Lefty Centered

the horse whisperer. photo ©Blueeyed Soul Productions. 

Back in Hudson for a good part of the day, after stealing away in the Capital Region for the last week or so. There is something calming and centering about being back at my family's old farmhouse... I think it might be good to get back there and do some concentrated work soon.

We also raided my storage and picked up a few items to bring back to Sarah's place... ulp! Looks like it's really happening... we're sharing furniture now! Organizing nut that I am, it feels good to find some things to help the feng shui around here. I'm a pretty big believer in that... it helps me, anyway.

This evening we continued our search for wedding rings. I'm not really a jewelry guy, so it's a new process. Funny that a bigger band looks better on my finger, while Sarah's engagement ring looks better when paired with a smaller band. Anyway, we've got some good ideas and similar taste. Maybe the energy of the ring's metals will also have a grounding effect on me... at least it will be a pleasant reminder of someone else who does.

Lit Graphics

Ok, I admit it. I'm more than a little excited about the opening of the movie The Avengers this May. What does that say about me? Yeah. Deep down I'm still a comic book fanboy at heart. 

I would go on to say that reading comics faithfully as a kid through young adult taught me some great lessons about visual storytelling and design. Hell, I still pick them up from time to time and there's some great new works that expand on some of the traditional conventions--it has become a real art form.

I'm glad that Norman Rockwell Museum realized this as well, and decided to mount the 2007 exhibition LitGraphic: The World of the Graphic Novel. I had the chance to work on a video for the exhibit, and it was a great thrill. If you missed it at the Rockwell, the show is now touring and will open at the Munson Williams Proctor Art Institute in Utica, New York, this Sunday. In addition to my video, check out the amazing Lynd Ward's Gods' Man, a beautiful series of wood engravings that were used to illustrate a wordless picture book... back in 1929! 

I might try and attend tomorrow's opening, and will see about blogging more about the subject. In the meantime, here's a clip with two of the exhibited artists, whose work I was very pleased to learn more about: Mark Kalesniko (Alex, Mail Order Bride) and Marc Hempel (Sandman, Breathtaker, MAD Magazine). I used music in the video from Marc's band, as well as from his colleague Mark Wheatley. Zap! Biff! POW!

Don't Stop Believin'

Well, yesterday was pretty strange after all. The last day of February, and we finally had our first winter storm (thankfully, no frogs). Also, news that Davy Jones of the Monkees has died.


Obsessed Beatles fan that I was, it was hard to resist the Monkees’ charms during their comeback in the 1980s. MTV started running marathons of their old TV show, and I remember me and my sister seriously getting hooked during a rather stressful time for our family (even saw them in concert a couple times). Great, silly stuff that definitely paved the way for music videos, and probably a few of my own improv skits. And the Monkees had some great songs too: "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" sounds like it was punk ahead of it's time! I learned that they were criticized for not playing their own instruments at the beginning, but as a manufactured band, they sure made up for it with great session musicians, writers, and their energetic performances.





It’s hard to believe that Davy Jones could get old. The video of him doing his funny little dance to “Daydream Believer” makes you think that he might stay forever young simian. Again reminding me to live and enjoy life to the fullest... like a Monkee. Hey, hey!


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
R.I.P. Davy!


Related Links:


"Davy Jones, Monkees Singer, Dies at 66," The New York Times, February 29, 2012
"The Monkees" Why I'm a Believer in Their Perfect Pop," The Guardian, March 1, 2012
The Legacy of the Monkees, Sound Opinions, February 18, 2011 

Look Before You Leap!

Happy Leap Year Day! Would have been a good day for a RBIT performance...





This is one of my favorite scenes from the 1999 movie Magnolia, a rather surreal moment where frogs literally rain from the skies. 


Listening to the radio this morning, I learned that Leap Year is a time when many women turn the tables and propose to men (hey... it might have happened, had I dragged my feet any longer!). Also, those born on this date are believed to have unusual gifts... and exactly how old are those babies? 


An odd day. Should be great. Today we have a photo crew at the Museum setting up a Christmas tree and train set, and there's no snow on the ground... in late February! This should be interesting. I didn't check the weather forecast... chance of frogs?

Farewell Mama Bear

News today that artist/author Jan Berenstain, co-creator of the Berenstain Bears children's books, died last Friday, February 24. Along with her husband, the late Stan Berenstain, she created over 300 books (over 40 years!) dedicated to a family of moral teaching cartoon bears.


I did not grow up with this series−my favorites as a kid were books like Maurice Sendak's Where The Wild Things Are and Golden Press' The Monster at the End of This Book (notice a trend?). I'm not sure I would have really cared for the Bears had I been exposed to them, but I am aware of how popular they have been with modern-day children (apparently my niece is their biggest fan). The fact that they get children to read is a good thing, hopefully leading to more.

I had the opportunity to meet Jan and Stan Berenstain back in 2002, when I traveled to their home in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, to conduct an interview for the Norman Rockwell Museum exhibition The Berenstain Bears Celebrate: The Art of Stan and Jan Berenstain. This was the first exhibition video I created for the Museum, so it meant a lot at the time. The exhibit and video would go on to travel, and were even on view at the Strong National Museum of Play, in my hometown of Rochester, New York. 


I thought the following sequence was the most effective part of the video, where we went into the couple's studio and learned about how they worked. This really was where they came to life and seemed the most comfortable. So here's to you, Jan and Stan... wishing you peace in that big treehouse in the sky.



Related Links:

"Jan Berenstain, Co-Creator Of Berenstain Bears, Dies," NPR, 2/28/12



"A bear-hug farewell to Jan Berenstain, cocreator of the Bear family," 
Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/28/12


"Jan Berenstain Dies at 88; Created Berenstain Bears," New York Times, 2/27/12

Hi de Hi de Hi Road

The great PBS series American Masters returns tonight with a program that sounds promising: Cab Calloway: Sketches takes a look at the legendary singer/dancer/bandleader, who was actually born in my hometown of Rochester, New York! Known for his popular 1930s novelty song, "Minnie the Moucher," he would go on to be a major star, breaking the color barrier in entertainment with his catchy jazz numbers, stylish zoot suits and dance moves that paved the way for Michael Jackson's "Moonwalk."

Watch Cab Calloway: Sketches on PBS. See more from American Masters.

Another reason I am anxious to see it is that is was produced by filmmaker Gail Levin, who I got to know back in 2008 through her involvement in the Norman Rockwell Museum exhibition Raw Nerve! The Political Art of Steve Brodner. Gail had created several mini-films with the illustrator, which tied in perfectly to the 2008 presidential election (God, has it already been four years?). The clips are great fun and fit in perfectly with the exhibition and mood around election time (they were originally created for PBS). 


Gail was also nice enough to offer me some advice on navigating the film and video production world. I was actually pleased to hear (from Steve Brodner) about this Cab Calloway documentary airing, because Gail had first told me about its completion back in 2010 (financed by the French/German consortium ARTE, and the Dutch production company AVRO). The fact that American Masters picked it up is a good sign, but also interesting for me to see another example of what it takes to produce and then properly distribute films.


So far I hear good reviews for the film, and it sounds like it is being presented in a unique way, similar to the old Gene Kelly movie where he dances with Jerry mouse. There are some animated sequences that bring Calloway to life to move with a dancer from Alvin Ailey. Not surprisingly, the artwork for the animation was created by Steve Brodner, who also appears in the film sketching the musician.


This reminds me of the fun I had filming Steve myself back during the Rockwell exhibition. Here are a few "musical" clips I created... it is an election year, after all... hi de hi de hi!!!

Keep me in a daydream, keep me going strong

Writing's on the wall: