>> HOST: IN THIS EDITION
OF ARTWORKS.
AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE COMPLEX
CHARACTERS OF "DOWNTON ABBEY."
>> WE CAN SEE SHADES OF GRAY
IN ALL OF THEM.
>> HOST: AN ACTOR DISCOVERS
THE CHALLENGE OF BEING CHAPLIN.
>> AND THAT SHOULD BE HARD.
SO IT IS.
>> HOST: A PAINTER WHO LAYERS
HIS MESSAGES.
AND STUDENTS WHO APPLY CLASSROOM
SKILLS FOR GLOBAL GOOD.
>> WE USE DESIGN AS A TOOL
TO HELP THESE ORGANIZATIONS.
>> HOST: IT'S ALL AHEAD ON THIS
EDITION OF ARTWORKS!
>> ANNOUNCER: ARTWORKS IS MADE
POSSIBLE IN PART BY:
THE MPT NEW INITIATIVES FUND,
FOUNDED BY
IRENE AND EDWARD H. KAPLAN.
>> HELLO,
I'M RHEA FEIKIN
AND THIS IS ARTWORKS,
A SERIES FOR THE CREATIVELY
CURIOUS.
>> AND I'M KWAME KWEI-ARMAH.
WELCOME BACK.
>> RHEA: FANS OF THE HIT SERIES
"DOWNTON ABBEY"
MIGHT THINK THEY KNOW ALL
OF THE CHARACTERS,
BUT IN HER NEW OFFICIAL
COMPANION BOOK TO THE SERIES,
"THE CHRONICLES
OF DOWNTON ABBEY,"
AUTHOR JESSICA FELLOWES GIVES
VIEWERS AN INSIDER'S SCOOP.
>> KWAME: FELLOWES HIGHLIGHTS
THE BEHIND-THE-SCENES DRAMA
DURING THE FILMING OF SEASON 3.
AS THE CAST OF "DOWNTON ABBEY"
ENTERS THE TUMULTUOUS 1920s.
HERE'S A LOOK.
>> JESSICA FELLOWES: THE
"CHRONICLES OF DOWNTON ABBEY"
IS THE OFFICIAL TIE-IN COMPANION
BOOK FOR THE TELEVISION SERIES
"DOWNTON ABBEY."
AND IT'S THE SECOND BOOK
THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE SHOW.
AND THIS ONE IS VERY CHARACTER
LED SO EACH CHAPTER IS HEADED
UP BY ONE OR TWO CHARACTERS.
AND WE TOOK A TRIPLE-LED
APPROACH TO IT,
SO THERE'S A LOOK AT THE SHOW
ITSELF,
THE SERIES AS IF IT WERE A LIVE
AND PRESENT THING,
WHICH IS HOW IT FEELS WHEN
IT COMES INTO OUR TVS ON SUNDAY
NIGHTS.
AND THEN WE LOOK AT HOW
THE PRODUCTION BROUGHT ALL
OF THAT TOGETHER,
SO JULIAN'S SCRIPTS,
THE ACTORS AND WHAT THEY THINK
ABOUT THEIR OWN BACK STORIES,
THE ART DEPARTMENT,
THE HAIR AND COSTUMES
AND ALL THE, YOU KNOW,
PROPS AND ALL THE REST OF IT.
AND THEN THE THIRD LAYER
IS THE SOCIAL HISTORIES,
THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THE THING
IS SET,
WHICH DEMONSTRATES
THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE SHOW.
WHAT IS QUITE INTERESTING IS,
I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENT
ATMOSPHERE ON THE SETS.
THE HIGHCLERE CASTLE,
WHICH WAS THE SETTING
FOR THE HOUSE AND ALL
THE ABOVE-STARS SCENES.
I MEAN IT IS A REAL,
WORKING HOUSE, YOU KNOW.
IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE
LIKE THAT FOR THE LAST 400,
500 YEARS OR WHATEVER.
AND THERE'S THAT REAL SENSE
OF ITS PRESENCE AS YOU ARRIVE.
AND I THINK IT MAKES
ALL THE ACTORS,
I MEAN I CAN FEEL MYSELF
SITTING UP STRAIGHTER JUST
TALKING ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW,
YOU KIND OF HAVE TO HAVE
THAT PRESENCE IN A ROOM
AND YOU TALK IN A DIFFERENT KIND
OF WAY AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE
RESPECT FOR THE HOUSE,
IT'S A LOT OF VALUABLES THERE.
I MEAN,
THE ART DEPARTMENT DOESN'T PUT
VERY MUCH IN THERE APART
FROM A FEW POTTED PALMS.
I MEAN,
ALL THOSE THINGS LIKE COSTUMES,
THEY REALLY HELP.
AND THAT'S WHY,
THAT'S PARTLY WHY IT'S SO
IMPORTANT THAT EVERYTHING
IS AUTHENTIC IN THE WAY
THAT IT IS.
NOT JUST THAT IT LOOKS RIGHT
FOR US,
BUT IT HELPS THE ACTORS TO SIT
PROPERLY.
I MEAN,
THE STARCHED COLLARS
PARTICULARLY FOR THE MEN,
I GATHER,
ARE PRETTY HORRIBLE,
RUBBING THEIR NECKS QUITE RAW.
THE WOMEN OBVIOUSLY HAVE
THE CORSETS,
HAVE BEGUN TO GET A LITTLE BIT
EASIER NOW FOR THE THIRD SEASON,
THEY'RE NOT QUITE AS
CONSTRICTING AND SORT OF,
THEY HAVE THIS SORT
OF S-BEND SHAPE ALMOST
IN THE FIRST SEASON.
NOW IT'S MORE ABOUT FLATTENING
THE FIGURE OUT.
NEVERTHELESS,
THEY ALL HAVE TO WEAR THEM
AND LIVE WITH THAT.
BUT THAT DOES MAKE THEM SIT
IN THE RIGHT WAY AND WALK
IN THE RIGHT WAY.
AND I THINK ALSO THEY'VE PICKED
IT UP AS THEY GO.
ROB COLLIER,
WHO PLAYS THOMAS,
SAYS THAT HE DOESN'T REALLY
LIKE WATCHING SCENES
FROM THE FIRST SEASON
BECAUSE HE THINKS
HE WAS WALKING THE WRONG WAY,
BECAUSE THEY LEARN
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO PUT
YOUR HANDS IN YOUR POCKETS
AND HAVING TO SIT UP
AND SIT DOWN AND STAND UP.
YOU KNOW,
THEY HAD TO RE-SHOOT A SCENE
WHEN THE HISTORICAL ADVISER
WAS AWAY THAT DAY
AND MATTHEW CRAWLEY
DIDN'T STAND UP WHEN THE DOWAGER
COUNTESS CAME INTO THE ROOM.
HE SAID THERE'S ABSOLUTELY
NO WAY THAT COULD EVER HAVE
HAPPENED.
YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY AIR
A SCENE LIKE THAT.
SO THEY HAD TO REDO IT.
JULIAN SAID THAT HE ALWAYS
BEGINS WITH THE FUNDAMENTAL
BELIEF THAT EVERYBODY IS GOOD.
THEY START GOOD
AND THEN SOMETHING MAY TAKE
THEM OFF THAT PATH ALONG
THE WAY.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT
IS REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT
THE CHARACTERS IS THAT
THEY'RE NOT BLACK OR WHITE.
THEY'RE NOT GOODIES OR BADDIES.
WE CAN SEE SHADES OF GRAY
IN ALL OF THEM.
I MEAN, EVEN O'BRIEN,
WHO'S PROBABLY THE MOST EVIL
SCHEMER OF ALL AND EVEN JULIAN
WILL ADMIT THAT,
THERE ARE STILL TIMES WHEN
YOU SEE HER AND YOU THINK,
THERE ARE SOME SOFT SPOTS
IN THAT HEART.
NOW WE WOULD PROBABLY CALL
HER DAMAGED AND SEND
HER TO THERAPY AND THINGS.
BUT THEN SHE JUST HAD TO LIVE
HER WAY THROUGH IT.
I ALWAYS GET ASKED WHAT'S
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER
AND IT'S SLIGHTLY LIKE SELECTING
YOUR CHILDREN OUT.
I'VE GOT TO KNOW THEM ALL
SO WELL NOW,
I FEEL LIKE I'VE SEEN THEM
DEVELOP OVER THREE SEASONS
AND TALK TO THE ACTORS AND TALK
TO THE PRODUCTION AND,
YOU KNOW,
ALL THESE SORT OF DETAILS
ABOUT THEM.
I KIND OF LOVE THEM ALL
IN THEIR OWN SPECIAL WAY.
>> RHEA: YOU'LL FIND "THE
CHRONICLES OF DOWNTON ABBEY"
ON BOOKSHELVES NOW AND YOU CAN
SEE SEASON THREE ONLINE AT:
VIDEO.MPT.TV.
ENJOY!
>> KWAME: THE NAME
"CHARLIE CHAPLIN"
CONJURES IMAGES OF A BOWLER HAT
AND MUSTACHE.
BUT THE ACTOR'S CAREER WAS MUCH
BIGGER THAN HIS OVERSIZED
TROUSERS AS WE SEE IN THIS
INTERVIEW WITH ROB MCCLURE,
WHO PLAYS THE MUSTACHED MAN
IN THE BROADWAY MUSICAL,
"CHAPLIN."
>> STEVE ADUBATO: THAT GUY'S
GOOD.
HE'S RIGHT HERE.
HIS NAME'S ROB MCCLURE,
HE'S STARRING IN "CHAPLIN,"
PLAYING AT THE ETHEL BARRYMORE
THEATRE.
HE'S AN ACTOR
AND HE IS TERRIFIC.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> ROB MCCLURE: THANKS, STEVE,
THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> STEVE: WHAT'S IT LIKE TO SEE
YOURSELF STARRING IN "CHAPLIN"
LIKE THAT.
>> ROB: IT'S WILD, IT'S WILD.
IT'S PROFOUNDLY MOVING EVERY
NIGHT.
YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE COME TO THIS SHOW
WITH EXPECTATIONS.
THEY KNOW THAT SILHOUETTE.
THEY KNOW THE HAT,
THE CANE AND THE MOUSTACHE.
AND FANS OR NOT,
YOU OWE IT TO THAT MAN
AND THAT LEGACY TO GET
THAT RIGHT,
AND IT'S REALLY AN HONOR
TO TAKE A STAB AT IT EIGHT SHOWS
A WEEK.
>> STEVE: I WANT YOU TO SHARE
WITH US A LITTLE BIT BY THE WAY,
YOU'RE BORN AND RAISED
IN NEW JERSEY.
>> ROB: YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT,
JUST OVER THE BRIDGE.
>> STEVE: PROUD TO HAVE YOU,
AS SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN
AND RAISED IN JERSEY,
TO SEE SOMEONE WHO MADE
IT ON BROADWAY.
>> ROB: YEAH,
I GOT MY START OUT THERE
AT THE PAPER MILL.
>> STEVE: YEAH,
THE PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE
IN MILLBURN.
>> ROB: RIGHT, IN MILLBURN.
>> STEVE: I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE PERFORMING,
TO GO FROM THE PAPER MILL
PLAYHOUSE IN MILLBURN
TO BROADWAY.
BUT I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU,
YOU WERE TELLING ME BEFORE
YOU GOT ON THE AIR THE RESEARCH
YOU DID TO UNDERSTAND CHAPLIN.
BY THE WAY, CHAPLIN BOOTCAMP?
>> ROB: YES.
>> STEVE: BECAUSE HE'S SO
PHYSICAL.
YOU HAD TO LEARN
TO ROLLER SKATE,
PLAY THE VIOLIN AND DO THE LAST
PART.
>> ROB: AND TIGHT ROPE WALKING.
>> STEVE: GET OUT OF HERE.
>> ROB: YES, IT'S WILD.
>> STEVE: YOU DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO TIGHT ROPE WALK?
>> ROB: I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DO
ANY OF THAT STUFF.
AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
PLAYING THE VIOLIN IS ULTIMATELY
HARDER THAN EVEN THE TIGHTROPE.
IT'S AN INSTRUMENT
YOU CAN'T HIDE BEHIND,
YOU'RE DEALING WITH HORSE HAIR,
YOU KNOW.
ANY LITTLE NERVE THEY CAN HEAR.
BUT YOU KNOW,
IF YOU'RE PLAYING ONE
OF THE MOST FAMOUS FUNNY MANS
OF ALL TIME,
THAT SHOULD BE HARD.
SO IT IS.
>> STEVE: WELL, TALK ABOUT HARD.
CHAPLIN GROWS UP IN A VERY POOR
SECTION OF LONDON.
>> ROB: SOUTH LONDON, YEAH.
>> STEVE: AND YOU SAY 1913
HE COMES TO HOLLYWOOD.
AND SEVEN YEARS LATER?
>> ROB: HE'S THE MOST FAMOUS
MAN IN THE WORLD.
>> STEVE: NOW,
YOU SAID BEFORE WE WENT
ON THE AIR THAT YOU REALLY
WANTED TO UNDERSTAND
THAT JOURNEY AND UNDERSTAND
SO MUCH ABOUT WHO HE WAS,
WHICH IMPACTED HOW HE PERFORMED.
>> ROB: YEAH.
>> STEVE: TELL FOLKS SOME
OF THE THINGS YOU WERE TELLING
ME THAT HAD TO DO WITH HIS
PHYSICAL PERSONA,
WHICH WAS MUCH DEEPER THAN
WE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT.
>> ROB: YEAH,
THE LITTLE TRAMP CHARACTER
I DESPERATELY WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THAT CHARACTER
THAT WAS SO TRANSCENDENT
THAT ALLOWED HIM TO BECOME
SO FAMOUS SO QUICKLY
AND SO UNIVERSALLY.
I MEAN,
FIRST OF ALL THEY WERE SILENT
PICTURES SO THEY HAD A UNIVERSAL
APPEAL THAT IS UNLIKE ANY MEDIUM
TODAY.
YOU KNOW,
WE GET PEOPLE AT THE STAGE DOOR
WHO ARE FROM EASTERN EUROPE
AND FROM JAPAN AND FROM ALL OVER
THE WORLD AND THEY SAY, LISTEN,
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH HE MEANS
TO US BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE
CHILDREN GROWING UP,
THOSE WERE THE ONLY AMERICAN
MOVIES WE COULD WATCH BECAUSE
OF THE LANGUAGE BARRIER.
OH MY GOSH, OF COURSE.
SO IT TRULY EXPLODED
IN A UNIVERSAL WAY, THOUGH,
THAT HAD NOT BEEN SEEN BEFORE
IN THAT MEDIUM.
AND WHAT WAS IT ABOUT
THAT CHARACTER THAT MADE PEOPLE
CARE SO MUCH?
AND I THINK IT WAS WHAT
WAS UNDERNEATH THE COMEDY.
>> STEVE: SO THE BIG PANTS,
ILL-FITTING CLOTHES.
>> ROB: YEAH,
THEY DIDN'T FIT NOT ONLY BECAUSE
THEY MAKE A FUNNY SILHOUETTE
BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HIS
CLOTHES.
HE'S A HOMELESS NOBODY LIVING
ON THE STREET,
HE PICKED THOSE CLOTHES
OUT OF A TRASH CAN,
THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T FIT.
A LOT OF WHAT GOES ON UNDERNEATH
THAT CHARACTER IS A VERY SWEET,
MELANCHOLY EVERYMAN TRYING
TO MAKE IT AND BE TAKEN
SERIOUSLY.
>> STEVE: TALK ABOUT THE HAT.
>> ROB: YEAH,
HE USED TO TIP HIS HAT AT PEOPLE
AS THEY WALKED BY,
WHETHER IT BE THE FRONT
OF THE HAT OR THE BACK
OF THE HAT,
AND WE ASSOCIATE THAT WITH
THE COMEDY OR THE QUIRK
OF THAT CHARACTER,
BUT REALLY THE MORE I WATCH
THE MORE I REALIZE
HE WAS DESPERATELY TRYING
TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY PEOPLE.
SO IF HE COULD FOOL THEM
INTO THINKING HE WAS A DIGNITARY
OR A WEALTHY PERSON,
SOMEONE WOULD TAKE
HIM SERIOUSLY.
AND WHAT'S SO HEARTBREAKING
IS THAT HE WAS FOOLING NOBODY
BUT HIMSELF.
SO YOU WOULD WATCH THIS SWEET
NOBODY OF A MAN AND TRYING
TO PUT ONE OVER ON PEOPLE
INTO TAKING HIM SERIOUSLY.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT REALLY
DREW PEOPLE TO HIM.
>> STEVE: TALK ABOUT DRAWING
PEOPLE TO PERFORMERS,
PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO YOU.
HAVE NOT SEEN IT,
BUT EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD
AND PAULA IS IN MY EAR
RIGHT NOW SAYING,
ASK ROB ABOUT HIS ABANDON
WHEN HE IS PERFORMING.
AND THAT'S WHAT I KEEP HEARING,
THAT YOU JUST GO FOR IT.
WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN?
>> ROB: I THINK THERE'S A SENSE
OF PLAY WHEN IT COMES
WITH THEATER,
AND A SENSE OF MAKE BELIEVE.
I MEAN, REALLY,
WHAT I THINK WE'RE DOING
IS PLAYING MAKE BELIEVE
IN THE WAY YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE
FOUR OR FIVE,
YOU JUST GET GOOD ENOUGH
AT IT THAT PEOPLE PAY TO WATCH
YOU DO IT.
THEY START BELIEVING YOU ARE WHO
YOU'RE PRETENDING TO BE.
>> STEVE: ARE YOU?
>> ROB: I THINK FOR THOSE
TWO-AND-A-HALF HOURS I THINK
I AM.
AND WHAT'S GREAT IS THAT
IN THOSE MOMENTS IN THE SHOW
WHEN THE MAGIC STARTS TO HAPPEN
AND THE MOUSTACHE GOES ON,
AND THE CANE GOES ON,
AND THE HAT,
I DO START TO FEEL THE AUDIENCE
LEAN IN AND GIVE ME PERMISSION
TO BE CHARLIE CHAPLIN FOR THOSE
TWO HOURS.
AND IT'S A HUGE GIFT AND I GET
ALL OF THAT AFFECTION THEY HAVE
FOR THAT MAN AND THAT CHARACTER
PUT ON ME,
WHICH IS SUCH A GREAT HONOR.
>> STEVE: AND IT WAS NOT EASY
GETTING THAT GIG.
YOU HAD SIX CALL BACKS.
YOU FOUGHT FOR THIS ROLE.
WHY?
>> ROB: I DID, I DID.
I LOVED IT.
I LOVED THE MAN,
I LOVED HIS STORY,
HE HAD A WILDLY COMPLICATED LIFE
WITH UPS AND DOWNS.
AND, YEAH,
THE AUDITION PROCESS
WAS INTENSE.
I REMEMBER FOR THE FINAL
CALL BACK,
IT WAS 5 O'CLOCK ON A MONDAY
AND THEY SAID TOMORROW TUESDAY
AT 10 A.M. COME BACK AND HAVE
TWO MINUTES OF A CHAPLIN-Y
THING.
>> STEVE: A CHAPLIN-Y THING.
>> ROB: A CHAPLIN-Y THING.
I SAID,
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT
THAT MEANS.
SO I RAN HOME AND I WAS TRYING
TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING
AND IT WAS 2:30 IN THE MORNING
AND MY WIFE ROLLED OVER IN BED
AND SAID,
WELL WHY DON'T YOU BRING MUSIC
SO YOU'RE NOT COMPLETELY
HUNG OUT TO DRY
WITH THE SILENCE OF THE ROOM
AND I THOUGHT,
OH THAT'S GOOD.
SO I STARTED LOOKING THROUGH
MY PHONE AND IN MY CLASSICAL
MUSIC PLAYLIST AND I HAD
FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLE BEE.
AND I THOUGHT I'M GOING TO BRING
THAT AND A FLY SWATTER.
AND I'LL FIGHT AN INVISIBLE
FLY AND LOSE.
AND I THOUGHT, THAT'S IT,
AND I FELL ASLEEP.
AND THEN THE NEXT MORNING
I WOKE UP AND I GOT ON
THE AMTRAK TRAIN ON MY WAY
TO NEW YORK FROM BOSTON,
I WAS DOING A SHOW IN BOSTON,
AND I HAD MY HEADPHONES
AND A FLY SWATTER AND I'M SURE
EVERYONE ON THE TRAIN THOUGHT
I WAS OUT OF MY MIND,
TRYING TO COME UP WITH THIS BIT.
AND THE FIRST TIME I DID IT ON
MY FEET WAS IN THE ROOM
FOR THE TEAM,
AND IT WENT WELL I GUESS.
>> STEVE: WHEN YOU WERE DOING
IT AND THEY HAD TO MAKE
A DECISION, HOW NERVOUS?
>> ROB: OH, I'M ALWAYS VERY,
VERY NERVOUS.
ALWAYS.
AND, YOU KNOW,
AUDITIONING DOESN'T GET EASIER.
YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT MAKING IT.
YOU KNOW,
WHEN I DID AVENUE Q
I DID AVENUE Q FOR THREE YEARS,
ONE OF THE GREATEST THRILLS
THEY SAID, YOU MADE IT.
WELL WHENEVER THAT JOB ENDS,
YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE IT AGAIN.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT AGAIN.
SO THERE IS THAT SENSE,
EVERY AUDITION YOU'VE GOT
TO GO IN AND GIVE IT
AND HOPEFULLY YOU'RE THE RIGHT
FIT.
>> STEVE: IT'S NO DIFFERENT
HERE.
WE'RE MAKING IT.
WE'RE HERE IN LINCOLN CENTER
DOING THE SHOW.
I'M LIKE,
HEY I HOPE THIS SHOW KEEPS
GOING.
IT'S LIKE,
WHATEVER IT IS.
>> ROB: THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT,
THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.
AND IT'S ONE OF THE THRILLING
THINGS ABOUT THIS BUSINESS,
IS THAT EVERY SHOW I DO,
THERE'S A NEW BAG OF TRICKS.
AND THIS ONE ESPECIALLY,
YOU KEEP ADDING THINGS
TO YOUR SPECIAL SKILLS SECTION
OF YOUR RESUME AND LEARNING
TO DO CRAZY PUPPETRY
OR WALKING TIGHTROPE OR PLAYING
THE VIOLIN AND IT ALLOWS
YOU TO FLEX DIFFERENT MUSCLES.
>> STEVE: I CAN'T LIKE I SAID,
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE,
TO ME,
GROWING UP LOVING THE YANKEES,
IT'S KIND OF LIKE PLAYING
IN YANKEE STADIUM.
I'M JUST HAPPY FOR YOU
AND I WISH YOU NOTHING
BUT THE BEST.
ALL THE BEST.
>> ROB: THANKS SO MUCH, STEVE,
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> KWAME: ROB MCCLURE ORIGINALLY
CREATED HIS ROLE
OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN
IN CALIFORNIA'S LA JOLLA
PLAYHOUSE IN 2010.
>> RHEA: GREGORY EUCLIDE IS NOT
YOUR AVERAGE LANDSCAPE ARTIST.
WITH INTUITIVE LAYERING
OF SPATULA APPLIED PAINT
AND FOUND MATERIALS,
EUCLID'S PROCESS IS ALMOST
AS BREATHTAKING AS THE FINISHED
PIECE.
TAKE A LOOK.
>> GREGORY EUCLIDE: WELL
AS A YOUNG ARTIST,
I STARTED JUST DRAWING MOSTLY
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU COULD
GET ATTENTION AND,
LIKE ANY PSYCHOLOGIST WILL
TELL YOU,
IF YOU CAN GET ATTENTION
FROM DOING SOMETHING THEN
YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT.
THIS IS WHERE I GET MY MATERIAL.
EVERY TIME IT RAINS YOU CAN
FIND,
THIS IS SOME KIND OF STYROFOAM,
YOU'LL FIND IT ALL OVER HERE.
*
IF SOMEONE HASN'T SEEN MY WORK
BEFORE,
I TEND TO DESCRIBE IT
AS LANDSCAPE PAINTING,
MAYBE CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE
PAINTING.
SO WHAT I'LL DO IS PICK IT ALL
UP AND PUT IT IN MY POCKET
AND BRING IT ALL BACK.
WHENEVER I TRY TO EXPLAIN
IT TO SOMEONE IT ENDS UP
GETTING VERY LONG WINDED
AND VERY CONFUSING AND I USUALLY
JUST END UP SAYING
IT'S LANDSCAPE PAINTING.
I GOT TO KEEP RAINING OTHERWISE
I'LL RUN OUT OF SUPPLIES.
WELL I USE THE STYROFOAM IN MY
WORK TO KIND OF SYMBOLIZE
THIS THING THAT'S MAN-MADE.
BUT OMNIPRESENT
IN THE LANDSCAPE,
SO IT'S NOT VERY DIFFICULT
TO FIND THIS STUFF EVERYWHERE
YOU GO.
SO SOMETIMES I'LL USE A SPATULA
TO SCRAPE THE PAINT ACROSS
THE SURFACE AND LET THE PAINT
KIND OF ACT AS PAINT AND NOT
APPEAR SO REPRESENTATIONAL.
I ALSO LIKE THE WAY
THAT IT KIND OF STUMBLES ALONG
THE SURFACE.
*
SO THERE'S LAND HERE
AND IN THE CENTER OF THIS SCENE
I'M GOING TO CREATE SOME TYPE
OF INDUSTRY THAT MOVES
IN AND KIND OF STARTS,
IS BUILT UPON THAT LAND.
THE STUFF THAT'S AROUND
THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE
DELIBERATE AND ORGANIZED BECAUSE
IT'S A CITY,
SO CITY PLANNING IS MUCH
DIFFERENT THAN, YOU KNOW,
A NATURAL PRAIRIE OR A FOREST.
I THINK OF IT AS AN EXPERIENCE
IN MEMORY SO WHEN I GO OUT
INTO A FOREST I WALK THROUGH
THE FOREST AND I'M EXPERIENCING
THESE VIGNETTES,
MOMENT BY MOMENT.
AND BY VIGNETTES I MEAN,
MAYBE YOU WALK DOWN A HILL
AND YOU REMEMBER THAT MOMENT
OF WALKING DOWN THE HILL
OR YOU COME ACROSS A POND
AND THEN YOU REMEMBER SEEING
THAT OR SPENDING TIME THERE
AND THEN YOU MOVE ON TO A NEW
PLACE.
YOU START TO THINK ABOUT
THE ECOSYSTEMS AND IN GENERAL
IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ONE PERSON
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S EVEN
GOING ON IN ONE FOOT OF SPACE
IN THE FOREST.
AND THAT COMPLEXITY AND THAT
DENSITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART
OF MY WORK.
IT'S LIKE YOU THINK THAT'S JUST
A CITY?
WELL, NO IT'S A,
THERE USED TO BE OAK SAVANNAH
THERE AND BEFORE
THE OAK SAVANNAH IT USED
TO BE HUNTED BY, YOU KNOW,
DAKOTA AND SUE,
AND BEFORE THAT IT'S LIKE.
THE HISTORY OF SPACE IS,
WE OFTEN FORGET ABOUT.
THIS IS NATURE,
LIKE DEAD NATURE AND THEN
CULTURE.
SO YOU'VE GOT COFFEE CUPS,
STYROFOAM,
IT'S LIKE THIS IS THE PERFECT
BLENDING POT RIGHT HERE.
THIS IS LIKE REALITY OF WHAT
EXISTS.
I'VE GOT THIS FRAMEWORK
ESTABLISHED HERE,
AND THE WATER WORKS GREAT
BECAUSE I CAN GO AND ERASE
THINGS.
LIKE THIS AREA RIGHT HERE,
IF I SPRAY THAT UP CLOSE
YOU CAN SEE THAT LIKE ANY PAINT
THAT WAS STILL WET WILL START
TO FALL AWAY.
AND YOU GET THIS PATTERN
OF DECAY AND THEN HAVING
THAT ACTUALLY HAPPEN ON
THE SURFACE OF THE PAINTING
ALWAYS SEEMED INTERESTING.
IN ORDER TO HOLD THEM,
THEY NEED TO DRY LIKE THAT.
I THINK ABOUT WHAT'S
REPRESENTED TWO-DIMENSIONALLY
AND SOMETIMES TRY TO CREATE
A COMPLEMENT TO IT
THREE-DIMENSIONALLY.
THIS ALL STARTED BY,
I MADE SOME PAINTINGS THAT
HAD TWO OR THREE SHEETS
OF PAPER ON IT.
AND I WOULD GO THROUGH
AND I WOULD RIP THROUGH THEM
AND THEN I'D START PAINTING
THE NEXT SCENE ON TO THAT
AS THOUGH IT'S LIKE A MOMENT
IN TIME.
AND THEN YOU PASS THROUGH
THE THRESHOLD OF THAT MOMENT
INTO THE NEXT STAGE.
THE PAINT THAT DRIPS DOWN
WOULD POOL UP INSIDE OF THESE,
LIKE, RELIEF AREAS.
I THOUGHT OKAY WELL THAT RELIEF
AREA THEN BECOMES A LAKE.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
AROUND A LAKE?
YOU'RE GONNA GET,
THERE'S WATER THERE
SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE GROWTH
UP AROUND THE LAKE,
SO IT SEEMED LIKE A RICH PLACE
TO KIND OF START PUTTING
THE RELIEF ELEMENTS IN.
JUST HAVING THEM STAND THERE
LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY CAN
BECAUSE THE PAPER COMES OUT
IN RELIEF,
THEN THE OBJECTS CAN USE
THAT AS A FOOTHOLD TO START,
IT'S LIKE ON THE SIDE
OF A CLIFF.
ANY ROCK THAT COMES OUT,
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING
THAT'S GROWING ON THERE,
WHERE AS THE CLIFF FACE
IT'S MUCH MORE RARE.
WHEN I BRING SCULPTURAL ELEMENTS
IN OR LIKE PIECES FROM THE LAND,
I HAVE A TENDENCY TO THINK ABOUT
MODES OF REPRESENTATION.
DO YOU HAVE AN ILLUSIONISTIC
SPACE THAT IS PAINTED
WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO
AND WITH THEIR MIND YOU HAVE
A SPACE THAT ACTUALLY COMES OUT
THAT PEOPLE CAN MOVE AROUND
WITH THEIR BODY AND THEN
YOU HAVE THESE LIKE FAKE KIND
OF MODEL TYPE MATERIALS THAT
ARE PRODUCED ON THERE.
TREES THAT I MAKE FROM SEDUM
OR LIKE THE TEXTURAL TYPE
OF THINGS.
SO I STARTED FOOLING AROUND
WITH VARIOUS PLASTIC BAGS.
THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN TAKE
AND MAKE A FORM THAT LOOKS
LIKE SOMETHING NATURAL OUT
OF SOMETHING THAT'S YOU KNOW,
PETROLEUM BASED AND COMPLETELY
DESTRUCTIVE AND HAVE THAT
IN THIS LANDSCAPE THAT'S KIND
OF IMPORTANT BECAUSE
THE LANDSCAPE ITSELF SEEMS
VERY PICTURESQUE.
BUT, YOU KNOW,
THESE ARE THE THINGS WE USE
ON A DAILY BASIS THAT ARE
THE ANTITHESIS TO THIS KIND
OF IDEA.
ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT MODES
OF REPRESENTATION
GET INTRODUCED INTO
THE SCULPTURAL MIX AND IT'S
KIND OF LEFT TO THE VIEWER
TO NEGOTIATE HOW THOSE THINGS
BLEND TOGETHER.
IF I JUST MADE BEAUTIFUL
PAINTINGS,
WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET
AT WITHIN THE WORK WOULD BE
LOST, YOU KNOW.
SO IF I COULD INTRODUCE AS MUCH
GARBAGE AS POSSIBLE
FROM THE LAND INTO THE WORK,
THAT KIND OF REFLECTS ON
THE STATE OF LAND TODAY
AS WELL AS MAKING THE PAINTING
A LITTLE MORE REALISTIC TO ME.
I WANT IT TO FEEL LIKE
I'M PRESENT IN THE LAND
IN GENERAL, YOU KNOW,
AND IT CONTAINS ALL
OF THE THOUGHTS THAT I HAVE.
I THINK THAT'S HOW I WANT
TO JUST KEEP MAKING IT MORE
AND MORE REALISTIC IN THAT
SENSE.
WHEN I LOOK AT A LANDSCAPE
PAINTING I THINK WELL
THAT'S LIKE ONE-TWELFTH
OF THE STORY.
>> RHEA: GREGORY EUCLIDE
RECENTLY WRAPPED SHOWS
IN MINNEAPOLIS, MIAMI,
AND NEW YORK.
HIS ART IS ALSO FEATURED
ON THE COVERS OF SEVERAL
BON IVER ALBUMS.
TO FIND OUT MORE,
VISIT
GREGORYEUCLIDE.COM.
NEXT,
WE VISIT PRATT INSTITUTE
IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
PRATT IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S
MOST PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGES
OF ART, DESIGN,
AND ARCHITECTURE.
ITS ALUMNI AND FACULTY HAVE
PRODUCED WORKS THAT HAVE CHANGED
THE WORLD.
NOW CELEBRATING ITS 125TH YEAR,
PRATT INSTITUTE IS HELPING
DESIGN STUDENTS MAKE
A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE WORLD
WITH ITS "DESIGN INCUBATOR."
STUDENTS USE THEIR SKILLS
TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS
AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE
COMPANIES.
HERE'S A LOOK.
>> DEBERA JOHNSON: THE "DESIGN
INCUBATOR" IS REALLY FOCUSING
ON TRANSITIONING DESIGNERS
INTO DESIGN ENTREPRENEURS.
THESE CREATIVE,
TALENTED PEOPLE
STARTING ENTERPRISES,
BEING ENTREPRENEURS AND THIS
IS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN COME
IN AND THEY CAN FIGURE OUT
HOW TO DO THIS.
WE WANT TO DO THINGS THAT
ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY BETTER,
SOCIALLY BETTER AND SO IT'S
THOSE VALUES THAT CONNECT
US ALL.
>> SAMUEL COCHRAN: YOU KNOW,
WHEN WE STARTED,
WE DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT
HOW TO START A BUSINESS
AND THE INCUBATOR
AND ITS RESOURCES HAS ALLOWED
FOR US TO GAIN THAT EDUCATION
IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ONE OF OUR
FIRST PROTOTYPES OF SOLAR IVY
AND SOLAR IVY IS A SYSTEM
OF SOLAR PANELS OR PHOTOVOLTAICS
THAT INTERACT WITH OUR BUILT
ENVIRONMENT SUCH THAT THEY
CAN BE TUNED TO BE OPTIMIZED
FOR CAPTURING ENERGY
AND PRODUCING ELECTRICITY
WHILE LOOKING LIKE IVY ON
THE SIDE OF A BUILDING.
>> ASHLEY THORFINNSON: DESIGNING
HOPE IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY
DESIGN FIRM THAT WORKS
WITH NON-PROFITS AND SOCIAL
VENTURES AND WE USE DESIGN
AS A TOOL TO HELP THESE
ORGANIZATIONS MAKE A POSITIVE
IMPACT.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
WITH TILONIA,
THEY ARE A NOT PROFIT ARTISAN
GROUP BASED OUT OF INDIA.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING
WITH THEIR DESIGNERS
IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY TO HELP
BRING A LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION
TO THEIR ALREADY EXISTING
CRAFT WORK WHICH GIVES THEM
MARKET ACCESS IN NORTH AMERICA.
>> DEBERA: IN THE
"DESIGN INCUBATOR" WE'RE REALLY
QUITE PRACTICAL.
AND I THINK THAT WAS ONE
OF CHARLES PRATT'S IDEAS
WAS THIS IDEA OF BEING ABLE
TO TRAIN PEOPLE TO GO OUT
AND DO THINGS IN A PRACTICAL
WAY.
>> RHEA: AS PART OF ITS
125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION,
PRATT INSTITUTE IS HOSTING
AN EXHIBITION AT ITS NEW YORK
CAMPUS OF ICONIC WORKS CREATED
BY PRATT ALUMNI AND FACULTY.
THESE RANGE FROM THE SCRABBLE
BOARD GAME TO THE CHRYSLER
BUILDING TO OX-OH GOOD GRIPS
KITCHEN UTENSILS.
AND NOW,
HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME
OF THE ARTS EVENTS HAPPENING
THIS WEEK IN OUR TOWN.
>> KWAME: THAT WRAPS IT UP
FOR THIS EDITION OF ARTWORKS.
I'M KWAME KWEI-ARMAH.
>> RHEA: FOR MORE ARTS
AND CULTURE,
VISIT MPT.ORG/ARTWORKS.
I'M RHEA FEIKIN,
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
AND,
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ON
YOUR INDUCTION TO THE ORDER
OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.
WE ARE VERY PROUD TO HAVE YOU
ON ARTWORKS.
>> KWAME: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND PLEASE,
DO TUNE IN NEXT WEEK AND SUPPORT
THE ARTS.
>> ANNOUNCER: ARTWORKS IS MADE
POSSIBLE IN PART BY:
THE MPT NEW INITIATIVES FUND,
FOUNDED BY
IRENE AND EDWARD H. KAPLAN.