a screening of the new Back To The Future documentary, Back in Time. The film looks at the cultural impact of the enduring movie series, and offers interviews with cast, crew, and filmmakers, as well as fans and artists inspired by Back To The Future.
Prior to the screening, I spoke to the crowd about my own fondness for the films, and how they had inspired me. My talk and the screening was complemented by a small display of some of my BTTF collectibles, the donated Drew Struzan poster, and a room filled with Norman Rockwell's entire 323 Saturday Evening Post covers, evoking the mood of the first movie. It was a wonderful way to cap off this memorable day, where I was able to get creative while celebrating the art of the cinema I have enjoyed for many years.
I'll wrap things up by describing one of the unexpected highlights of the "Back in Time" day for me. As part of my Marty McFly costume, I wanted to pay tribute to skateboarding, which the main character does throughout the series. I actually started boarding as a teen, after seeing that first movie (I even had the brand of skateboard Marty used); I wasn't bad, and remember being able to do a handful of impressive moves. I decided to pick up a used board to bring along to the event.
It had been nearly 25 years since I tried out my skateboarding skills, but I gave it a go during the event. The ground surface wasn't perfect, but I started to get the hang of it. Before long, a group of kids started running alongside me, impressed with the activity and wanting to give a go on the board themselves. I felt like a pied piper, as several mini-Marty McFlys took their own spin at skateboarding, and one adorable little boy said to me, "you're my favorite." Back to the future, full circle... could it get any better than that? Last night I retired my McFly outfit (for now), by singing some of those 80s "golden oldies" with friends at Mike's karaoke bar for Halloween. As Huey Lewis sang, "don't take money, don't take fame, don't need no credit card to ride this train..." That's the power of love, and I wouldn't change a thing about this past week.
Roz Chast details the fine art of blogging... Courtesy: Roz Chast. All rights reserved.
The busy fall foliage season is winding down at Norman Rockwell Museum, and we celebrated in grand style yesterday with our "Back in Time" family cruise-in, featuring a classic car show and tribute to the 30th anniversary of Back To The Future. I was responsible for the latter, and couldn't be more pleased with how the event came together...it was one of the best days I have had in some time. I'll talk more about this, the other unique event I experience last Wednesday ("Future Day"), and provide a more thorough post about my all-time favorite movie, in the days to come.
For now, we bid farewell to Roz Chast: Cartoon Memoirs, which closes tomorrow, October 26. It has been a lot of fun working on this exhibition—not only creating the video (which one of my co-workers rather sincerely and kindly called, "a work of art in itself"), but spending some time with the artist herself. I had, once again, the unique opportunity to get to know a successful and influential artist, working in a medium I am passionate about.
Last August I spent the afternoon with the cartoonist, driving her to New Haven, CT, for a special radio interview I arranged for her with my friends at WNPR Radio. Roz is not a big fan of driving, so I acted as her chauffeur for the day; I also appeared as a guest during a portion the segment, which you can listen to here.
Keep Calm... and Mind The Cartoonist! With Roz Chast and WNPR's Colin McEnroe. Courtesy: Lydia Brown/WNPR
That late summer radio interview went well, gave us some great publicity for the exhibition, and I totally enjoyed Roz's company for the day; what I did not anticipate was feeling like I was in one of her cartoons!
Before arriving at Roz's home/studio in southwestern Connecticut, I inadvertently drowned my smartphone (don't ask). Previously running ahead of schedule, I now found myself frantically trying to mop up the thoroughly drenched device...as the minutes began ticking. Trying my best to look upbeat, I finally arrived at the artist's home, and we hightailed it to New Haven.
But the fun didn't stop there... suddenly we found ourselves stuck in mid-afternoon traffic, and the grey clouds started to form over my head, as I crossed my fingers that we would make it in time for the live interview. It worked out, with moments to spare, as we dashed from the nearby parking garage into the nearby studio, and proceeded with the interview. All went well and we caught an enjoyable lunch together, but when we returned to my car, I couldn't figure out how to get out of the garage...the gate was not accepting my credit cards, and there was no attendant in sight! We eventually tracked one down and got out of the "prison cell," and made our way back to Ridgefield.
Not so fast, mister... after a few miles, we realized that my GPS was taking us in a completely wrong direction, and pulled over to attempt to reroute ourselves. At this point in the day, I wondered if I might find myself pictured in one of her quirky, New Yorker cartoons in the weeks to come... it was so neurotic... and totally me, not Roz (who was understanding, good-spirited, and funny as always). It reminded me of a question I had asked her last winter during our interview for the exhibition video. Here is an edited clip, where you hear me ask her about people recognizing themselves in her work:
Don't get me wrong... I was honored to spend the day with the artist, and we spent most of the afternoon talking about cartoons and comic art, which was my first real artistic passion and what I saw myself doing as a career in later years. What a wonderful opportunity and insight...it made me want to pick up a pencil and paper, and get cartooning again myself.
Greetings from the future! DeLorean/hoverboard courtesy: Jeff Rothenberg
On this date at precisely 4:29 p.m., time travelers Dr. Emmett Brown and Marty McFly will descend on Hill Valley, California, from the year 1985...making movie history! Let's all give them a warm welcome, shall we?
And how! This month, media and fans have been talking up a storm about the 30th anniversary ofBack To The Futureand the arrival of Future Day (October 21, 2015, as depicted in the second film from 1989). I couldn't be more happier... as a fantasy film geek, it's fun to see how many things from the future did or did not pan out (how about those hoverboards?!?)
Back To The Future has to be my all-time favorite movie, and the combination of the first and second films (and their clever storytelling, performances, and effects) is really what inspired my idea to pursue filmmaking (for better or worse). In any event, I've been looking for the opportunity to celebrate the occasion, and this weekend it will become reality, as Norman Rockwell Museum will be presenting a "Back in Time" family festival, assembled in "heavy" amounts by your's truly.
This Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET, you can hear me and my colleague Rich Bradway on Pittsfield, MA radio station, Star 101.7, describing how this unique event came together. Rich, our new Director of Digital Learning + Engagement, has experience with and came up with the idea for a classic car show, and I proposed enhancing it with a celebration of all things BTTF in time for the anniversary. Yes, we will have a DeLorean on display!
In addition, I managed to line up a real, honest to goodness, flying automobile that appeared in the second movie. I contacted car owner, Jeff Chabotte, from Connecticut, after seeing this great video about how he restored the character Griff's Hover BMW:
The car is actually up for auction during the huge "We're Going Back" celebration, being held on the same day as our event in Los Angeles, California. Disclosure: it doesn't really fly (and actually needs a lift getting here), so this may be your first and last chance to see the car. Pretty exciting.
Designs on the future: Robert U. Taylor shows me examples of his production design for "Back To The Future: The Ride." Photo: JC
Another connection I made is with local filmmakers who worked on the acclaimed "Back To The Future: The Ride" for Universal Studios. I had heard that film visionary Doug Trumbull (2010, Blade Runner) had put this ride film together with a crew from the Berkshires, where he is based, but I did not know until last week that the film was literally created down the road from the Museum, in one of the old paper mills. I have lined up the ride film's production assistant, Robert U. Taylor, and model maker, Dai Ban, and they will join us on Saturday as well, to talk about their experience bringing the movie series to life. They lent some great illustrations, photos, and video, that we will be sharing.
This afternoon I also received a rare, signed print from movie poster artist, Drew Struzan, who created the iconic posters for all three movies. This was very exciting (and generous on his part), and I expect that it will be a highlight among a small display of objects (I have quite a few that I have collected over the years, including issues of the old Back To The Future fan club, which was active during the release of the second and third movies).
Great Scott, I almost forgot to mention: we will be screening the new documentary, Back in Time, which looks at the cultural impact of the film trilogy. I have previewed the film, and it's very well-done, including interviews with fellow fans, screenwriter Bob Gale, director Robert Zemeckis, executive producer/Norman Rockwell Museum trustee Steven Spielberg, and members of the cast, including Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd... "heavy" indeed!
Well... it's all about time, and I'm running out of it, but I will share more soon... "the future" has yet to be truly written!
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” ― Søren Kierkegaard
"Is it life or just to play..." Taking on 1985- again.
Try as I might, I can't seem to escape 1985...even after all of these years. Is it nostalgia for a simpler time? Remembering myself as a teenager, starting to get the hang of things? All I know is that I am constantly reminded of that particular point in time and, in some cases, quite determined to collect as many memories as possible. This Monday, October 19, starting at 11 p.m. ET., I'm going to have some fun with the idea, hosting another MyExit show for my friends at WEXT, and going "back in time" to play some of my favorite music from that year. Coincidentally, the radio show will be broadcast on the 30th anniversary of the date that A-ha's "Take on Me" hit number one on the U.S. Billboard charts. One of the most glaring differences since then: I'm rather sick of the song...can you blame me? For the most part, that is all the band is known for here in the U.S., and mentioning that you're a fan tends to mark you as being stuck in the '80s (well, guess this post isn't helping).
Recent A-ha "sighting" in the U.S.
But, yeah, I can't avoid including some A-ha on Monday's show. As you know from this blog, I have been a pretty devoted follower of the band since 1985, when I could not stop playing their debut, Hunting High and Low (wore out that tape a couple times). The band has just released a super-deluxe version of the album, including about five discs worth of demos, alternate takes, previously unreleased songs, and the videos that helped make them famous. I'm even more excited about the news that next week they are giving a similar treatment to their later, more rock-oriented albumsfrom the 1990s: Memorial Beach and East of the Sun, West of the Moon; the latter came out around the time they earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for largest attendance (198,000 people) at the Rock in Rio festival in Brazil. Last month, they revisited that experience by headlining at the 30th anniversary of Rock in Rio. I know what you may be thinking... didn't they break up? Yes, they went on a world tour just five years ago dubbed "Ending on a High Note," citing irreconcilable differences (I made all of the handful of U.S. dates, and busted my ass to finally finish my documentary, utilizing the interviews I conducted with the band in 2005). Maybe the lure of playing Rock in Rio, making more money in celebration of their debut...etc. etc... was too hard to refuse? Nowadays, retiring seems a flexible concept... bands do this all the time...and last month A-ha released a brand new album of material, Cast in Steel. Surprisingly, I wanted to hate it. Putting aside the emotions lingering from their retirement five years ago, part of me just wanted to move on. Yet I couldn't shake the curiosity... bought the album, really dug it, and now I'm back to feeling a little conflicted about it. The title track is a return to form, though:
One nagging thought though (made more clear after doing more of my own music) is that singer Morten Harket needs to adjust to a more comfortable singing range. There are plenty of old clips of him really belting out and sustaining the high notes that are a hallmark of their early '80s work, but listening to their new material and watching last month's Rio concert, it sometimes seems a little forced. Come on, the man is 56 now... give him a break and transpose those notes. Musically, A-ha is still great (minus the repetitive, cheesy keyboard or two), but they would do one better to shake things up. Below is a clip from Rock in Rio 2015 where I think they're on the right track; it's an album cut from the previously mentioned East of the Sun album, called "Sycamore Leaves." This live version harkens back to their prog-rock beginnings, which I covered in my documentary, and seems miles away (in a good, progressive way) from "Take On Me." Simply put, it looks like they are having fun, giving it some soul, and enjoying being back together for the right reasons:
As you'll hear in Monday's MyExit special, I actually find myself traveling "ahead" more than I do back... my tastes may be changing. However, I am well aware of my attraction to a retro vibe (come on, have you heard the dreck they call most modern top 40 radio?!) Nowadays, I find comfort and great musicianship in classic soul and the blues. I don't think I'm alone... hell, even vinyl has made a comeback.
Objects in the rear view mirror are closer than they appear... Photo: Yutaka Nishimura / Rhino
So,sometimes the past = present: the Mets, "Bloom County," even Classic (aka Mexican) Coke have made comebacks (thankfully, New Coke remains forever trapped in 1985). As I have wrote earlier this year, I'd love to see a DVD release of that "future superstar" 84/85 season of Saturday Night Live; I still enjoy and have become known for singing some of those classic '80s tunes; and... my favorite movie of all-time, also from 1985, is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary in a big, 1.21 jigawatts way... Great Scott! Back To The Future should be everywhere this upcoming week, as we finally reach October 21, 2015, the date that Marty and Doc traveled into the future. For a child of the '80s and fantasy movie geek like me, it is too cool to resist. I am going so far as to put together a "Back in Time" family festival next weekend at my workplace, to celebrate the occasion. But I think I'm getting ahead of (or behind) myself. This deserves a blog post all it's own. So expect more reflections on time (and travel) in the days ahead...
This past month marks my fifteenth year at Norman Rockwell Museum. Originally starting as a docent, giving talks about the Norman Rockwell's life and career, I now serve as one of the Museum's chief spokespeople in my role as manager of media services. Time flies, and I can't believe how much I now know of the artist and the field of illustration.
So, as I'm often asked, what's new at the Museum? Well, our exhibition, We The Peoples: Norman Rockwell's United Nations was a big success at the United Nations Headquarters. I am particularly proud that this exhibition came out, since it is my video about Rockwell's 1953 United Nations drawing that caught the eye of the peacekeeping organization, and inspired the show to mark its 70th anniversary. Nearly 70,000 people, including important delegates, are estimated to have viewed the exhibition (which included my video) during its run.
Celebrating the "Golden Rule": Pope Francis and United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon share a Norman Rockwell moment at the UN. Photo courtesy: Samir Afridi/UN
Although the exhibition officially ended on September 15, the Museum continued to loan Rockwell's drawing and Golden Rule painting, in order for the UN to share the works with visiting dignitaries. High on that list was Pope Francis, who stopped by the UN this past month during his first visit to the United States. Alerted by my UN counterpart to his planned visit earlier in the week, I was charmed when he finally sent us photos of the pontiff admiring this beautiful painting from our collection. Just the day before the Pope referenced the concept of "the golden rule" during his historic address to Congress (I like the guy!), so it seemed a fitting backdrop. Days later, President Obama was introduced to the United Nations drawing during his visit, and apparently was impressed (remarking that he would like a copy). All in all, a great way to cap off this historic opportunity for the Museum; I felt honored to have played a part.
Fearless: with Rockwell model, Marjorie Coulter, "Freedom From Fear." Courtesy: Norman Rockwell Museum.
The concept of "we the peoples" works so perfectly with Norman Rockwell's work, as he seemed to capture the hopes and aspirations of the general public from the twentieth century to this day. Since my earliest days at the Museum, I have taken it upon myself to document the stories of those people who worked with the artist. People were the focus of Rockwell's work, and so his models played an important role. As I told the website BerkshireStyle, "he made all the models very at ease, even the young children. He was a very personable individual and was able to get the expressions he wanted."
Over the years I have captured nearly 100 videotaped interviews with Rockwell models, that now serve as an important document for the Museum's archives. I have heard many stories over the years, yet still can be surprised...as I was back in 2009 when a woman named Marjorie Coulter visited and informed us that she was one of the young children in Rockwell's Freedom From Fear, part of his iconic Four Freedoms series:
Every first Friday of the month, the Museum holds a "Meet Rockwell's Models" program, where visitors have the opportunity to meet the figures presented in his work. Marjorie joined us in September, and for October I invited a woman named Pauline Adams Grimes to share her memories.
I had first met Pauline back in 2001 during a big Rockwell models reunion that we held at the Museum; that is when I started videotaping models' oral histories, yet only managed to film a few remarks of her remarks. Eight years later, I traveled out to Arlington, Vermont, with one of my colleagues to attend a model reunion being held in the town that Rockwell called home, before moving to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and finally managed to sit down with Pauline and capture her story.
Pauline and her siblings were introduced to Norman Rockwell back in the early 1950s, by folk artist/neighbor Grandma Moses, who knew that Rockwell was looking for a multi-ethnic crowd to appear in a sketch he was working on about the United Nations. The family posed for several photos in Rockwell’s Arlington studio, and Pauline ended up pictured in the bottom right of the drawing. Although traveling to the UN’s headquarters to conduct research and photograph actual delegates to appear in the illustration, Rockwell eventually put the image aside (and revisited the concept for the painting Golden Rule in 1960, which featured Pauline's brother Paul).
Rockwell model Pauline Adams Grimes exploring NRM's archives, Oct. 2015. Photo: Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.
Prior to the opening of We The Peoples, I tried to contact Pauline to let her know about the exhibition. I wasn't sure if she ever received my phone or post card, until I finally heard back from her at the end of the summer; she was thrilled to learn about the show and the existence of the drawing, and ended up visiting the UN with her family to view the original illustration for the first time (and meeting the UN's Deputy Secretary-General); "It was beautiful," she later remarked. "More than I ever dreamed it would be."
This aspect of my job has been one of my favorites: seeing the joy that Rockwell's work creates for people, and being able to help facilitate that and even introduce to new audiences. The fall is our busiest season, and as I helped greet the dozens of tour buses that arrived daily to view the vibrant art and foliage, I couldn't help but remember my start giving gallery talks at the Museum over a decade ago.
One of my newest tasks is being appointed editor-in-chief of our members' magazine (who says print is dead?), and so I continue to play an important role at the Museum, through my knowledge, creativity, and own passion for the arts. If only my father, an admirer of Rockwell's work and artist in his own right, could see me now.
