Many of you know that filmmaking has loomed large in my own career. I've made a few experimental films that have done well on the international festival circuit, including a short piece for a winning music re-mix I made for Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band. Last week I had a chance to create a short project for my students about how my family has shaped me. I struggled with it for many days and really felt stumped. I had a pretty non-traditional upbringing (I could have invented the "it takes a village" slogan- no Prisoner pun intended). What stories could I tell them that would be appropriate and meaningful? The kids know that I'm all about art, teaching (and sushi!). I began to wonder if there were patterns in the family that could shed light on my own path as a teacher and artist. So I decided to do some detective work. And boy, did I make some discoveries! I knew about a few of these people, but I had no idea how far back the trends actually went- five generations of artists and teachers! I should post the film later on Youtube, but here are some highlights of careers and major vocations I discovered: parents (photographer, teacher, acting, music, recording), grandparents (concert musicians and teachers, advertising company founder, NY School Interior Design head, radio singer, drama school founder), great-grandparents (concert musicians and music professors, NY School Interior Design founder, Who's Who American Women, art teacher, muralist/Radio City Music hall), great-great grandparents (concert musician/Oberlin treasurer, architectural decorator/Vanderbilts/Whitneys), uncles/aunts (voice teacher, educator/poet/photographer, literacy project founder, admin private school, advertising director), great-great uncle (PT Barnum), and the list went on and on! So, did I find my path by nature or by nurture? I learned a lot by making the project, but the real take-away was finding a deeper appreciation and connection with the whole tribe. Maybe we've been non-traditional for generations in that our focus is primarily on art and education. That can be a bit isolating. But I'm glad I inherited that mission and wouldn't have it any other way. How about you Spy Vibers? Do you see patterns in your families?
I'll leave you today with some interesting images from a 2013 exhibit at the NY School of Interior Design (founded by great-grandfather Whiton), featuring hotel designs by Neal Prince. Can't you just hear Mancini music? Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe posts: New Richard Sala Book, New 007 Comics, Unseen Fleming in new 007 by Horowitz, Designing Bond Books, Foster Spies, Green Hornet Manga, Margaret Nolan Art, No 6 Festival, Barbarella Returns, 007 Audio Books Return, Harry Palmer Blu, One Million Prizes, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Blu-Ray, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Diana Rigg at 76, Gerry Anderson Doc, Mr. Hulot's Box Set, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Batman News, Monty Python Fathom Spies, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Mod Fashion Dolls, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.