>> HOST: COMING UP ON ARTWORKS:
AN ANIMATOR AT THE FAMOUS PIXAR
STUDIOS.
SONGWRITERS TALK ABOUT THEIR
INSPIRATION.
FABERGE'S JEWELLED MYSTERIES
WORTH MILLIONS.
AND AN ARTIST'S SPONTANEOUS
RACE TO PAINT.
IT'S ALL AHEAD ON ARTWORKS!
CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MADE
POSSIBLE BY MARYLAND RELAY,
EMPOWERING THOSE WHO ARE DEAF,
HARD OF HEARING OR SPEECH
DISABLED TO STAY CONNECTED BY
PHONE.
>> ANNOUNCER: ARTWORKS IS MADE
POSSIBLE IN PART BY
THE CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE.
>> HELLO,
I'M RHEA FEIKIN
AND THIS IS ARTWORKS,
MPT'S WEEKLY ARTS SHOW.
I'D LIKE YOU TO MEET OUR
GUEST CO-HOST, IAN GALLANAR,
FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
FOR THE CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEARE
COMPANY.
WELCOME, IAN!
>> IAN: I'M GLAD TO BE HERE,
RHEA.
>> RHEA: AND I'D LIKE YOU TO
PLEASE TELL US ABOUT
THE CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEARE
COMPANY AND I'M GOING PLAY
DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.
SO,
WHY IN THE WORLD DO WE NEED
SHAKESPEARE IN THIS DAY AND AGE
OF SMART PHONES AND ITUNES?
>> IAN: WELL,
YOU KNOW IN THIS DAY AND AGE
WHERE WE PARK OURSELVES IN ONE
CORNER OF THE INTERNET,
AND SPEAK WITH LIKE MINDED
PEOPLE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE WHAT
WE HAVE IN COMMON,
AND SHAKESPEARE DOES THAT.
HE SHOWS US WHAT WE HAVE
IN COMMON. OUR HUMANITY.
>> RHEA: AND THEN,
THERE'S THIS SHEER POETRY.
>> IAN: YEAH, SHAKESPEARE IS ONE
OF THE INVENTOR'S
OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
>> RHEA: WELL,
"WELCOME FAIR YOUTH" AND THAT'S
ABOUT AS FAR AS I'LL GO TRYING
TO SPEAK "SHAKESPEAR-ESE."
[THEY LAUGH]
>> RHEA: TURNING TO OUR FIRST
ARTIST,
SANJAY PATEL IS AN ANIMATOR
AT PIXAR FILMS.
>> IAN: PATEL HAS WORKED ON
MOVIES SUCH AS
"THE INCREDIBLES,"
"RATATOUILLE,"
AND "TOY STORY 3."
>> RHEA: BUT THERE'S ANOTHER
SIDE TO HIM TOO,
MYTHICAL & SPIRITUAL.
HERE'S HIS STORY.
>>SANJAY PATEL: WE'RE WORKING
ON A SERIES OF SHORTS BASED
ON MATER'S CHARACTER CALLED
"CARSTOONS",
IN THIS PARTICULAR SHORT THEY
ACTUALLY ARE BIG MONSTER TRUCKS
AND THEY END UP SORT OF IN THIS
BIG WRESTLING MATCH.
>> NARRATOR: PIXAR STUDIOS
IN EMERYVILLE IS KNOWN
FOR BRINGING INNOVATION
AND EMOTION TO THE WORLD
OF COMPUTER ANIMATED FILMS.
POPULAR FILMS LIKE "TOY STORY",
"FINDING NEMO",
"THE INCREDIBLES",
AND "RATATOUILLE" HAS GARNERED
THE STUDIO 22 ACADEMY AWARDS.
NOW A LEAD ANIMATOR AT PIXAR,
SANJAY PATEL WAS STILL A STUDENT
WHEN HE WAS RECRUITED BY
THE FLEDGING COMPANY ALMOST
14 YEARS AGO.
HE WAS STUDYING IN THE ANIMATION
PROGRAM AT CAL ARTS
IN LOS ANGELES.
>> SANJAY: THAT PROGRAM
WAS STARTED BY WALT DISNEY
HIMSELF TO TRAIN HIS ANIMATORS.
SO I STARTED MAKING 2-D
ANIMATIONS.
"TOY STORY" HAD BEEN RELEASED
AND THEY HAD BROUGHT IT TO
CAL ARTS AND AS STUDENTS AS WE
SAW IT I WAS BLOWN AWAY
WITH SOPHISTICATION OF IT
AND THE SOPHISTICATION
OF THE STORY TELLING.
AND SO,
I PUT DOWN MY PENCIL.
I NO LONGER DRAW AT PIXAR,
I HAVE TO USE MY MOUSE AND I USE
3-D ANIMATION SOFTWARE.
ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE THIS CAR
THAT'S BEEN BUILT BY
THE MODELERS AND THESE MODELS
ARE VERY ELABORATE PUPPETS
AND WE HAVE CONTROLS TO MOVE
THE PUPPET AROUND AND CREATE
DIFFERENT POSITIONS AND MAKE
DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS.
I COULD JUST SORT OF,
MOVE THIS CONTROL AND HE COULD
MOVE HIS TIRE AND HIT MCQUEEN.
MOVE THE UPPER LIP, UP, DOWN,
EVEN THEIR EYELIDS.
WHEN I PICKED UP THE SCENE
I ACTUALLY HAD THEM LOOKING
A LITTLE BIT SORT OF TOO ANGRY,
AND THE DIRECTOR ACTUALLY PULLED
ME BACK AND HE WAS THINKING
THAT YOU KNOW WHAT THESE
CHARACTERS ARE BEST FRIENDS
AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY HAVING FUN
JUST PLAYING TAG.
I ENDED UP HAVING TO CHANGE
THE EXPRESSION TO REFLECT THAT.
AND THAT'S THE END WHAT I DO
IN TERMS OF ANIMATION,
AND THEN IT GETS HANDED OFF
TO LIGHTING AND RENDERING
AND HERE'S HOW THE SCENE LOOKS
WITH SHADOWS AND COLORS.
PIXAR IS INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE
OF PEOPLE DOING OUTSIDE WORK.
THERE'S ALL KIND OF CLASSES THAT
PEOPLE CAN TAKE HERE AT PIXAR,
THERE'S PAINTING CLASSES,
AND DRAWING CLASSES,
THERE'S SCULPTURE CLASSES,
AND I THINK THEY REALLY
ENCOURAGE THAT YOU REALLY NEED
TO RENEW YOURSELF AS AN ARTIST
TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK
AND SORT OF WORK UNDER SUCH
PRESSURE AND INTENSITY ON THESE
FILMS.
IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT PIXAR
ESPOUSES IT'S JUST ABSOLUTELY
LIKE THE CHURCH OF STORYTELLING.
IT REALLY DOES FORCE YOU TO
THINK IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY.
BECAUSE OF THAT,
I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PURSUE MY
OWN STORIES THAT I WANT TO TELL.
>> NARRATOR: SINCE 2006,
PATEL HAS PUBLISHED HIS OWN
WORK;
LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED
INTERPRETATIONS OF ANCIENT HINDU
MYTHOLOGY.
HIS LATEST BOOK IS CALLED
"RAMAYANA; DIVINE LOOPHOLE".
THE RAMAYANA IS ONE
OF THE FOUNDATIONAL MYTHS
OF HINDUISM,
AND TELLS THE EPIC STORY
OF RAMA,
HIS BROTHER LAKSHMAN,
AND HIS WIFE, SITA.
>> SANJAY: THE RAMAYANA IS SUCH
A NEAT STORY BECAUSE IT'S ALL
ADVENTURE, PLOT, AND ACTION.
THERE'S MAGIC, THERE'S FIGHTING,
AND ANIMALS, AND GODS,
AND DEMONS, AND I JUST THOUGHT,
I REALLY WANT TO TELL THIS STORY
IN THE MOST MODERN AND GRAPHIC
WAY AS POSSIBLE.
>> NARRATOR: AS PATEL
UNDERTOOK THE TASK OF BRINGING
TO LIFE DOZENS OF SCENES
FROM THIS ANCIENT STORY,
HE FOUND HIMSELF USING
THE SKILLS HE GAINED FROM HIS
ANIMATION WORK AT PIXAR.
>> SANJAY: ANIMATING AT PIXAR
MAKES ME THINK ABOUT WELL,
WHAT'S THE ACTING AND WHAT'S
SORT OF THE NARRATIVE ARC THAT
I COULD USE FOR THIS LITTLE
PANEL AND THAT I'M TRYING
TO DRAW.
AND IT REALLY REMINDS THAT
CHARACTER MOMENTS ARE SO
IMPORTANT IN THIS GREAT
MYTHOLOGY THAT I WANT TO TELL.
AND SO I DO FEEL LIKE THE TWO
FEED OFF OF EACH OTHER.
THIS TYPE OF ARTWORK WOULD
DEFINITELY BE HANGING AROUND
IN MY PARENTS' HOUSEHOLD,
AND THIS WAS DEFINITELY MY
INDOCTRINATION AND INTRODUCTION
TO HINDUISM.
I'D SEE STUFF LIKE THIS AND JUST
HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THIS MEANT.
I WAS RAISED IN SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA.
MY PARENTS OWNED A MOTEL
IN SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA.
MY PARENTS ARE FROM INDIA,
FROM A STATE CALLED GUJARAT.
I COULD SPEAK ENGLISH
REALLY WELL,
SO I HAD STAY HOME AND HELP RUN
THE MOTEL.
I BECAME A TV BRAT AND I REALLY
IN MANY WAYS JUST GREW UP
IN AMERICAN CULTURE.
AMERICAN CULTURE WAS DEFINITELY
FED TO ME THROUGH
THE TELEVISION,
MAINLY THROUGH CARTOONS.
I COULD JUST REALLY ESCAPE
MY REALITY AND I BECAME OBSESSED
WITH WATCHING CARTOONS,
DRAWING CARTOONS,
COLLECTING COMIC BOOKS,
AND THEN I WOULD SIT THERE
AND DRAW FOR HOURS AND HOURS
FROM THESE COMICS.
>> NARRATOR: ALTHOUGH PATEL
REVERED THE COMIC BOOK HEROES
OF AMERICAN POPULAR CULTURE,
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ICONS
OF HIS PARENTS' HINDU FAITH
WAS MORE COMPLICATED.
>> SANJAY: INDIAN CULTURE
IN MY LIFE, I DON'T KNOW,
GROWING UP, I HATED IT.
I HATED IT.
I HATED IT.
MY PARENTS WERE RAISING ME
IN A SORT OF BUBBLE OF THEIR OWN
CULTURE INSIDE SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA.
I WASN'T EXPOSED TO THE STORIES
OF THE HINDU MYTHOLOGY OR HINDU
FAITH AT ALL.
WHAT I WAS EXPOSED TO WAS
THE ICONOGRAPHY AND IMAGERY.
>> NARRATOR: BUT IT'S HIS
PERSPECTIVE AS AN OUTSIDER THAT
ALLOWS PATEL TO RECLAIM
THE ICONOGRAPHY OF HIS PARENTS'
CULTURE,
AND RE-IMAGINE IT
FOR A CONTEMPORARY AUDIENCE.
PATEL IS IN THE MIDST
OF CREATING A NEW BOOK BASED
ON THE STORY OF THE HINDU
DEITY "GANESHA."
IN PATEL'S VERSION OF THE TALE,
HE PLAYS OFF
OF THE ELEPHANT GOD "GANESHA'S"
FAMOUS LOVE OF SWEETS.
>> SANJAY: THIS IS A KIND
OF A FUN LITTLE MOMENT ACTUALLY.
THIS IS AFTER "GANESHA,"
HE ACTUALLY TRIES BITING DOWN ON
THE JUMBO JAW BREAKER.
AND SURE ENOUGH HE BREAKS
HIS TUSK.
SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST FUN WAY
TO LIKE FIGURE OUT HOW
"GANESHA" MIGHT REACT,
LIKE OH NO!!
SO I WAS THINKING MAYBE HE WOULD
BE CRYING OVER HERE.
>> SANJAY: GROWING UP I ALWAYS
FELT DISCONNECTED FROM MY
AMERICAN FRIENDS SIMPLY BECAUSE
I WAS INDIAN, MY SKIN WAS BROWN.
FROM MY INDIAN FRIENDS I FELT
DISCONNECTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS
BECAUSE I WAS AN ARTIST.
I FELT OUTSIDE IN ALL THESE
WAYS.
AND FINALLY I FOUND THE THING
THAT ACTUALLY BROUGHT EVERYTHING
THAT I LIKED TOGETHER.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO THINK
IS ACTUALLY THAT I FOUND
MY VOICE AND THIS VOICE
IS SOMETHING THAT FEELS REALLY
RELEVANT TO ME AND REALLY
IMPORTANT AND REALLY GOOD.
I JUST KNOW SO CLEARLY THAT
I AM GOING TO BE DOING THIS
TILL THE DAY I DIE.
>> RHEA: WANT TO KNOW MORE
ABOUT SANJAY PATEL?
VISIT HIS WEBSITE AT
GHEEHAPPY.COM.
>> RHEA: ONE OF THE EXCLUSIVE
SHOWS MPT'S PRODUCES
IS A "CONCERT FOR THE BAY,"
WHICH IS PART
OF "CHESAPEAKE BAY WEEK"
EVERY SPRING.
THIS SPRING,
ONE OF THE BANDS WAS
"JUKEBOX THE GHOST."
AND THEY'RE FAST BECOMING
NATIONAL STARS.
>> IAN: SO,
IS "JUKEBOX THE GHOST" LOCAL?
>> RHEA: WELL,
THERE IS A LOCAL CONNECTION.
THEY WERE FORMED WHILE
AT GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
IN D.C..
HERE'S WHAT THE BAND'S
SONGWRITERS' HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
THE ART AND CRAFT
OF SONGWRITING AND I THINK IT'S
REALLY THOUGHTFUL.
>> BEN THORNEWILL: WE WENT FROM
BEING A COLLEGE PARTY BAND,
AS IT WERE,
TO A BAND SORT OF AS WE
GRADUATED COLLEGE.
AND RIGHT AT THE END OF IT
WE RECORDED OUR FIRST RECORD.
WE'RE STARTING TO PLAY SHOWS,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE WHO
WEREN'T OUR FRIENDS WERE COMING
TO THESE SHOWS.
AND THAT SORT OF GAVE US
THE HOPE AND INSPIRATION THAT
WE COULD DO THIS BEYOND JUST
AROUND D.C..
* I GO OUTSIDE.
ASK THE AIR IF YOU'D LIKE
TO HIDE. *
* TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
WALK INSIDE MY PRIZE. *
>> TOMMY SIEGEL: THE
TRANSFORMATION WAS A LITTLE
HAPHAZARD.
WHEN WE FIRST STARTED,
WE HAD DOZENS OF SONGS.
IT JUST NEVER OCCURRED TO US
TO RECORD THEM.
SO THERE'S JUST ALL THESE SONGS
FROM COLLEGE THAT NEVER
RECORDED,
AND I'M ACTUALLY VERY THANKFUL
FOR THAT.
BUT,
AT SOME POINT OUR FRIEND SETH
WAS LIKE YOU GUYS SHOULD RECORD
AN ALBUM AND I WANT TO MANAGE
YOU GUYS.
AND WE WERE LIKE OK.
AND SO WE RECORDED OUR FIRST
ALBUM WHEN WE WERE IN COLLEGE.
AND IT WAS ONLY AFTER PEOPLE
STARTED COMING TO SHOWS.
AND THAT ALBUM TOOK OFF
AND WE WERE LIKE OH,
THIS IS A REAL THING.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO THIS.
* ...BEING GROWN
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. *
* FROM ADULTHOOD,
NO ONE SURVIVES... *
* TEN BILLION FEET...
>> BEN: TOMMY AND I BOTH WRITE
INDIVIDUALLY.
I FEEL THAT WRITING IS A VERY
PERSONAL PROCESS.
I DON'T SEE HOW BANDS SIT IN
A ROOM AND WRITE A SONG
ALL TOGETHER.
SO WE WILL WRITE INDIVIDUALLY
AND THEN BRING THOSE SONGS
TO THE TABLE,
AND THEN AS A BAND PICK
AND CHOOSE, SLICE IT,
SORT OF ITS LIKE SCULPTURE
ALMOST.
WORK IT DOWN TO ITS CORE
AND MAKE IT A SONG THAT
THE WHOLE BAND CAN STAND BY.
THERE'S NO FORMULA FOR
SONGWRITING THAT I HAVE FOUND
ANYWAY.
EVERY SONG OCCUPIES ITS OWN
SPACE,
IT'S ITS OWN CREATIVE PROCESS.
SOMETIMES IT IS A LYRIC,
SOMETIMES IT'S A MUSICAL IDEA,
SOMETIMES IT'S A FEELING.
>> TOMMY: I WISH THERE WAS
A FORMULA THAT WOULD MAKE IT
A LOT EASIER.
I FEEL LIKE WE YOU KNOW AS
SONGWRITERS SPEND A LOT OF TIME
SITTING AROUND,
WAITING AND HOPING THAT
INSPIRATION'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> BEN: YEAH,
IF I KNEW HOW TO WRITE A SONG,
THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
>> TOMMY: AND SOMETIMES EVEN
WHEN YOU GET INSPIRATION YOU
DON'T KNOW THAT IT EVEN HAPPENED
UNTIL LATER AND YOU'RE THINKING
ABOUT IT AGAIN AND YOU'RE LIKE
OH, I LIKE THAT.
>> BEN: INSPIRATION COMES FROM
ANYWHERE, LIFE,
MOSTLY LIFE AND WHAT YOU DO
WITH IT AND WHAT YOU SEE.
IT'S OBSERVATIONS,
IT'S PERSONAL EXPERIENCES,
IT'S MUSICAL INSPIRATION.
>> TOMMY: I DO FEEL LIKE
THE BEST SONGS,
OR MY FAVORITE SONGS THAT
I'VE WRITTEN HAVE BEEN THE ONES
THAT I DON'T FEEL LIKE I WROTE
THEM.
LIKE,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY CAME
FROM.
THE ONES THAT WILL JUST LIKE POP
OUT AND I'LL BE LIKE I FEEL LIKE
I'VE HEARD THAT SOMEWHERE
BUT I'M...
I THINK I JUST WROTE THAT.
* FROM ADULTHOOD,
NO ONE SURVIVES. *
>> BEN: I THINK THE LIFE
OF A SONG IS...
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS LAST
WEEK WHEN WE WERE PLAYING UP
IN PHILADELPHIA.
AND HAD 1,100 PEOPLE THERE.
AND WE WERE PLAYING SONGS
THAT WE HAD PLAYED IN
PHILADELPHIA YEARS AGO,
IN FRONT OF 10 PEOPLE AT THIS
CRAPPY LITTLE DIVE BAR.
AND IT'S THE SAME SONGS WE'RE
PLAYING THEN AS WE'RE PLAYING
NOW.
AND THE LIFE OF A SONG
IS COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING
TO STICK,
WHAT'S GOING TO RESONATE,
HOW LONG IT TAKES.
* I DON'T WANT ANY
MORE DOORS, *
* 'CAUSE I'M WALKING ON
A STRING. *
>> TOMMY: WHEN PEOPLE RESPOND
TO A SONG,
THAT'S DEFINITELY THE REWARD
FOR US.
WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN A HEAVILY
TOURING OPERATION,
AND SO SEEING DIRECTLY
THE GRATIFICATION PEOPLE ARE
GETTING OUT OF A SONG
IS EVERYTHING.
>> BEN: IT'S A SURREAL
EXPERIENCE SEEING PEOPLE SING
YOUR SONG.
IT'S SIMULTANEOUSLY WHAT YOU
WROTE THE SONG.
LIKE WHEN YOU WRITE A SONG
YOU HOPE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
SOMEWHERE IN YOUR BRAIN,
YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SING ALONG,
IT'S WHY YOU WRITE A SONG,
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
IT'S ALWAYS A SURPRISE.
>> TOMMY: I THINK IF YOU WROTE
WITH THAT IN MIND,
YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T END UP
WRITING VERY HEARTFELT OR GOOD
SONGS.
THEY WOULD JUST BE REALLY,
SONGS THAT PEOPLE CAN SING
ALONG TO.
SO IT KIND OF FEELS LUCKY EVERY
TIME IT HAPPENS.
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK EITHER
OF US WRITE WITH THE INTENTION
OF I WANT THE CROWD TO CLAP,
OR I WANT THE CROWD TO SING
ALONG TO THIS SONG.
IT JUST HAPPENS AND THAT MAKES
IT EVEN MORE SPECIAL.
* I NEED IT,
I WANT IT, *
* I WANT SOMEBODY, BABY.
NOW THIS IS MY TURN. *
>> BEN: REALIZING THAT WE COULD
DO THIS AND REALLY GIVE IT A GO
IS A SLOW PROCESS.
IT'S THESE LITTLE ACHIEVEMENTS
THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN SORT
OF SIGNAL THAT THERE COULD BE
MORE HERE,
WE COULD DO SOMETHING,
AND AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE ON,
THAT'S JUST CONTINUED TO HAPPEN.
THERE'S BEEN EVERY NOW AND AGAIN
A STEP OR A MOMENT WHERE WE ALL
SORT OF SILENTLY AGREE YEAH,
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING THIS,
LET'S KEEP SEEING HOW FAR WE CAN
TAKE THIS.
* "OOH, OH."
>> IAN: TO FIND OUT
"JUKEBOX THE GHOST'S" TOURING
SCHEDULE,
VISIT JUKEBOXTHEGHOST.COM.
>> RHEA: THE STORY OF FABERGE
IS LIKE A RUSSIAN FAIRY TALE
AND NOW THERE'S
AN EXHIBIT CALLED
"FABERGE A BRILLIANT VISION"
AND IT'S AT THE HOUSTON MUSEUM
OF NATURAL SCIENCE.
>> IAN: I WAS INTRIGUED
THAT NO ONE'S BEEN ABLE TO
REPLICATE THEIR SECRET ENAMELING
PROCESS.
>> RHEA: I KNOW YOUR ARE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
SO IF YOU'VE GOT, OH,
TWENTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS
OR SO YOU CAN GET AN IMPERIAL
"FABERGE" OF YOUR VERY OWN.
TAKE A LOOK.
>> JIM ADAMS: "FABERGE'S"
ENAMELING TECHNIQUES WERE
COVETED BY ALL JEWELERS
IN THE WORLD,
EVEN CARTIER LOUIE CARTIER,
IN PARIS SAID WHAT YOU DO
IN SAINT PETERSBURG IN ENAMEL,
WE CAN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO HERE
IN PARIS;
ENAMEL IS BASICALLY POWERED
GLASS MIXED WITH METAL OXIDES
TO CHANGE THE COLOR,
AND THEN FIRED AT 1300 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT TO CREATE THIS
BEAUTIFUL GLASSY CERVIX,
WHICH YOU SEE ON THESE OBJECTS.
HE WOULD OFTEN ENGRAVE
THE GROUND UNDERNEATH WITH
A BEAUTIFUL PATTERN,
AND THEN PUT TRANSLUCENT ENAMEL
OVER THAT SO THAT YOU WOULD SEE
THROUGH THE ENAMEL TO THIS
INCREDIBLE PATTERN UNDERNEATH.
IT'S CALLED "GUILLOCHE WORK"
AND HE WAS A MASTER OF THAT.
WELL THE ROYAL FAMILY ROMANOFF'S
GOT INVOLVED WITH CARL FABERGE
UNDER ALEXANDER III.
HE DECIDED ONE EASTER THAT
HE WANTED TO HAVE AN EASTER EGG
GIVEN TO HIS WIFE,
AND YOU CAN'T JUST CARVE
A WOODEN EASTER EGG IF YOU'RE
TSAR,
LIKE MOST PEOPLE IN RUSSIA DID
AT EASTER TIME;
HE WANTED SOMETHING SPECIAL.
>> TATIANA FABERGE: HE SAID THAT
HE WANTED TO HAVE SOMETHING
THAT WOULD PLEASE HIM THAT WOULD
NOT BE A REPEATED AND NOT MADE
FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
SO,
FABERGE CAME WITH THE IDEA
OF A SIMPLE EGG,
IT WAS WHITE ENAMEL.
IT LOOKED LIKE A REAL HEN EGG
AND WHEN YOU OPENED IT,
THERE WERE SURPRISES INSIDE.
AND THE EMPRESS WAS ABSOLUTELY
PLEASED WITH IT.
SO,
HE GOT A CARTE BLANCHE
FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO MAKE
ANOTHER EGG AND THAT'S HOW
IT SORT OF STARTED.
>> JIM: THE IMPERIAL DIAMOND
TRELLIS EGG WAS GIVEN BY
ALEXANDER III TO HIS WIFE
MARIA FYODOROVNA,
AND IT WAS MADE OF BOLONITE
AND IT HAS DIAMOND AND PLATINUM
TRELLIS ALL OVER IT.
ORIGINALLY,
WE KNOW FROM ARCHIVAL
PHOTOGRAPHS THAT IT HAD A STAND
WITH THREE CUPIDS ON IT HOLDING
IT UP,
AND ON THE INSIDE THE SURPRISE.
CAUSE EVERY EGG HAD A SURPRISE,
WAS A LITTLE ELEPHANT WITH
A MAN ON TOP AND YOU WOULD
WIND IT UP AND THE ELEPHANT
WALKED ACROSS THE TABLE.
ZARINA WAS SO THRILLED WITH IT
THAT HE ORDERED ONE EVERY YEAR
FROM FABERGE.
>> TATIANA: IT CONTINUED UNTIL
THE REVOLUTION.
SO,
THEN ALEXANDER III DIED AND WAS
REPLACED BY NICHOLAS II
AND THEN SO FABERGE MADE
TWO EGGS EVERY YEA
ONE FOR THE MOTHER AND ONE
FOR THE NEW EMPRESS.
>> JIM: HE HAD SEVERAL CLIENTS
THAT WERE VERY VERY WEALTHY
LIKE NOBEL AND KELCH WHO HAD
LOTS OF MONEY AND WANTED
IMPERIAL QUALITY EASTER EGGS
TO GIVE TO THEIR WIVES BECAUSE
THEY COULD AFFORD IT.
SO, WITH A NOBEL EGG,
WE HAVE THIS PLATINUM EGG
THAT HAS SEVERAL LAYERS
OF ENAMEL ON IT THAT IS ENGRAVED
AND ETCHED WITH SNOWFLAKE
PATTERNS.
IT'S EXQUISITE.
WHEN YOU OPEN IT UP,
YOU HAVE THIS WATCH ACTUALLY
IN A FORM OF A PIECE OF ICE
WITH ICE CRYSTALS ON IT
WITH PLATINUM AND DIAMOND.
ALEXANDER KELCH WAS A MINING
MAGNET IN RUSSIA.
THE KELCH EGG THAT WE HAVE HERE
IS CALLED THE "ROCAILLE EGG."
THE "ROCAILLE EGG" HAS THIS
WONDERFUL LOUIE THE 15TH STYLE
ROCOCO DECORATION ON IT,
WITH TWO PALM TREES SYMBOLIZING
"PALM SUNDAY"
AND IT'S IN A DEEP GREEN
GUILLOCHE ENAMEL SO YOU CAN SEE
THE PATTERN UNDERNEATH THE GREEN
ENAMEL,
THAT OVER THAT YOU HAVE THIS
ROCOCO CAGE WORK WITH PLATINUM
AND DIAMONDS.
IT'S AN EXQUISITE PIECE.
THE TURN OF THE CENTURY YOU HAVE
THE INVENTION OF PHOTOGRAPHY.
SO,
WE FIND THAT HE'S CATERING TO
THIS NEW PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY
BY CREATING PICTURE FRAMES.
WOOD FRAMES, ENAMELED FRAMES,
GILDED FRAMES FROM VERY SIMPLE
TO VERY ELABORATE FOR THIS
NEW VICTORIAN PASSION
FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.
WE HAVE BELL PUSHES BECAUSE
OF THE INVENTION ELECTRICITY
WE NO LONGER HAVE A BELL POLE
FOR A SERVANT, BUT,
YOU PUSH A BUTTON AND IT RINGS
A BUZZER IN THE BASEMENT
FOR THE SERVANT.
CIGARETTE SMOKING CAME ABOUT
AFTER THE CRIMEAN WAR
IN THE LATE 1800'S.
IT BECAME VERY POPULAR
WITH BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.
SO,
THIS WAS A WHOLE NEW MARKET
FOR FABERGE TO CATER TO THEM
WITH THESE BEAUTIFUL CIGARETTE
CASES.
THE STORY OF NICHOLAS
AND ALEXANDER AND THEIR FIVE
CHILDREN IS VERY ROMANTIC.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL STORY,
BUT,
UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAD A TRAGIC
END.
THEY WERE ALL MURDERED BY
THE BOLSHEVIK'S IN 1918.
AND CARL FABERGE WAS GIVEN
15 MINUTES TO GET OUT OF HIS
PLACE,
JUST TO GET HIS HAT AND HIS COAT
AND TO LEAVE HIS PREMISES DURING
THE REVOLUTION.
THE BRITISH EMBASSY HAD TO GET
HIM OUT DISGUISED
AS A BRITISH COURTIER AND HE
ENDED UP LIVING IN SWITZERLAND
AND DYING IN 1920.
IF A FABERGE IMPERIAL EASTER EGG
CAME ON THE MARKET TODAY,
IT WOULD GO ANYWHERE FROM
25-30 MILLION DOLLARS MOST
LIKELY.
>> RHEA: A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD
AN EXHIBIT OF "FABERGE EGGS"
AT THE WALTER'S ART MUSEUM.
AS FAR AS THESE ARE CONCERN,
I THINK MY FAVORITE WAS
THE FROSTED EGG WITH
THE SURPRISE ICE CRYSTAL
WATCH STUDDED WITH DIAMONDS.
>> IAN: I WAS STRUCK BY HOW
MODERN ADVANCES WERE REFLECTED
IN THE DESIGNS.
AND I GUESS DIAMONDS
ARE RHEA'S BEST FRIEND!
>> RHEA: WELL INDEED,
OUR LAST ARTIST'S WORK COULDN'T
BE MORE OPPOSITE THAN
FABERGE'S DELICATE DESIGNS.
THIS ARTIST REALLY LAYS IT ON
THICK.
IN PAINTS, I MEAN.
>> IAN: LITERALLY,
JIAN WANG BUYS TUBES OF PAINT
IN BULK.
NEXT TO HIS SWIRLING LANDSCAPES,
VAN GOGH LOOKS POSITIVELY TAME.
CHECK IT OUT.
>> ROB STEWART: NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA IS RICH WITH CULTURAL
DIVERSITY AND TALENT.
ONE OF THIS AREA'S BRIGHTEST
GEMS IS HARD AT WORK BEHIND ME
RIGHT NOW.
JIAN WANG,
CONTEMPORARY ARTIST,
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> JIAN WANG: GOOD TO SEE YOU,
ROB.
>> ROB: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US
AT YOUR CARMICHAEL HOME HERE.
YOU'RE PAINTING THESE BEAUTIFUL
OAK TREES HERE.
>> JIAN: YES, IT'S MY PLEASURE.
>> ROB: IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HOW
QUICKLY YOU WORK.
I'M IN AWE OF HOW FAST THIS IS.
>> JIAN: I CONSIDER MYSELF
LIKE A 100-METER DASHER RATHER
THAN A MARATHON RUNNER.
BUT AFTER THE INITIAL PAINTING
COVERS UP THE CANVAS,
I WORK VERY CAREFULLY TO FIX
UP ALL THE DETAILS.
>> ROB: THE TOUCH UPS.
>> JIAN: THE TOUCH UPS WHICH
THE VIEWER MAY NOT SEE
THE CORRECTIONS THAT I HAVE MADE
SO THAT IT WOULD HAVE HARMONY
TO THE WHOLE CANVASES.
>> ROB: WHERE DO YOU FIND
YOUR INSPIRATION?
TODAY,
YOU'RE PAINTING THESE TREES,
BUT YOU ALSO LOVE THE AMERICAN
RIVER.
>> JIAN: ABSOLUTELY,
I THINK THAT I'VE PAINTED
THE AMERICAN RIVER NO LESS THAN
HUNDREDS OF TIMES.
>> ROB: THEY'RE JUST BEAUTIFUL.
AND YOUR SKIES ARE SO PRETTY.
>> JIAN: THIS IS FROM
THE AMERICAN RIVER SKY.
I CARRIED IT ON ALL
THE DIFFERENT PAINTINGS EVEN
THOUGH THIS IS SAN DIEGO.
>> ROB: DO YOU PREFER PAINTING
NATURE.
>> JIAN: FOR ME,
I THINK ANY VISUAL ELEMENTS
THAT IS INTERESTING TO ME
AND NATURE,
IF YOU CONSIDER IT A SET UP
STILL LIFE, AND UH,
OR THE WONDER OF A HUMAN FACE.
AND TO ME ALL VERY
INSPIRATIONAL.
>> ROB: NOW YOU CAME TO
THE STATES IN 1986 FROM CHINA.
DESCRIBE THE TYPE OF PAINTING
THAT YOU DO.
IT IS CONTEMPORARY,
BUT HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
IT TO SOMEONE.
>> JIAN: I THINK A MORE
EXPRESSIONISTIC WAY OF HANDLING
THE PAINTING SURFACE.
WHICH MEANS THAT YOU ARE NOT
MIMICKING THE NATURE,
BUT TO EXPRESS IN YOUR OWN
INDIVIDUAL WAY OF WHAT NATURE
IS IN YOUR ARTISTIC SENSE,
RATHER THAN A PICTORIAL SENSE?
MOST ARTISTS THAT ARE WORKING
ARE PREMIX THE COLOR ON PALLETS,
BUT WHAT I DID FOR MY PAINTING
IS THAT MOST OF THE COLORS
WERE MIXED RIGHT ON THE CANVAS
WHILE I WAS WORKING ON
THE CANVAS.
SO WHICH HAS THE ADVANTAGE
OF EACH COLOR,
EACH BRUSHSTROKE CARRIED REALLY
MULTIPLE COLORS.
>> ROB: SO I SEE THAT YOUR PAINT
IS VERY THICK.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THESE
TO DRY?
>> JIAN: IT TAKES ABOUT A HALF
A YEAR TO COMPLETELY DRY.
>> ROB: A HALF A YEAR?
>> JIAN: RIGHT,
BUT THE SURFACE DRIES
IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND THERE'S NO AIR COMING INTO
IT BECAUSE THE BACK
OF THE CANVAS IS A SEAL.
AND SO THE PAINT IS ACTUALLY
NOT DRY.
IT'S JUST SET.
>> ROB: YOU MUST GO THROUGH
SO MUCH PAINT.
>> JIAN: ABSOLUTELY.
AND I USED UP MAYBE 600 TUBES,
260 A YEAR.
WHEN THEY DELIVER IT AND THEY
COME WITH A LIFTER,
THEY HAVE A PALLET.
>> ROB: A PALLET.
>> JIAN: ABSOLUTELY.
MAYBE A PALLET TO PAINT
AND 2 PALLET CANVASES.
EACH BRUSHSTROKE IS ALIVE.
AND WHEN PEOPLE ONCE SAID,
JIAN'S PAINTINGS ARE NEVER
COMPLETE,
IT'S ALWAYS GIVES YOU A SENSE
OF LIVELINESS AND IT'S LIKE
HE'S STILL WORKING ON IT.
>> ROB: DO YOU EVER GET SAD
TO SEE YOUR PAINTINGS GO?
>> JIAN: NOT QUITE,
BECAUSE I'M AN ARTIST THAT
I HAVE TO LIVE ON AND SECONDLY,
THAT I ALWAYS FANTASIZE THAT
THE UNFINISHED PAINTING
OR THE NEXT PAINTING WILL BE
A BETTER ONE.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS SUCH
A RICH SEASON THAT'S CHANGING.
VISUALLY,
IT STIMULATES ARTISTS TO MAKE
A GREAT PAINTING.
AND THAT FOR MY OPINION EXPLAINS
IT WHY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
HAS VERY DISTINGUISHED
PAINTINGS.
AND EVEN THOUGH I BRING MY
PAINTING TO NEW YORK,
MEMPHIS, OR ATLANTA,
I STILL BELIEVE THE QUALITY
IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
IS SUPERB.
>> ROB: HOW DOES YOUR ART
INSPIRE YOU?
>> JIAN: ACTUALLY,
IT WAS VERY MUCH LATER ON
WHEN THE PAINTING IS COMPLETED
THAT I AM ABLE TO ENJOY THEM.
BUT WHILE I WAS WORKING ON
A PAINTING,
I RARELY HAVE SATISFACTION
OF IT.
>> ROB: REALLY?
>> JIAN: BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS
FRUSTRATED WITH THE BETTER MIND
THAN WHAT IT SHOWS ON THE CANVAS
WHAT I DID.
AND SO VERY OFTEN WHEN I WAS
LOOKING BACK AT THE PAINTING
A FEW DAYS LATER,
I SAY, WOW,
THAT WAS NOT THAT BAD.
I WAS SO UPSET WITH MYSELF
WHILE I WAS WORKING ON IT.
>> ROB: WELL,
WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING,
YOU'RE DOING RIGHT AND WE
CERTAINLY DO ENJOY YOUR
PAINTINGS AND WE LOVE WATCHING
YOU AT WORK SO I WOULD LOVE TO
WATCH YOU DO SOME MORE PAINTING.
>> JIAN: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ROB: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US
HERE AT YOUR CARMICHAEL HOME
AND STUDIO.
>> RHEA: FOR MORE INFORMATION,
VISIT
GINWANGART.COM.
>> RHEA: THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME
FOR TONIGHT,
BUT THERE ARE DOZENS OF PREVIOUS
EPISODES AT
MPT.ORG/ARTWORKS.
I'M RHEA FEIKIN.
>> IAN: AND I'M IAN GALLANAR,
WITH THE CHESAPEAKE SHAKESPEARE
MPANY.
>> RHEA: WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT
WEEK.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
>> ANNOUNCER: ARTWORKS IS
MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY
THE CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE.
CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN
MADE POSSIBLE BY
MARYLAND RELAY,
EMPOWERING THOSE WITH
HEARING AND SPEECH LOSS
TO STAY CONNECTED.