Syracuse in focus (SIF)

Animators rely on authenticity to create reality for their projects, according to Pixar’s Dylan Brown. Brown, who is the supervising animation specialist for films such as Ratatouille, visited Syracuse and gave a brief talk about new technologies at the Most Museum last week (as part of the Syracuse Film Festival). He was joined on this panel by Pixar post production supervisor Cynthia Slavens.

Brown urged the students in attendance to take advantage of their personal passions as well as pursue the goal of a traditional education. We [at Pixar] “ask why, not just how,” when it comes to examining possibilities, he said.

Slavens, a 1988 Fayetteville-Manlius graduate, gave illustrated examples of “fixes” she’s done to edit, translate and neutralize films for DVD and international audiences.

Both animators, armed with Mac Notebooks for their presentations, said they considered themselves fortunate to work in an industry that marries the disciplines of art and science every day.

I was fortunate to take some interior photographs for a client this Spring. The interior featured a fireplace that was adorned with tile work by Henry Chapman Mercer. Mercer was an archeologist and  very talented artisan. There’s a museum featuring his work located in a town not too far from where I grew up in Pennsylvania.

The difference between professionals and non-professoinals, according to trombonist and composer Michael Davis, is that even pros somtimes play out of tune, they just don’t stay there. Players  learn to “listen, evaluate and adjust,” he said. These were some of his comments during a clinic he held recently at the Hotel Syracuse’s Imperial Ballroom before his evening peformance. His gig closed the season for the Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation Winter/Spring concert series.

Davis, who has worked with the Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra and rap artist Jay-Z, played with high schoolers Noah Kellman (piano) of MPH, Kevin Mixon, Jr. (drums) of West Genesee High, Chad Lefkowitz (sax) of Horseheads High and Jared Mulcahy (bass) of Skaneateles High during the teach-in, and told them to exaggerate articulation to make their ensamble more effective. Davis said his next stop was Des Monies, Iowa where he was particpate in the Band Masters Concert Series.

I read a story today about Keith Herring. He’s a professional firefighter and activist who is full of great ideas. I shot his photograph for a project he did a few years ago. He’s currently in competition for a Case Foundation program to strengthen his local community. You can see the finalists here, and also vote.

The Syracuse International Film Festival is coming up next week and SIF will cover some of the events. I recently heard an interview with Charles Burnett, and I believe he just may be the best filmmaker you don’t know. (To my knowledge Burnett is not coming to the Syracuse Film Fest, but he is however a featured artist at the Ybor Film Festival in Florida this weekend).

Thanks to EJFlavors, you can always find Wednesday when you need it–and the music is always old-school.

Models and students from the College of Visual and Performing Arts participated in the second annual Freedom of Expression Fashion show last week. The show is coordinated by the Fashion and Beauty Communications Milestone and was organized around the Newhouse School’s  year-long theme of celebrating the First Amendment.

I also covered the show  last year.

I decided to put a link here to some of the previous posts before SIF began on Wordpress.

Because she’s already nationally recognized, calling Deana Lawson an emerging artist sounds strange. But if I compiled a roster of 30 photographers under 30 to watch, she’d be on that list. (And not just because she’s my wife’s cousin).  SIF Advisory Board Member Odetta Norton informed me that Deana was recently awarded a residency at the Light Work program in Syracuse. I remember seeing Deana’s photo work when she was in high school and even then it was beyond impressive.

I took some time off last week to work with my children to produce a short for my son’s class presentation. My son produced the music; my daughter coordinated the interviews, I was in charge of finding pictures. Here are the results of our work.