Capturing the Spirit of the Capital Region

Egyptian art... by way of the Albany Institute collection.
Photo: Jeremy Clowe. ©Albany Institute of History & Art.

As if there wasn't enough to do around the Capital Region this weekend (LarkFest, Lake George Jazz Festival, apple picking!), this afternoon the Albany Institute of History & Art will be presenting a family day with an area theme (their new exhibit, "Capital Region in 50 Objects" opens today). Check out the program listing on their website (with photo taken by yours truly)... sounds like a fun afternoon! They'll be presenting scavenger hunts in the galleries, art in the studio (inspired by Iroquois History and Culture), face painting, traditional Native American storytelling, and a Nipper Look-Alike Contest (I'm trying to get our pup to master that cocked head pose). The event is free with regular museum admission.

AIHA is a great museum—be sure check out their sculpture galleries, and current 3D photography exhibition. Here are some promo photos I took recently of their equally impressive education program (what fine instructors!):

Learn more: www.albanyinstitute.org

Exhibitionist

A reminder that you can see examples of my exhibition video work for Norman Rockwell Museum at both the museum in Stockbridge, MA (Roz Chast: Cartoon Memoirs), and at the United Nations Visitors Centre in New York City (We The Peoples: Norman Rockwell's United Nations). 

I have been getting some nice compliments on both, and this week The New York Times has recommended the Roz Chast exhibition (and video!) in their "What to Do This Weekend" section. Enjoy... whatever your plans!

Toon-ing in with Roz Chast at Norman Rockwell Museum, July 2015. 
Photo: Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Peace Offering

Happy Anniversary! Celebrating in style at the United Nations.
June 29, 2015. Photo ©Jeremy Clowe. 

July is a good month for anniversaries (love you, Sarah).

This year I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention The United Nations. Actually, June 26, 1945 was the date that the original charter for the peacekeeping organization was signed in San Francisco.

Nearly 70 years to the date, I had the honor of attending two special events held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on June 30. The occasion was to celebrate We The Peoples: Norman Rockwell’s United Nations, a new exhibition organized by Norman Rockwell Museum to commemorate the UN’s 70th year, and I played an active role in coordinating an on-site press conference, and documenting and representing the Museum during an evening reception.

UN's "Golden Rule" mosaic (even more
impressive in person). Photo by Jeremy Clowe.

But it gets better. It turns out that I actually played a significant part in the inspiration for the exhibition.

A couple years ago, Samir Afridi, the UN’s senior communications officer, was giving a tour of the New York headquarters to his six-year-old nephew, who was particularly struck by a large mosaic of Norman Rockwell’s iconic Golden Rule illustration (a gift to the UN from the United States back in 1985). After trying to answer questions from the young boy, he turned to the internet to see if he could find any connection between Rockwell and the organization.

What he came across was a 2009 exhibition video I created and posted for Norman Rockwell Museum, detailing the conservation of United Nations, a little-known drawing created by Norman Rockwell. Inspired by the founding and goals of the organization, the artist began work on the drawing back in the early 1950s, going so far as to travel to New York to visit the then newly founded organization to conduct research and take reference photographs. Ambitious in theme, Rockwell never finished the work, but revisited his illustration of a group of world citizens for the Golden Rule painting in 1960 (removing the UN delegates, who they initially watched over in the drawing).

Both the drawing and painting are part of the Museum’s permanent collection, but the drawing had spent years in desperate need of repair, as you will see in the video (one of my favorites I have created over the years). Don’t try this at home!

My friend at the UN then decided to reach out the Museum, and discussions were underway between the two organizations about exhibiting the drawing at the UN’s Visitor Centre in time for its 70th anniversary. I first learned about the interest when Jan Eliasson, the UN’s Deputy Secretary-General, was slated to visit the Museum in Stockbridge last year to view the drawing and the rest of our collection. I was on-hand to photograph his visit, and it was nice to learn of his admiration for the video, and delight in viewing Rockwell’s artwork in person.

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon tours
the "We The Peoples" exhibition with Norman Rockwell Museum
Director, Laurie Norton Moffatt. Photo by Jeremy Clowe for
Norman Rockwell Museum. All rights reserved.

So, the last year has been spent preparing for the exhibition, which is now on view at the UN Headquarters through September 15, 2015. I don’t know if I have ever been so busy at the Museum: conducting press outreach, creating content, and working with the UN to coordinate our efforts. My work is not done, but I was pleased with how well the press conference and reception came together. I was pleased to have my wife on-hand to help me take photographs and share the experience in New York; we are both members of area peace action groups (I had previously filmed Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks during a New York Peace Action event five years ago), so it was meaningful for both us to be there. I also appreciated Secretary General Ban's remarks in recent essays that, "Rockwell’s United Nations, as the UN itself, remains an unfinished work." How fitting.

With civil rights era icon, Ruby Bridges at the United Nations,
June 29, 2015. Photo by Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Also in attendance for the opening was Ruby Bridges, whose historic walk to integrate Southern schools back in the late 1950s inspired Rockwell’s The Problem We All Live With painting; I had interviewed Ruby over ten years ago for the Museum, and enjoyed meeting her again (I was especially interested in talking to her about her cousin, Leon Bridges, a talented soul musician who is generating a lot of buzz lately!). Everyone seemed in good spirits about this event, and it was certainly great outreach for the Museum.

Peaceful display at the UN. Photo by Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

Regarding the exhibition, our curatorial team has done a great job with the display, and I was really pleased to see my video included in the exhibition. There have been many meaningful efforts that I have been involved with at the Museum over the years, but I must say that here is an instance where it all came together (creativity, communications, artistic appreciation) and supported a cause that I wholeheartedly believe in. 

Peace.

Related Links:

Norman Rockwell Museum's United Nations exhibition site

"Museum Celebrates 70th Anniversary of The United Nations," Jeremy Clowe, Norman Rockwell Museum website

Peace Action New York State

United Nations

Infinity (and Beyond)

Infinite possibilities: I have fond memories of Hartford and my alma mater,
including the creativity that came out of the Hartford Art School...
I still love visiting and seeing the students' work. Photo by JC, 2015.

Earlier this week I wrote about my recent interview with WNPR for their program, Where We Live. The Hartford-based NPR station is part of the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, located just down from where I used to live.

In addition to their quality radio programming, CPBN appears to produce some fine TV shows as well. The one I am most intrigued by is Infinity Hall Live, a nationally-syndicated program, filmed at the historic Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, Connecticut. Think "Austin City Limits: the East Coast version"... from what I have seen, the show is an entertaining mix of performances and interviews with national music acts. The show seems similar, in concept, to what I have attempted to do with my own Berkshire Soundstage program over the years; the added bonus is that it is filmed in an intimate, beautiful setting.

Alt-rock heroine, Tori Amos comes to life from the stage of 
Infinity Music Hall. Courtesy: Infinity Hall Live.

Infinity Hall Live begins their fourth season this weekend with America, the uh, American rock band. A little before my time, but I recognize the songs: "Ventura Highway," "Sister Golden Hair," "You Can Do Magic"... anyone with access to a radio during the late 70s knows these songs as well as they can recall "A Horse With No Name."

Other acts scheduled for season 4 include Toad the Wet Sprocket; Tedeschi Trucks Band; Jackie Greene; and Sadie and the Hotheads, fronted by Downton Abbey's Elizabeth McGovern (my wife will be thrilled!). As they say, check your local listings, or you can catch the premiere on the show's website.

A couple months ago I met up with some of the staff at CPBN, to discuss the possibility of future collaborations. To give them an idea of what I can do, I created a short promotional video using footage from their show. It features some clips from Tori Amos and Robert Cray, who will be featured this season, as well as Wilson Phillips (my favorite was Wendy Wilson...swoon). I had good fun putting this together... hopefully they won't mind me sharing: 

 Always a supporter of live music, I wish IHL luck with their new season. I am also excited about the start of summer, and hopefully the chance to see some more live shows myself (Psychedelic Furs, anyone?). Inside... outside... it's all good.

Related Links:

Infinity Hall Live website

Infinity Music Hall

Tooned In

Roz Chast and her husband, humor writer Bill Franzen
at the opening. Photo by JC for NRM. ©NRM

Our new exhibition, Roz Chast: Cartoon Memoirs opened this past Saturday at Norman Rockwell Museum, with the artist on hand to help celebrate. Roz was gracious enough to conduct a couple press interviews for me during the day (with some reporters very appreciative of her work), and offered a walkthrough of the exhibition for those attending an evening gala. Click here to view some of my photos from the sold-out event.

Those visiting the exhibition, which is on view at the Museum through October 26, will also have a chance to see the video that I created for the show. Or... you can view it below. I'm pretty satisfied with this version, but do hope to go back in and make a few updates...bird is the word.

In the meantime, no rest for the weary! it's off to the United Nations... more details soon.

Related Link:

"Flights of Fancy," written by JC, Norman Rockwell Museum website, June 2015

Exhibition press release, written by JC, Norman Rockwell Museum website, May 2015

It's a Living

The Berkshires' summer season has begun. In my opinion, there's no better time to visit the area. 

First impressions: entering the Berkshires from New York's Hudson Valley.
Photo by Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

A couple weeks ago I appeared as a guest on the WNPR morning show, Where We Live, extolling the virtues of a trip to Western Massachusetts and Norman Rockwell Museum. Not my smoothest interview, but I was happy to take part. I was joined by representatives from Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival (coincidentally, how I first learned of the area), Shakespeare & Company, and The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, where the radio interview was broadcast. 

WNPR is based in Hartford yet the show's host, John Dankosky, lives in an area of Connecticut not far from the Berkshires and so decided to broadcast his show live in Great Barrington, on the occasion of the Berkshire International Film Festival. It's interesting for me to recall that during my own years in Hartford, where I attended college, I had no concept of the Berkshires and frequently drove right through its outskirts (none the wiser) during trips to visit my family in the Hudson Valley. 

Go pro: courtesy "Out" magazine.

As I mentioned to Dankosky before we went on the air, my first impression of the Berkshires was that of a "summer camp" for artists, after being tipped off to area by a dancer who was studying at Jacob's Pillow. While working part-time in New York City and living in the Hudson Valley over ten years ago, I started making frequent trips to the Berkshires, enjoying its beautiful countryside, finding part-time work at the Pillow, performing with acting troupes in the area and, of course, working full-time at Norman Rockwell Museum. The rest, as they say, is history.

In the May issue of Out magazine, I offered further insight into my time spent in the area, and was featured as a "pro tip" on the joys of hiking the Berkshires' scenic hills. This is certainly a unique aspect of the area. 

As I mentioned in the WNPR interview, right down the street from the Rockwell Museum  you can take a hike up the mountain where Herman Melville was inspired to write Moby Dick. We talked about the other significant artists and activists who lived in the area, including Norman Rockwell, and theorized about what it was about the area that continues to draw such people. Following the interview, I drove a few miles away to finally visit the newly opened W.E.B. Du Bois homesite, dedicated to the influential American humanist and civil rights activist, who grew up in Great Barrington. Like much of the Berkshires, it was a pleasantly meditative stroll through both nature and history.

History happened here:
entrance to W.E.B. Du Bois homesite.
Photo by Jeremy Clowe. All rights reserved.

They say the grass is always greener... for me, living in the Berkshires for a few years started to feel a little claustrophobic (especially during the winter), so I am happy to now be commuting from the nearby Capital Region. It's the best of both worlds. Due to a technical glitch, you'll hear my mic cut out at the end of the radio segment, but what I was trying to say is that the Berkshires is an easy drive from such areas as Albany, Boston, and New York City, and visitors are in for a real treat this summer (we just opened a show on New Yorker artist Roz Chast, and I'll write more about that shortly). Personally, I'm looking forward to the exhibition of Vincent Van Gogh's landscapes that will be on display at the Clark Art Institute... Van Gogh is one of my favorite artists, and what could be more fitting than a show about the great outdoors here in the Berkshires?

Related Links:

"Live from the Mahaiwe: Arts in the Berkshires," Where We Live, WNPR, May 29, 2015

"Spotlight on the Berkshires," Out Magazine, May 25, 2015

Berkshires.org

Covering All Bases

Home run! One of my photos appearing
in this past week's "Metroland."

Over the past month, I had the good fortune of being hired by the Albany Institute of History & Art to take some promotional photos of their current exhibitions and educational programs. In addition to their outstanding permanent collection, the museum has been hosting three baseball-themed shows (from national to local) with related family programs. I enjoy baseball history, so it's been a cool gig.

It doesn't hurt that my wife works there, but it has also been fun to spend a couple whole days walking around another museum and its beautiful gallery spaces, and hunting for visually striking moments. 

Here are a few of my favorites:

Related Links:

Albany Institute of History & Art website

"Bob Goepfert Reviews 'Triple Play' At The Albany Institute," WAMC Radio, April 21, 2015

"A Home Run at The Albany Institute," WAMC Radio, March 30, 2015