Cracking The Code

I had a text from my Uncle the other night, saying that he heard me on the radio. Yeah, it's a new age... 

Time to replace magnifying glass with smartphone?...
“Art Critic,” Norman Rockwell, 1955.
Norman Rockwell Museum Collections.
©SEPS: Curtis Publishing, Indianapolis, IN

The occasion was an interview I gave to WAMC, the Albany, NY, NPR affiliate, about local museums' use of technology. It was a perfect time to again highlight our new exhibition, Norman Rockwell: Happily Ever After, which offers visitors the chance to use their phones/tablets to access enhanced content related to the artwork (including my videotaped interviews). This is made possible through QR code links, which really seem to be everywhere nowadays... Sarah was just commenting how she found them on grapes recently in the grocery store. Seriously... grapes?

Anyway, it's an interesting radio segment− you also get to hear a couple of the model interviews I have conducted at the Museum over the years. 

Like the recent Wall Street Journal article, I was interested to hear what other organizations are initiating in terms of technology. The delightfully rural Hancock Shaker Village has even begun installing computer kiosks and renting iPads. I think it must be more of a challenge to preserve the authenticity of a historic site, while bringing in modern tools to assist and engage visitors. Ultimately, it requires good design− it seems pretty obvious when organizations are falling over themselves to bring out the latest technological fad, without any real benefit to the original content.

So what have I been up to this Saturday morning (besides this quick blog post)? Kicking back and enjoying a book. Happy to report that no QR code is required.

Related Links:

"Local Museums Embracing Technology," WAMC Radio, August 15, 2013

"Historical Sites Welcome Kids Who Love to Text," Wall Street Journal, July 31, 2013

Great Scots

Jeremy with the "invisible band" (left to right: Neil Primrose,
Andy Dunlop, and Fran Healy. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

One of my favorite bands, Travis has a new LP coming out next week. Where You Stand is the seventh studio album for the Scottish quartet, due out here in the States on Tuesday, August 20. Rolling Stone is currently providing an advance streaming of the album on their website, and I gave it a full listen during my extremely rainy ride to work this morning (perhaps appropriate for the band known for their hit, "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?"). As the magazine points out, Travis' talent for creating big melodies remains intact!

I had a chance to interview Travis in Boston back in 2007, and enjoyed talking with them about their songwriting process (yeah, I should post the full interview online... I know). There is a hint of melancholy in their music, which I have always found attractive. On this new album, I also sense a new maturity... the songs breathe a little easier than on their last effort. Solid musicianship rings throughout.

One of the highlights is the song, "Moving," which has been getting some airplay on our local station WEXT. According to a video documenting the recording of the album, lead singer Fran Healy actually dove into the ocean near their studio to get the proper "adrenaline" to hit the high notes for the chorus (there's a funny clip where he runs right back up to lay down his vocals following his "polar bear" outing). Check out the song and it's very cool video (the visual effects were created during actual filming- not post- using film clips projected on to the band members' breath!). 

Return to form? Looking forward to it!



Related Links:

www.travisonline.com

"Travis' Big Melodies Intact on 'Where You Stand' - Album Premiere," Rolling Stone, August 12, 2013

Travis- "Berkshire Soundstage" preview (interview with Jeremy), YouTube

Made in America

Norman Rockwell Museum video interview with illustrator Wendell Minor.
Photo by Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon starting work on a new video project: a short documentary for our upcoming exhibition on illustrator Wendell Minor. Known for his many acclaimed children's books, Minor's art touches on his love of history and the environment. Wendell Minor's America will showcase original artworks, artifacts, and references from such picture books as Look to the Stars (by astronaut Buzz Aldrin); Abraham Lincoln Comes Home; and America the Beautiful. 

Wendell Minor's studio. Photo by Jeremy Clowe
for Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

Along with Norman Rockwell Museum's Chief Curator Stephanie Plunkett, I traveled to Minor's home in Washington, Connecticut, to conduct the interview. I was lucky to once again borrow a Sony NXCAM HXR-NX5U to do the filming. We set up the interview in Minor's studio, which he shares with his wife/collaborator Florence, and it went well. The artist has a decent amount of light coming through the window near his workspace, which hopefully served us well. I used a reflector to warm up some of the background.

During our visit, I found myself appreciating the Minors' decorative sense− sort of a mix between Southwestern and Eastern U.S. This was actually my second visit to the couple's home− the first was back in 2004 when I interviewed Wendell Minor at length for my documentary Drawing Inspiration: Norman Rockwell in Stockbridge (Rockwell was a strong influence on the artist).

Wendell Minor's America opens November 9 at Norman Rockwell Museum. I'll have more details on the exhibition and video in the coming months. In the meantime, here is a promo video that the artist put together for the exhibition, which gives you an idea of his work: 



Related Link:

Wendell Minor's website

Spokesmanship

"Hey girl..." doing my best Ryan Gosling
to impress you. Photo by Ben Garver
for The Berkshire Eagle. All rights reserved.

Ok, it must be pretty evident by now that in addition to writing/video producing, one of my main duties at Norman Rockwell Museum is spokespersoning (Not a word? Should be). Honestly, it's something like performing... and storytelling. I am proud of what I have accomplished in this regard over the past decade, and today comes my second appearance in The Wall Street Journal. 

Norman Rockwell Museum is included in a feature about historic sites/museums utilizing new media/technology to attract new audiences; I was interviewed at length last week about our digital initiatives, and they use a quote in today's paper about our new exhibition, Norman Rockwell: Happily Ever After. This new experiment involves visitors using their smartphones or tablets to access content available through QR codes placed near the paintings. In addition to Rockwell's reference photos, the model videos mentioned in the article were created by me—some are quite old... recorded not long after I started at the Museum in 2001. As you may know, I have been involved with other technological initiatives during my time at the Museum, including exhibition videos, an interactive timeline and Google Art Project, but this is the first effort involving gallery material accessible by portable devices. Anyway, it's a cool idea... we'll see how it pans out. It's also interesting to read about the technological efforts and concerns from other venues listed in the article. On top of that, they use one of my photos on the newspaper's front page (reproduced here)!

Photo by Jeremy Clowe for Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

Of course I wish I had more time to create videos, but there is something rewarding about acting as a spokesperson... makes all those public speaking classes pay off. It's also interesting to see how often I am misquoted or my name is misspelled/mispronounced (eh, that's "Clowe," rhymes with "the show")... you have to let it roll off your back, I guess... ultimately, it is all about promoting the venue and work. 

On that note, here is another interview I gave to The Berkshire Eagle a few weeks back for an article about low-cost opportunities at the area's cultural organizations. Perhaps the best quote in the article comes from my wife's cousin Vicki, who has been a long-time member of the Museum (I actually met her years before meeting Sarah!): "I've been to other museums in different states and countries, and a lot of them are stuffy. The Norman Rockwell Museum isn't like that -- everyone is friendly. They take a personal interest in you." 

Well-said.

Grab a chair! Representing the Museum and Norman Rockwell in the
artist's studio. Photo by Ben Garver for The Berkshire Eagle.
All rights reserved.

Related Links:

"Historic Sites Welcome Kids Who Love to Text," The Wall Street Journal, August 1, 2013

"Norman Rockwell Museum: Where 'everybody is friendly," Berkshire Eagle, June 25, 2013

High Fidelity

Back in Rochester for my birthday weekend. I had a great time yesterday catching up with friends and family... even a lobster dinner and bonfire in the mix! Year is off to a good start.

Today I enjoyed an early morning jog around town, and was home in time to listen to the rebroadcast of our My Exit show over breakfast. Thanks for the nice comments for those who listened in. Here is what we played for our anniversary playlist:

Dancing on air... photo by John Whipple for Jeremy and
Sarah Clowe. All rights reserved.

-"Strange Effect" live- Diego Garcia, "iTunes Live from Soho" EP

-"Under My Thumb"- The Rolling Stones- "Forty Licks" 

-"Lips Like Sugar"- Echo & The Bunnymen- "Ballyhoo: The Best of Echo & The Bunnymen"

-"There Is A Light That Never Goes Out"- The Smiths, "The Queen Is Dead"

-"You Can't Hurry Love"- Stray Cats, "Runaway Boys: A Retrospective '81-'92"

-"Cry To Me"- Solomon Burke, "Ultimate Dirty Dancing"

-"Get Up Offa That Thing"- James Brown, "20 All Time Greatest Hits!"

-"Say Hey (I Love You)"- Michael Franti and Spearhead, "All Rebel Rockers"

-"Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key"- Billy Bragg & Wilco, "Mermaid Avenue"

-"In My Life"- The Beatles, "Rubber Soul"

-"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"- Coldplay, "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" single

-"Analogue" (live)- A-ha, "Ending On a High Note"

-"Scarlet Begonias"- Grateful Dead, "From the Mars Hotel"

-"I Found You"- Alabama Shakes, "Boys & Girls"

I would love to do more radio... I miss the days when I had a regular show here in Rochester on WBER-- I have been listening to the station since I have been home, and recognize a few of the DJs. 

If you're in the Capital Region this weekend and up at the crack of dawn, you can catch me on Radio Disney Albany's "Backyard Show" this Sunday, July 28, at 6 a.m. I am the featured guest, talking about the Snow White exhibition and other happenings at Norman Rockwell Museum. You might be able to stream it online as well.

I have also heard that a recorded interview I gave to WGBH radio has been making the rounds during NPR stations' broadcasting of Tanglewood concerts. Again, talking about the Museum and our summer lineup.

Who knows... maybe my radio days are just getting started again...

Related Link:

"My Exit: Jeremy and Sarah Clowe," All Over Albany, July 22, 2013

Sound of Sunshine

Wow. What a great week this has been for music. 

Take me out! Franz Ferdinand, live on Letterman. Photo by Jeremy Clowe. 
All rights reserved.

Thanks to all who tuned into our radio show this past Monday. Sarah and I were heading back from the Franz Ferdinand concert in New York City that evening, and were able to catch the live streaming of the show off our phone. I really think Sarah sounded great, and I enjoyed our banter and song selections. For those who missed it, WEXT will rebroadcast our My Exit show this Saturday, July 27, 8 a.m. ET. 

Franz Ferdinand shining light on the dark of the
matinee. Photo by Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Franz Ferdinand was fantastic. We queued up outside of the Ed Sullivan Theater an hour or so before showtime, and caught a glimpse of Paul Shaffer as he left the building following that evening's taping of The Late Show (no sign of Dave Letterman though). It really was interesting being inside of the historic theater, seeing the stage set in-person and realizing how small the venue actually is (I kept thinking that this was where the Beatles made their U.S. debut!) Franz Ferdinand ran through a rocking, energetic set... seriously, I was completely in my element, dancing in the aisles to the band's infectious blend of angular, artsy, indie rock. FF have been consistent songwriters over the years, and I loved hearing many favorites (especially The Dark of the Matinee!). Their new stuff sounds solid as well. 

After the show, which was streamed live on the Letterman website, we were able to meet the Scottish rockers... a real treat! The following day we relived the concert by watching the webcast, still dumbfounded by how small the studio is. You can catch the show here and, if you're look close enough, see me raise my arm in triumphant indie rocker glory.

JC with Alex Kapranos, lead singer of Franz Ferdinand.
Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Last night we kept the live music theme going by checking out roots rocker JD McPherson  at The Ale House, a very small pub in nearby Troy, New York. I only found out last week about this last-minute show, and I was elated! I have been waiting for McPherson to play in the area... hell... even the East Coast, since I first heard his music a year ago (his album Signs & Signifiers was high on my list of favorite albums for 2012). 

JD McPherson and band rocking out The Ale House, Troy, NY,
July 2013. Photo by Jeremy Clowe. ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

This show really was intimate... it felt like we were in the band's living room! The brick and mortar design of the pub lent a real throwback atmosphere to the gig. Rockabilly at its finest, and McPherson did not disappoint! I mentioned before how, as a performer myself, I am a little intimidated by his vocals... he brings such raw energy and conviction. Real soul. The music has a similar quality... in fact, we met the band after the gig and spoke with them at good length about how they deliberately sought out vintage equipment and recording methods (analogue vs. digital) to get the right groove for their first album. It was a truly memorable evening... a raw, feel-good vibe... the crowd loved the band, and they seemed to feed off of that energy. Sarah said she had a smile on her face the entire evening, and for me it was just a dream to see them in such a venue... Before last week, I had been tempted to drive out again to the Newport Folk Festival, where they are playing this Friday, but they finally came to our backyard. A special evening... I hope they will return soon.

Mr. and Mrs. C with JD. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

This weekend we are heading back to my hometown to visit friends and family. Really looking forward to getting away... with music blaring from the car radio, of course.

Related Links:

Exit 97.7 WEXT (listen live)

www.franzferdinand.com

www.jdmcpherson.com

Live on Letterman

Music To Our Ears

Tonight's the night! Tune into Our Exit show on WEXT. To celebrate our anniversary, Sarah and I play some of our favorite songs, and I think you'll enjoy the results. You can get a preview today on the site All Over Albany, and listen live to the broadcast at 11 p.m. this evening on the station's website.



Speaking of music, Sarah and I are on our way to New York City this afternoon to attend a taping of Live on Letterman, featuring Scottish indie rock band, Franz Ferdinand. Our first time seeing the band, so we're excited... and cool to know that the venue is where the Beatles made their North American debut (Ed Sullivan Theater). You can watch a live stream of the concert here.

Related Links:

http://exit977.org

"My Exit: Jeremy and Sarah Clowe," All Over Albany, July 22, 2013

www.cbs.com/shows/liveonletterman