Live An Artful Life Magazine Issue 2 by Live An Artful Life Magazine

Artful Life Live An

Magazine

THE INCREDIBLE

DAVE MULLINS of PIXAR A N I M AT ION

Doing The Charleston!

1 |

S TUDIOS

Music Therapy “A PLACE TO BE”

Live An Artful Life Magazine TM

Visit us at LiveAnArtfulLifeMagazine.com

2 |

to our readers As we publish our second issue, we must truly thank all of you who have taken your time to not only read our first issue, but to offer very appreciative comments and praise. This is certainly a labor of love, one which would be so easy to simply focus on stories and topics very close to home, but our goal is to bring you interesting, educational and certainly inspirational stories wherever they may be, and let me share, the universe is bringing new ones everyday! Here, in just issue #2, I sit down with Dave Mullins of Pixar and in the process his story will hopefully enlighten and inspire young animators everywhere. Then talk about the incredibles, meet the group at A Place To Be, where music therapy is life-changing for the many individuals and families dealing with disabilities. We also take a trip to the incredible art destination of Charleston, South Carolina, and much more! So we hope you enjoy it and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty more in the pipeline! As we find our way and play with our design, some of you have asked why our logo, which appears at the end of each story, is sometimes in color and sometimes black. The simple answer is, we thought color would better indicate a feature story and black for columns or those written by one of our regular contributing writers. Yes, it is true that during these first issues I am personally writing the features, but this certainly will not be the case as we grow. I would also like to share at this point, advertising has obviously not been our focus, quality content is. We feel this is always a balancing act with respect to any publication and the enjoyment of reading it. There is time to allow this to happen naturally, but for those interested in advertising please feel free to contact us for those opportunities. Most important is for you to enjoy what you see and read here and PLEASE, PLEASE share it with others, like us on FaceBook and Pinterest. Please enjoy and Live An Artful Life!

Tom Neel

features

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” Pablo Picasso

Doing The Charleston!

We visit this low country city, with its artful flair and culinary delights!

30 Dave Mullins of Pixar

Shares his truly incredible life of animation.

Music Therapy “A Place To Be” One word - empowering!

Photo by Tom Neel

4 |

also

inside 8

Mindful Living

with Dr. Monica Neel

“The importance of participating in creative endeavors is touched upon in multiple theories of psychology.”

Life Coach

By Kim Tapper “Have you ever known something was about to happen before it happened?”

The Artist’s Perspective By Tom Neel

“Art has experienced a technological evolution.”

Artful Life

Live An

™

Magazine

PUBLISHER, EDITOR Tom Neel tneel@LiveAnArtfulLifeMagazine.com PUBLISHER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGN Linda Neel lneel@LiveAnArtfulMagazine.com ADVERTISING 540-253-9797 CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Monica L. Neel, Psy.D Kim Tapper, Life Coach, ACC, CPCC PHOTO CREDITS We wish to thank the following people for the wonderful photos used in this issue. Dr. Monica Neel Tom Neel Pixar Annimation Studios Kim Tapper

ON THE COVER

“The Incredibles” courtesy of Pixar Animation Studios

SUBMISSIONS Live An Artful Life Magazine welcomes article submissions by email to submissions@ LiveAnArtfulLifeMagazine.com. Please include contact information. COPYRIGHT 2014 Live An Artful Life Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be copied or reprinted without written permission from the Editor. Live An Artful Life is a registerd trademark of Live An Artful Life Inc. Live An Artful Life Inc P.O. Box 163 6474 Main Street The Plains, VA 20198

6 |

THOMAS NEEL F I N E A RT

The Piedmont’s Premier Landscape Painter

“Goose Creek”, oil on canvas, 30” X 40”

One of the most collected and commissioned fine artists of the Piedmont region of Virginia, with paintings throughout America and abroad. All works are beautifully framed and locally delivered or shipped. We invite you to visit our website or call for more information.

ThomasNeel.com • Studio 540-364-4401 7 |

MINDFUL LIVING By Monica Neel, Psy.D When my parents returned my kids from a

beads with colored clay. I had vivid memories of

weekend visit recently, there was an extra item in

pieces I’d made, some of which I still have today.

tow. My dad had found my second grade school

I felt as though I was in a time warp as I real-

binder. It looked as if it had been tucked away in

ized that occurred while I was an undergraduate

its original order with disorganized stacks of my

student...over 20 years ago! How had so much

school work. Sifting through the papers, I dis-

time passed with me neglecting this interest? I

covered yellowing math pages that had been torn

scanned across the timeline beyond that phase

from a workbook and purple ditto sheets that

to see graduate school, post-doctoral fellowship,

no longer held their smell (remember those?).

marriage, kids, family illness, and my career. I

Lastly, TONS of artwork - sketches, coloring,

know many pursue all these endeavors and con-

paintings. Sadly, I had no personal memory of

tinue to pursue passions and arts. I commend

any of them. But while looking at them, I could

you! What I noted for myself, with hopes that

clearly tell they were created by a child (me!) who

this resonates with some of you, was that with all

loved art. That resonated with me and I quickly

the balls I was juggling, some balls got dropped

thought, “Why don’t I do this anymore?”

- in my case, forms of artistic expression. Being artistic hadn’t lost its importance to me, but it fell from rotation as one of the many balls I was juggling. So, what’s the big deal? The importance of participating in creative endeavors is touched upon in multiple theories of psychology. A basic premise of cognitive behavior theory (CBT) is that our thoughts and behaviors impact our feelings. Thus, by modifying our

I reflected on this to think of when I last incor-

thoughts or behaviors, we can alter the resulting

porated art into my day-to-day life. I recalled that

feeling state. More simply put, if we are doing

a friend had introduced me to making jewelry

things we enjoy, the resulting mood is most of-

ten positive. A typical exercise in CBT is to have

enhanced mental clarity, greater efficiency, and

individuals track their activities throughout the

joy. While many tasks are energy draining, ar-

day and rate the level of pleasure obtained from

tistic pursuits are often restorative to our energy

various activities. I’ve often explored with clients

and focus. Take a moment to chart your waking

experiencing depression how their busy, full, and

hours of the prior 3-7 days. You can do this on a

often over-scheduled days have very few tasks or

piece of scrap paper or on this worksheet.

activities subjectively rated as pleasurable. It’s very easy in the pace of our current world to have our time consumed with responsibilities and obligations, thus squeezing out time for self-care in the form of creative expression (or exercise, reading, etc). I often describe this to my clients as going through life on auto-pilot. Obligations

• What do you notice about the activities that consume your time? • Are you satisfied with the representation of tasks you find pleasurable? • Is there time set aside for sketching, writing, or some other form of creative expression?

like work, household chores, shuttling kids to/

An alternate theory, Acceptance and Commit-

from sports, and other errands are all tended to,

ment Therapy (ACT) encapsulates this concept

but one may feel drained and apathetic. Tasks

as “values-based living”. Simply put, when we live

that are simply pleasurable are squeezed out of

our lives based on personally meaningful values,

the schedule because there seems to be no time

we are happier and more fulfilled. ACT theorists

to “indulge” in a task that has no obvious pur-

specify 10 realms of values, one of which is “rec-

pose. I, as I imagine is typical for many others,

reation, fun, and leisure.” I find it powerful for

fell into this trap. If a task wasn’t overtly practi-

individuals to consider that “fun” is a realm that

cal or necessary, it was sent to the back-burner.

should be tended to as equally as career or fami-

However, it is flawed logic to assume there is not

ly. As suggested by Harris (2008), reflect on these

added value to “indulging” in pleasurable activi-

questions:

ties. I often use the metaphor of charging one’s phone. It takes time while it’s docked, but leaves your phone with more battery power. Likewise, pursuing creative endeavors takes a bit of time, but the resulting effect is often feeling energized,

• How do you relax and unwind? • As related to artistic expression, what qualities would you like to cultivate in yourself? • If there was nothing in your way (like time

constraints, obligations, or even perceived ability), what mode of artistic expression would you pursue?

textiles, writing. You’ll know it when you see it! Nurture your craft. Purchase a supply stash so you have what you need on hand. Have a dedicat-

Your answers to these questions may help crys-

ed workspace or, at a minimum, a specific storage

tallize your value of artistic expression. This is

space. Surround yourself with likeminded indi-

an important step, but not an endpoint. Using

viduals via classes or blogs.

myself as an example, I’ve always valued artistic

Protect time. Be realistic based on your own

expression and creativity. However, when I re-

schedule and the endeavor at hand. If at all pos-

flected on my time spent engaging in creative en-

sible spend even 10 minutes a day tending to your

deavors (based on CBT questions), I was not liv-

craft. Perhaps that means engaging in the task,

ing my life according to this value. Living by the

planning for a larger project, participating in on-

value requires what ACT refers to as “committed

line forums.

action”. It’s often difficult to initiate any new be-

Have a plan...especially in the beginning.

havior change. However, when that change is an-

Construct or seek out prompts for yourself. This

chored in values we’ve owned as important, the

may be helpful in nurturing your early growth

power of that value acts as a beacon easing our

and stretching your “creative muscles.” I partic-

path and goal development.

ipated in a drawing challenge to facilitate my ef-

Perhaps this exploration has led you to an

forts and offer suggestions for what to draw each

awareness that you do value creative expression

day. This was a simple and powerful way to facil-

and would like to transition that aspiration into

itate my efforts. I had a tiny pad and borrowed

action. As you set goals to nurture this value, re-

markers, pencils, crayons, and paints from my

flect on the following: Consider what realm of artistic expression you would like to pursue. Is there an art form you’ve pursued in the past? Alternatively, make a visit to a local craft store and browse the aisles. What mode of creativity calls to you? The options are endless from sketching, various paint mediums, sculpture, scrapbooking, jewelry making,

kids. Each day, I knew exactly what I would work

pression into your values-based living. Make

on based on the prompts. It encouraged me to

efforts to tune into the moment and hone your

expand beyond my comfort zone and guide my

senses as you fully participate in your craft. If you

creative thinking.

become caught up on the quality of your creation,

Take stock of what you notice. As you en-

remind yourself that there is value in the process

gage in your craft, what feelings are you aware of

that is separate from the final product that you

during and after? I noticed while drawing that I

create.

became physically very calm and mentally noted a mindful meditative state. Throughout the course of my days while participating in the drawing challenge, I noted an enhanced awareness of my surroundings and a tendency to tune in more fully to color, light, shading, and angles of objects

Live An Artful Life

Hats

and landscapes around me. I also tended to feel more centered, patient, and proud of myself for devoting even a small bit of time to something that interested me. Maintain committed action. As you tackle the immediate and short term goals above, continue to consider the actions you can take in the next few weeks and months to nurture your value. Consider long-term goals you’d like to work towards. Over the course of the next year, how would you like to see your relationship with your craft evolve? Are there particular projects you’d like to undertake of further training you’d like to pursue? As you move forward, remember that the overarching goal here is to incorporate creative ex-

For your artful lifestyle! Complete with the Live An Artful Life logo embroidered on the front and “Live An Artful Life” embroidered in script on both sides. 100% brushed cotton twill with a self-fabric closure and adjustable D-ring slider that hides for a neat look. This is a great light weight hat! Colors are Stone with Burgundy stitching, Ice Blue with Navy stitching and Tangerine with Cream stitching.

Buy Yours Today! Only $20

Doing The

Charleston! by Tom Neel

12 |

Visiting the low countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sensational art destination!

â&#x20AC;˘

recently came to Charleston after a long and

that which is artful and oh my God, there is so

overdue absence. No matter, as it seems if

much to say.

you haven’t visited this historic downtown

First, this is what an art destination is suppose

city yourself in a little less than a handful of years,

to feel like, but it is just one layer of its fabric, so

you’ll see the change too. I came with an artful

allow me to peel away. Charleston is an historic

story in mind, but the plot thickened and Charles-

town, a college town, a seaport town, a shopping

ton’s developing narrative took a turn, becoming

town, a culinary powerhouse, as well as an art

what I’ll now have to whittle down to a peep show

destination. As near as I can tell, it does all of

from a massive performance you’ll just have to go

them more than well. If you are looking for mod-

and see for yourself. In that light, think of this as

ern architecture, downtown is historic, enough

the program for the production of Charleston!

said. But if you, like me, think walking into an

Charleston is a town that is so dramatically drenching itself in its own artfulness, visitors

old building and finding modern interior design is cool, you’ll love it.

can’t help themselves from becoming intoxicated

It’s best here to think of looking for galleries and

by it. Make no mistake, this is a potent cocktail,

culinary delights like an Easter egg hunt. Sure,

a brewing concoction that requires the souls of

you’ll easily find eggs as soon as you begin, even

your shoes to get dirty in an endless series of left

enough to fill your basket. But you don’t just

and right turns along some of Charleston’s undu-

want quantity, you want the personality of the

lating, tree-rooted sidewalks.

place and for that you need to be adventurous,

If you were to only walk a handful of the more

extending your reach for the more hidden trea-

polished blocks of Charleston’s King Street, you

sures. There is no one street that delivers every-

would at least leave whelmed in what it has to

thing and the establishments that seem sitting by

offer. Add in the less polished paralleling Meet-

themselves are often the hidden gems. So allow

ing Street and that would certainly help fill your

me to try and offer a just quick novice’s guide of

cup. But make no mistake in thinking you would

Charleston’s artful downtown. This guide by no

have even come close in any sense to the creative

means will cover everything or every part of what

character or texture of this overwhelming place.

Charleston has to offer, but is rather a place to

There’s been plenty written about Charleston and

begin.

so not to write a book myself, my focus must be 14 |

So grab your map and let's begin at the intersec-

“Charleston is a town that is so dramatically drenching itself in its own artfulness, visitors can’t help themselves from becoming intoxicated by it.”

tion of King Street and Calhoun. The tone here is

Shepard Fairey’s graphic murals can be found

set by Marion Square which hosts many outdoor

around town, thus adding to the discovery aspect

artisan festivals, and the College of Charleston,

of our visit.

which gives the surrounding blocks that youthful

Now heading south down King, passing the Ap-

funky feel. Now on this note, you just have to visit

ple store, the college facades transition to fashion

Urban Outfitters location at 371 King. Once the

apparel and such. At Beaufain Street, King makes

Garden Theater, the massive old vaudeville play-

a little turn to the right on its way to the intersec-

house turned cinema building, which was built in

tion at Market Street. Along that block on the left

1918, went through all the challenges you could

is the Belmond Charleston Place Hotel with its

image before its final closing in 2003. Walking

chic indoor mall; think Louis Vuitton. South of

past it, confusion set in as I tried to comprehend

Market seems to have once been the antique dis-

if I was seeing a renovation or an operating busi-

trict, but the evolutionary progression is towards

ness. I walked in and my jaw dropped to find how

a deeper presence of art galleries. Notables are

Urban Outfitters, a college apparel shop, stamped

the well established - The Sylvan Gallery, whose

their brand on this place. Their interior design

owner Joe Sylvan (a great guy) has roots in the

is essentially wrecking ball meets post-apoca-

west. Joe found his way east a dozen or more

lypse, and it is so cool. The bones of the theater

years ago after already having been a veteran gal-

are there including the mezzanine, but the rest is

lery director. He represents realist painters and

under destruction, with the racks of hole-in-the-

masters Scott Burdick & Susan Lyon are among

knee jeans and tees. Possibly depending on your

them.

age, you’ll either be happy or disturbed, but from a creative perspective, this is true vision in play and you’ll have seen nothing like it. Trust me. On Calhoun you can also find the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art which while there was featuring "The Insistent Image: Recurrent Motifs in the Art of Shepard Fairey and Jasper Johns." Joe Sylvan

Also in his company is the newer Reinert-LeP-

aforementioned galleries alone, offer a very wide

rince Fine Art. I think Kevin LePrince is the only

variety of visual delight, but leaving ground level

Charleston-born person I met. Both he and Rick

you also visit the Yellow Door Gallery above Rein-

Reinert have businessman pasts, Kevin, as a VP

ert-LePrince and just up the block, Paderewski &

for Wachovia Securities and Rick, an entrepre-

The Sportsman Gallery, formerly from Atlanta,

neur and both have traded their suits in for shorts!

where friend Annie is employed. The ground

This is a studio gallery, but very presentable, open

swell of new galleries and especially established

seven days a week, where you will very likely see

galleries moving in over just the last two years

both painting. More rare than you would think,

alone, is noticeable. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as though Charleston is

even for Charleston.

telling the rest of the U.S. galleries to please turn

The relatively new Atelier Gallery, is actually not new at all, just formerly found in Asheville. Think

off the lights as they leave their old town before moving in.

diversity, a very enjoyable gallery, their specialty

Continuing our path down King Street, I found

being artists of multiple mediums. These three

some sort of natural tendency to want to turn left Reinert-LePrince Gallery (left) Yellow Door Gallery (below)

Atelier Gallery (above and right)

18 |

at Queen Street, cutting over there to Meeting

down to both locations being just blocks from the

Street, yet the next block down on King is Broad

water. Michele’s over twenty years of fine art ex-

Street where you’ll find the Mary Martin Gallery

perience is evident. Principle Gallery should be

on the corner. At that point though, turning left

on every art connoisseur’s list. It’s like visiting a

on Broad Street has you up to your ears in gov-

fine art museum where everything is for sale.

ernment buildings. So, for the sake of ease, let’s

And speaking of museums, just up the side-

go back and make that left from King onto Queen

walk you’ll find just that, the Gibbes Museum of

and cut over to Meeting Street. Once at Meeting

Art. Created from the trust of local businessman

Street turning left again heading north you’ll find

James Shoolbred Gibbs, the museum, located on

the prestigious Principle Gallery. A fixture in Old

135 Meeting Street, began in the early 1900s. To-

Town Alexandria, Virginia, this is owner Michele

day, along with their extensive permanent collec-

Marceau Ward’s second location and there are ac-

tion, the museum is host to rotating exhibits and

tually so many similarities between Old Town and

educational programs.

Charleston that her presence is very natural, right

From this point, let’s head south again, cast-

ing a net from Principle Gallery at intersection

the Charleston City Paper, gallery owners Megan

of Meeting and Queen, over to at least East Bay

and Robert Lange are not only committed to their

Street and down towards Broad Street again. This

gallery of more than a dozen years in existence,

area is known as the French Quarter and is even

they are committed to artists through their res-

represented as such by its own French Quarter

idency program and the Charleston art scene as

Gallery Association with some 28 galleries!

members of Charleston Fine Art Dealers’ Asso-

Moving along Queen towards East Bay offers

ciation, French Quarter Gallery Association, Re-

notables such as the spacious Atri-

dux Contemporary, and Halsey In-

um Gallery, then onto Anglin Smith

stitute. Don’t miss it.

Fine Art, one of the older Charles-

The French quarter having so

ton galleries and great fun, as it fea-

many galleries to offer, I’ll rein my-

tures not only the work of Betty An-

self in by just mentioning two more

glin Smith, but get this - her triplets

places of interest. Just feet away from

Jennifer, Shannon and Tripp! The

Robert Lange Studio on the corner

corner location gallery felt rustically

of Queen/Vendue and East Bay, is

European on the outside and color-

the newly renovated The Vendue -

fully alive with their contemporary

"Charleston’s Art Hotel." The Ven-

realism on the inside. A lovely gal-

due states itself as being two unique

lery.

boutique hotels, located at 19 and 26

Venturing

further

Queen

Vendue Range. (Note: once crossing

brings a grand prize in the way of

East Bay Street, Queen Street be-

Robert Lange Studios. Oh my heart

comes Vendue Range.)

be still, I love this space. A place of

Much like its neighbor, Robert

character, the entrance really offers no hint of the

Lange Studios, the hotel was formed from ware-

treasure chest once inside. An obvious old seaport

house space dating back to the 1800s. The Ven-

warehouse, it has been transformed. Its exposed

due was renovated and “reborn” in 2014 to create

brick and open rafters offer a textured support to

Charleston’s first and only hotel dedicated to the

an artistic atmosphere of stunning art. Voted Best

arts – in all forms. Over 300 pieces of original art

Art Gallery in Charleston the last four years by

have been installed for our guests to enjoy. Our

20 |

Popular carriage rides (above) and Robert Lange Studio inside and out. 21 |

The Vendue (above and below)

DiNello Gallery (inside)

22 |

main exhibition space covers the entire public spac-

Just two blocks south at 111 East Bay Street,

es of 19 Vendue. Additional installations are on

you’ll find the DiNello Gallery. Dedicated solely

display in all guest room corridors, the public areas

to the work of Laura DiNello, who is known for

of 26 Vendue, and within our Gallery guest rooms.

what she defines as cut canvas art, the gallery and

The Vendue easily lives up to this statement and

her artwork are both worth experiencing. Pas-

I can share it will be the next place I stay while

sionately operated by her daughter Caleigh Di-

visiting Charleston because of

Nello Love, you will see a collection of unique narrative paintings, created in a collage fashion. This is where a picture really is worth a thousand words! I’ll wind down my little tour by sharing with you that Charleston is as hot in the summer as they say and “You can wear the air.” While strolling about in early July, temps were in the 90s. So if this is your planned time of visitation, bring comfortable shoes, carry a bottle of water and pace yourself. There are fun rickshaw taxis to get you around if you need, but the horsedrawn wagon tours on these blistering days seemed pretty close to animal abuse and uninteresting to me personally. The spring and fall are likely glorious

find! l fu r e d n o w a is Charleston it. It’s certainly worth your visit and their rooftop lounge is an addition-

times of perfection to visit. Charleston is a wonderful find, one you should find on your list of art destinations to

visit. There’s literally something for everyone and everyone’s taste - literally! See you there!

al recommendation.

Please tell them Live An Artful Life Magazine sent you!

Some of Charleston’s Artist Studios •

Not all artists want to work in a fish bowl, but some certainly enjoy it and if watching the creative process is your cup of tea, here’s a few places that not only allow you to do just that, they encourage it. Reinert - LePrince 179 King Street The gallery shared by Rick Reinert and Kevin LePrince, is also working studio space for both of these very approachable artists. Their gallery is filled with examples of their work and they are pretty much always there at their easels! While the gallery is very tidy, I think both will laughingly tell you that their process is less so. Rick seemed to have as much paint on him as his canvas! Rick Reinert painting

Kevin LePrince painting

Robert Lange Studios 2 Queen Street Artist JB Boyd is a resident artist at RLS and dare I say, his studio is the polar opposite of that of Rick and Kevin’s. A landscape painter of meticulous detail, his studio matches it by being meticulously clean and perfectly arranged. JB is a smiling, happy guy who doesn’t mind guests! JB Boyd

The Vendue 19 & 26 Vendue Range The Vendue is a boutique art hotel with an artist residency program featuring both national and international artists utilizing working studio space in their lobby. Additionally, The Vendue offers Art Docent Tours of their rotating exhibits which includes a one-hour, 11am, Coffee Tour. 24 |

You can even find artists working away outside, like these two mural artists we found along Queen St. near Meeting St.

Taste This Town

Charleston will be happy to feed ya! • For you foodies out there, we just couldn’t pass up the chance to tease your tummies! Charleston

ordering dessert with your meal for a you-onlylive-once experience.

knows food and delivers it through no shortage

But here’s what no review will mention. As

of creative culinary kitchens and award winning

an old carriage house, this gem is tucked away

chefs. It’s one place that offers a quantity of qual-

behind the historic (luxury) Wentworth Man-

ity. Competition seems fierce, netting you, the

sion on the corner of Wentworth and Smith

happy customer, delicious options, with solid

Streets. It is by itself, five solid blocks off King

customer service, in a wide range of building types, with great atmosphere, all over the city. That’s a mouthful in its own right! There are no shortages of BEST OF lists online and my guess is all will direct you to fabulous meals. What none of them seems to indicate is how diverse these places are in every way, but especially in location. Remember I told you Charleston can be an Easter egg hunt? Here are a few examples. We found Circa 1886 an amazing experience! In what I would call a dinner jacket restaurant (that doesn’t require one), everything was to perfection! Chef Marc Collins delivers artful food at what I felt was an incredible value (that doesn’t mean inexpensive, but it does mean - worth every penny!) and yes, take the recommendation of

Street, in essentially a neighborhood of love-

dentials are as solid as you can find, but perhaps

ly homes. You won’t find it just being hungry or

best of all, you feel you know him and thus, I felt

likely even while out taking a walk. But find it

more of a personal connection to the food, like it

you should and take a rickshaw taxi, it only adds

was made for his friends, not just his customers.

romance to the wonderful evening you’ll have.

There’s a magic to that and John has it. The list could be way longer, but hopefully I’ve made the point. It’s no secret that Charleston doesn’t disappoint the taste buds. Make reservations in advance of your trip if possible though, for that could throw a fork into things. Some places can easily require weeks in advance reservations! Yikes!

On sort of the other end of the spectrum and oddly also on the other side of town at 18 Pinckney Street, nearing East Bay, there’s CRU Café. Again, this is another hidden gem, which came in the way of a recommendation from our local friend, Annie. Not only is CRU Café off the beaten path, with its understated appearance it would be easy to walk past if you by the smallest of chances

Kitchen 208 - wonderful breakfast on patio

ventured this way at all. But make no mistake, (a place where you definitely don’t need a jacket chef & owner John Zucker was wearing shorts), venture in CRU Café’s direction! PLEASE! Great food can often taste even better when enjoyed in a relaxed casual atmosphere. CRU Café has that local feel and enjoying a meal here makes you feel at home - someone else’s home - one who cooks WAY better than you! Zucker’s culinary cre27 |

Charleston has jazz too. Try The Mezz.

LINDA NEEL

The passion for pattern and color

Contemporary Fine Art

“Copper Beach” Inspired by those magical and tranquil walks on the beach. Mixed Media with copper leaf, 16.5” X 56.5” X 1.5”

LindaNeel.com ~ Art@LindaNeel.com ~ 540-364-4401 28 |

LINDA NEEL

The passion for pattern and color

Contemporary Fine Art

“Sunrise, Blue Sky, Sunset” A good day has a great sunrise, blue sky and a beautful sunset. Mixed Media, 10” X 32” X 1.5”

LindaNeel.com ~ Art@LindaNeel.com ~ 540-364-4401 29 |

of PIXAR By Tom Neel

Okay, so let me just cut to the chase here. If you were to look at all of my 5 star rated movies on Netflix, the majority would likely be animation. More specifically, those from one of the most creative companies in existence - Pixar. There, I’ve said it and in doing so, I feel I’ve fairly pre-qualified myself as a fan of anyone that is a part of Pixar’s talented team. So it is with this, on a beautiful summer day in Virginia, I sit down with one of Pixar’s Supervising Animators - Dave Mullins. Aspiring art stu30 |

dents, artists, art teachers, parents of the artistic and enthusiastic animation hand clappers like me, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here for you! Mullins is part of the Pixar team Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m referring to when I talk to parents who address me with fears of their creative children starving as artists and I tell them as an example, that animators at Pixar are as creative as you can get and they certainly are not starving. These parents respect and can relate

to Pixar’s success on a personal level and thus, it

agery), big stunts and budgets to build sets any-

brings their creativity-killing rant to an instant

where, I actually feel computer animated films

halt. Thank you for this, Pixar.

are the most authentic motion pictures made

Computer animation is a phrase that sounds

today. No one is dressing vanilla ice cream up

simple and confusing at the same time. If mov-

to be chocolate cake. Pixar makes you choco-

ing sketches are the simple version of what ani-

late cake right from the get-go. You trust what

mation is, computer animation might just mean

you see and better yet, because of powerful and/

the computer is doing

or humorous stories,

all the work. WRONG.

which are so collabo-

It’s more like the differ-

ratively supported by

ence between digging

remarkably profession-

a hole with your bare

al artists, you believe

hands or by using a

and take an amazing

shovel. It’s still you dig-

ride. That’s why we go

ging that hole! So, while

to the movies, to be en-

those computers and the

tertained, to be taken

software that Pixar has

on a journey for a few

developed in house cer-

hours. Pixar gets that

tainly make the digging

job done very well.

a lot easier, the animator still has to very much be

These Dave with friends, the characters of “UP”

are

visual-

ly stimulating creations,

an artist and cannot simply rely on good com-

with strong character development. Yes, the

puter skills.

sound is important and the voices of stars help,

To watch a Pixar creation is literally the best

but make no mistake, these films are every bit

example of visual teamwork you can experience,

as important artistically as anything you’ll see

and so good at their craft that we tend to forget

in your lifetime. For Tom Hanks to make you

that everything we are seeing is not real. Yet in

believe he is a castaway, he needs a fake beard

today’s world of making motion pictures, with

and a lot CGI. But, for you to believe he’s a toy

perfect lighting, CGI (computer generated im-

cowboy, he needs Pixar. Think about this now:

32 |

what character do you remember more - Hank’s

ing, but Dave’s father is also an engineer and one

Academy Award winning performance as Chuck

might think that he would twist his son in that

Noland or as Woody in Pixar’s Toy Story? Need

direction. Pixar likely appreciates that he did

I even ask?

not; I know I do and so does Dave.

Dave Mullins now has decades of developing

So I start by asking Dave if he was destined

his craft as an animator with Disney and since

to be an artist and his response was really fun,

2000 with Pixar where as a part of their talent-

as he tells me, “No, I wanted to be an archeol-

ed artistic team, he’s worked on the hits Finding

ogist, I wanted to be Indiana Jones!” This told

Nemo, Monsters, Inc., The Incredibles, Ratatouille

me right away that Dave enjoys adventure, imag-

and Cars. His IMDb (Internet Movie Database)

ination and stories. He expands by sharing that

page lists him as Directing Animator for UP and

he certainly also enjoyed drawing and art, com-

Supervising Animator for Cars 2. There’s just

puters and programing, but he loved movies and

not a bad one in the bunch.

further explains, “It was a like a light going off

Sitting down with the husband and father of

in my head when I realized that people make a

two, my goal is focused more on the path Mul-

living making movies. I never thought that that

lins chose to get him to where he is today, than

was a career. It just seemed like a lark. People are

exactly on what he does today. In doing so, my

doctors or engineers, they’re real things. It just

hope is one of guidance for those youthful cre-

seemed like a distant far-away … it’s like Narnia,

ative minds of tomorrow and for their parents

off in another land!” This brings joy to his face.

and teachers who hopefully are supporting their

He questions that his parents might have known

passion.

he would become an artist and he certainly had

Dave’s parents live in Virginia. He would want

interest, he just didn’t know what he was going

you to know first that his parents were always

to do with it. You will find that the "not knowing

supportive, believing in Dave’s future, whatever

what he would do with it" comment is a reoccur-

that would be. This of course is not an absolute

ring theme that time would fix.

prerequisite of success, but positive energy sure

Parents, don’t crush the dream. Just imagine

doesn’t hurt and they have loads of it. Dave also

what might have happened if Dave’s parents

shares the acquiring of his father’s LOVE for

pushed him another direction. Thankfully, they

movies. This was a normal part of his upbring-

did not.

I then ask Dave if he was a doodler. My hunch

cause a lot of those ideas are frowned upon. Or

was correct, as he tells me he doodled a lot.

you watch kids when they go from drawing and

“That’s the thing, it’s that process of ideas, basi-

they’re around five, six or seven years old and

cally that you’re always coming up with some-

you see them get into middle school and then

thing, especially when you're a child.” He sighs a

they start getting around twelve and start want-

bit saying, “One of the things I’ve noticed as I’ve

ing to get really realistic and drawing muscles

gotten older, is your imagination ... it takes more

and everything and that becomes so hard they

effort to kind of unearth ideas and when I was a

automatically think they can’t draw.”

kid it would just flow out of me totally naturally.”

I think Dave was relaying personal experiences with both himself and maybe even watching his own kids grow and go through that time of creative discovery. But his observations are spot on. This is real stuff to sink your teeth into and it is a time where parents really need to water the plant and not let it go dry. I mentioned to Dave at this point, that I think kids start becoming more critical of themselves than of their art, which sadly ends up taking the blame. He totally agrees, as he says, “The thing

I told him it was the burden of the responsible

is with art, you have to be allowed to make mis-

man. We laugh.

takes, it’s iterative. You have to try over and over

At this point Dave starts searching for the right

again. It’s like Chuck Jones [animator of Bugs

words or phrase for what is a complex but im-

Bunny, Daffy Duck, etc.] always said, there’s

portant issue concerning creativity and kids, “It’s

10,000 bad drawings in you, the sooner you get

funny how when I was a kid, how free think-

them out the better.” This Dave points out is the

ing … free association… [I was]. There’s a lot of

path to finally finding the gem.

creative ideas, because you don’t know any bet-

So what did Dave spend his youth drawing

ter and you kind of [over time] unlearn how to

mostly? Fantasy! He admits to being infatuated

draw, you unlearn how to think creatively, be-

with Dungeons and Dragons and having a love

34 |

for Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark and stories

people can really relate to, you’re going to make

with sorcery and magic. The kid in him bubbles

a good film. One that somebody 80 years old

up, and remember now, that youthful lust for ad-

can watch, somebody 8 years old can watch and

venture and imagination. When you’re kid who loves to draw, this is like the keys to the car. If you love to read as well, which Dave most certainly does, you are empowering your creativity and putting rocket fuel in that car. The two of us start talking about watching cartoons as kids. Though Dave is younger than me and I grew up especially loving anything Warner Brothers did, Dave rattles off the names of Chuck Jones again and Friz Freleng saying, “... they knew what they were doing.” I enjoy Dave’s

they’re both going to be entertained, that’s the

broad grasp of his life as an animator. It’s a fun

key to making a great film.”

business, but one which you can tell he takes se-

I asked Dave if he ever wanted to be a fine art-

riously. He’s made it a point to know those who

ist, as opposed to an animator and he says in

pioneered the road in front of him, especially in

high school he painted, played guitar in rock

the likes of Pixar’s John Lasseter, who is more my

bands and he and artist friends even did plein

age.

air painting (painting outside). He also started

Staying on the topic, the two of us laugh about

taking art classes at the Cleveland Institute of

the maturity of cartoon dialog and Dave says,

Art when he was 16 or so years old, preparing

“The best animated films or cartoons are not

for college. In high school he knew then that he

written for children, but children can understand

wanted to be an artist, admitting he didn’t know

things on a very deep level that adults don’t give

what that meant and he didn’t know exactly what

them credit for. You first make a film for your-

he wanted to do, but he knew he wanted to make

self, you make it true, you don’t dumb down to

art and be creative.

children and if you can manage to do that - make

I use the analogy that if you knew you were go-

an intelligent film that has a core story point that

ing to have to cook to eat and at some point you

decided you are going make, let’s say, soup. You

him, understanding the theories of color, depth,

may not know what kind of soup, but you start

perspective, all the basics. He says, “I wanted

fumbling about with what ingredients you have

to understand how the world was construct-

or will need. In Dave’s case, if being an artist was

ed around me and then, like Picasso did or van

in a sense - soup, his ingredients were a strong

Gogh or any of the great artists, they would un-

love of adventure, story, art, music and computers. He also had a passion for not just movies, but admittedly an "aha" moment early in life that people actually made a living making movies. In college he would find the main ingredient to

Take a moment sometime and search the well known grads of Rhode Island School of Design. It’s a creative Who’s Who list worth reading and some of Dave’s RISD contemporaries at Pixar include: Angus MacLane, Scott Clark and Jeremy Lasky.

make his soup! I asked Dave during this time if he was ever told he was going to starve as an artist. He hu-

derstand what the world was around them and then start bending it to their taste, and I thought that was the best approach.”

morously admits of a starvation nightmare he

Not all creative types are like Dave, who was and

apparently had, waking frantically telling his

still very much is multi-expressive with his cre-

mom he was selling velvet paintings of Elvis on

ativity. He could have randomly chosen fine art,

street corner. It seems to be a family joke at this

music and likely even writing, but part of growth

point. But Dave, for his first year and a half of

as an artist is allowing the time to find your true

college at the Rhode Island School of Design,

artistic self and honing your skills. What if you

was asking himself, “What am I going to do to

worked hard to play guitar your whole life, only

turn this into a career? I want to make art, but I

to find out the piano would have been a more

also want to make a good living.”

natural choice? In Dave’s case, he was actually

This is a time in an artist’s life where the choices

doing everything right. He knew he was going to

you make need to come as much from the gut as

make soup and he had all the ingredients except

the mind and Dave knew he didn’t want to make

one and he was about to find it.

abstract art and so he moved toward the illus-

Illustration was taking center stage, but Dave

tration department and classes that focused on

vividly remembers the moment where he fig-

figurative work and painting the things around

ured things out and found that main ingredient

36 |

and describes it “...as a bolt of lightning!” Re-

colors], a basic programing language, which he

member now, making a living making movies

says was easy for him to grasp at that age. He

was a youthful light bulb of 100 watts. A bolt of

smiles, stating he started actually doing comput-

lightning is said to be 1.2 gigawatts!

er graphics in 1983. Note: Dave graduated high

Now Dave prefaces his lightning bolt with a

school in 1989!

short trip back in time, by letting me know again

He then enthusiastically switches to consum-

that his father was an engineer, but very creative

ing fantasy books, Tolkien, Terry Brooks and

and a master story teller, and his mother is also

anything by Piers Anthony. And so the first

creative and very funny. He then revives his love

computer animation he did on the computer was

of computers and being 8 or 9 years old when his

of the Sword of Shannara in vector graphics, “…

Dad bought a Texas Instruments scientific cal-

two pixels over, one pixel down” and so forth. I

culator. He explains, “You could do Pythagorean

am not a computer programmer, but this sounds

theorem on there and you could do different sort

a lot like using a complicated Etch-a-Sketch.

of math equations and the thing that really got

Dave says, “I did the whole Sword of Shannara

me was the fact that you could type and it would

logo that way and then put the sword in the mid-

make an image [numbers on the display] from a

dle … [a burly sound effect then leaves Dave’s

button you were pressing, which blew me away

mouth indicating the powerful animated colors

and from then on I was begging my parents for

coming from the sword] like a lightsaber!!!”

a computer.” This came in the way of a TRS-80

At this point I feel like I have gotten into a time

Color Computer from Radio Shack when he was

machine with Dave and gone back in time to see

10 and he instantly started programming it in

an excited kid having so much fun. I’m feeling

Basic, leaning towards his previously mentioned

like this article could be titled "The Dissection of

love of games. All of this led to a deeper under-

an Artist", as layer by layer I find that Dave is not

standing of computers and code, which was as it

only creative, but very smart. To hear the devel-

would turn out, yet another foundation to build

opment process of a successful artist is a gift, an

art on.

open door and lit path for others to follow. It’s as

Dave’s father eventually purchased an IBM

if he’s been waiting to tell his story and show the

PC and this was a big leap forward, allowing a

way. Trust me now, the lightning bolt he’s about

young Dave to have 8-bit color [a palette of eight

to discover is not something you can find in an

college, but let’s just say he put some of his passion on a shelf, until 1990 while in college when his roommate said, “Oh my God, they have an IBM RISC-6000 down there [at the school’s computing center] with Alias 2.0!!!” Dave replied, “What’s that!” His roommate replied, “You know art supply store or Radio Shack. Now imagine this. Dave tells me at 14 years

James Cameron’s The Abyss? The tentacle monster? They made it with that thing!”

old all of this programming interest sort of went

Dave exclaims, with his head almost explod-

away. He was still using computers and certainly

ing, “WHAT!!!” and says that he was so excited

was knowledgeable, even teaching Photoshop in

he immediately got on his bike and ran down to

38 |

the Academic Computing Center.

overload. He is laughingly muttering and put-

It’s as if he is right back at the moment when

tering to find the words …, “I’m like Duh, ... It is

his professor gets out the key to the broom closet

like a worm hole is collapsing in my head.” I’m

were the RISC-6000 was being stored, he’s excit-

laughing with him at the grasp of realization of

ed! At half the size of a refrigerator, this was a

what he’s seeing for the first time.

monster computer. They fire it up and his profes-

That lightning bolt finally hits Dave as his pro-

sor says, “Watch this", as he brings up Alias 2.0,

fessor apparently then hit the quick render but-

pulls down the menu to create a sphere, which

ton, which Dave’s explains, “...went through line

pops up on the monitor as a wire frame grid and

by line and rendered the shading on that blue

starts [three dimensionally] pivoting around it.

sphere and when I saw that, it felt like my brain

Dave is so funny in his description of himself at

blew out the back of my head.” He couldn’t be-

this point, as if his brain just went into sensory

lieve what he was seeing and says, [referencing it

by today’s standards] “It’s like the most rudimen-

ida. He did a show called Thunder In Paradise

tary part of computer graphics.” From that mo-

about a transforming boat starring Hulk Hogan.

ment since, all I’ve done is computer animation.”

There, he met a good friend who ended up going

This became an obsession, as he studied com-

to Pixar first.

puter programing courses at Brown and took

When I asked Dave how much of him is a com-

every opportunity to learn anything and every-

puter guy and how much an artist, he replies,

thing he could. Dave talked his professor into

“100% of each!” Good answer. But Dave simply

letting him do his own course in computer an-

sees the computer as a tool for making art and I

imation and as it turned out, IBM was paying

personally think it's interesting when artists get

Dave an internship because they wanted art-

so caught up in the purity of the old masters, as

ists on the their IBM computers. Dave says he

there’s plenty of proof that those masters would

started making these awful, awful animated films which were likely part of those 10,000 bad drawings Chuck Jones was referring to. But he just kept at it until he landed a job at Disney. This took from 1991 to 1995. Those keeping-at-it years came in the way of several east coast based jobs, one which he laughing says had him actually making

Dave with fellow supervising animator Shawn Krause on Cars 2

those old movie theater PSA announcement jin-

have used technology if they had it and often did

gles like (he sings) “Let’s all go to the theater,” or

use what they did have.

to throw your trash away or to buy beverages.

Creatively Dave knows he’s still growing. At

I said, hey, at least you had made it to the the-

least part of his attention has turned to writ-

ater! True, and Dave was learning and paying

ing, which he finds incredibly rewarding. As a

his dues. His first job at Disney was in 1994 with

supervising animator at Pixar, he is in manage-

the Post Group on the Disney lot down in Flor-

ment now where he’s led teams of up to 90 peo-

40 |

ple. Dave explains at Pixar, management is there

years, not days or months. Also, as an animator

to support the artists and he shares an analogy

there’s even a spectrum of specialties or oppor-

using the sport of curling. “Think of the anima-

tunities. As well, this is an industry of writers,

tor at one end and he’s got the stone and they’re

technicians, cinematographers, lighting, set de-

trying to get the shot all the way to approval. The

sign, directors and more.

director is at the other end [acting as the coach]

In the end Dave says, “Do what you love. If you

and in the middle are the animation supervisors.

love art, make art, whatever you love to do, do it.”

We’re the guys with the broom scrubbing in front

Good advice. He leaves with, “I haven’t worked

of the thing furiously trying to make sure every-

a day in my life, it’s a compulsion.” I would say

thing goes smooth. We’re trying to clear all the

Dave is certainly living an artful life and we thank

problems out of the way of the artist so the artists

him.

can just do their work.” He feels Pixar is unique in their approach and support of their artists. For those of you who might be interested in computer animation as a career path, it’s import-

ant to know that this is one place that it really

to be reproduced in any way without expressed written permis-

takes a village, a team of professionals doing many

sion of Pixar Animation Studios, Emeryville, CA.

different jobs to complete a project which takes

em iere Don’t m iss the pr al of the ne w m us ic

June 27, 28 & 2

Mission

Helping people face, navigate, and overcome life’s challenges using the therapeutic arts.

15 S. Madison Street Midd leb u rg, VA 20117 T: (540) 687-6740

w w w.aplacetobeva.org

Crest Hill Antiques & Tea Room

Vintage Furnishings, Fine Gifts, Afternoon Tea Charming Village Shop in the Heart of Virginia’s Horse and Wine Country 19th & early 20th century European & American furniture, china, crystal, silver, jewelry, art & books. Specializing in English tea-ware.



Visit our online store, at Etsy.com/shop/CrestHillAntiques Luncheon, Desserts, or English Afternoon Tea Served Wednesday thru’ Sunday in cozy Tea Room. Reservations Recommended. 4303 Fauquier Avenue * The Plains, VA 20198 * 540-253-5790 www.CrestHillAntiques.com Facebook.com/CrestHillAntiquesandTeaRoom

Live An Artful Life ™

MAGAZINE

The digital publication for your artful life!

BECOME A CHARTER MEMBER! Live An Artful Life Magazine is a free publication with an optional supportive Membership! In addition to 4 inspiring issues . . . First year members will receive a special color, charter member’s only branded hat (a $25. value), additional member only accessed content, special product offers and support of the arts through our “Give An Artful Life” program!

Just $29.

43 |

Life Coach By Kim Tapper Many say the job of the artist is to give us a new

things make you a multi-sensory human being.

perspective. Be it through a painting, a dance,

They are also the things that make you conscious

poetry, music, each medium offers us a chance to

to the world around you and to your place in it.

see, hear, feel, and examine life from a new per-

These are the clues that direct you towards your

spective, a multi-sensory perspective. Famous

greater purpose. The whispers of your heart that

author and spiritual leader Gary Zukov (Seat of

tell you what you’d really love to do if you felt you

the Soul) espouses that the time of the “five-sen-

could. They are the keys to your soul.

sory human” is over and that as a species it’s time

One simple way to increase this multi-sensory

to recognize and evolve into the fact that we are

experience is to squint. Soften the edges of all

multi-sensory human beings. Artists have been

that you see and notice what else is there when

born from this truth for years. Multi-sensory

you look between the hard lines. Or try shutting

humans recognize the inter-connectedness of

your eyes altogether and listening. How many

all people and all things. Multi-sensory humans

different sounds can you hear in any one place?

consult the wisdom of their intuition and their

With your eyes still shut, how many smells do

emotional awareness as much as they consult

you notice? How many sensations in your body

the wisdom of their intellect, perhaps even more

can you become present to? Do you feel the sun

so. But you don’t have to be an artist or have an

on your shoulders, the wind that gently blows

artist’s eye to be multi-sensory. Have you ever

the hair on your arm? Do you feel the smile that

known something was about to happen before it

emerges as you remember a time when you were

happened? Have you ever made a large decision

a child standing barefoot in the grass smiling at

by consulting your gut (intuition) and “known”

the sky just because it felt good to be there?

you were making the right choice? Have you ever

Tuning in to multi-sensory awareness lets you

gazed in awe at a sunset, or a field of flowers, or

see other people with a new perspective too. At A

a thunderstorm and deeply felt the vastness and

Place To Be (our nonprofit that uses the therapeu-

power of a world much larger than you? All these

tic arts to work with people with special needs),

44 |

I work with people that society often ignores be-

who he is and allowing him to be himself. As the

cause it hasn’t opened the lens wide enough to

fox shares in Le Petit Prince, “it is only with the

include people with differences in a meaning-

heart that one can see rightly; what is essential

ful way. Last year I met a man, “M,” whose eyes

is invisible to the eye.” It’s time to see with more

were placed closer to his ears than to his nose and

than just our eyes, to see with our hearts and our

whose jaw was so badly askew it was difficult to

multi-sensory selves into the souls and beauty of

look at him. He shouted more than spoke and I

others and all that surrounds us.

can only imagine that his life has not been an easy

These poems are excerpted from “Behind The

one. But soon we discovered that “M” liked to

Label: A perspective on people living with special

play the drums and sing. His laughter was con-

needs” about the magnificent young people with

tagious and his spirit soared and elevated us all!

different (dis)abilities who have been among my

No one would ever have known that this beauti-

greatest teachers and best examples of living as

ful man could teach others such joy if we hadn’t

multi-sensory, authentic human beings.

opened up our heart and eyes to really seeing

First Friend Energy in its purest form Like water in a faucet ready to pour forth if only someone would come and turn it on! She has interests like you and me, From books to boys she babbles with enthusiasm. Her heart spilling over with hope maybe this time she will be included, accepted.

Artwork by Shea O’Brien

“Why do people think I’m different?” she wonders aloud, “Why doesn’t anyone like me?” This little girl who just wants to imagine castles and fairies, wizards and jesters with you… She buries back into her book - alone protected by the written words who serve as her friends never understanding the intricate nuances of the bodies around her, a language others soak up with ease.

45 |

But should you take the time to reach out, should you be the one to turn the handle a cascade of gratitude will pour unto you drowning you in sheer excitement; the sweet stream of uncensored joy, and you will know what it is to matter – to be someone’s first friend

Becoming Timid yet bold unassuming yet headstrong You are a collection of opposites. Too shy to lead, but a leader you’ve become Growing more confident with time. Labels once held you back protective armor behind which you sat confused, left out longing - but scared. Like the caterpillar who morphs while deep inside its cocoon You have emerged transformed. And as you fly you will look back and remember the cocoon from whence you came, broken open left to dangle in the breeze. And you will have compassion for the old you the girl that allowed challenges to define her, the girl that felt limited and small… and the girl who ultimately learned to spread her wings and fly. 46 |

Artwork by Shea O’Brien

Grace An old soul it is clear you have,

living in a body that has let you down time

and time again

With it comes wisdom,

grace and generosity

fortitude of spirit

With it comes responsibility,

for you know at your delicate young age

what it is to live against the clock Artwork by Shea O’Brien

To wonder if when you wake up

this day will be filled with pain

or with relief

You stand upon the shoulders of those whose lives were called too early,

and upon those who, with humility and gratitude,

are still here

Now, a new day is dawning, a light is creeping over your path and

your road stretches out long before you.

Walk softly, dream big, live gloriously.

“Behind The Label” By Kim Tapper Available online at A Place to Be and Mascot Books

47 |

Music Therapy “A PLACE TO BE” By Tom Neel

Tom, Amy, Kim and Forrest at A PLACE TO BE in Middleburg, VA

What if I told you there was an absolutely joy-

healthy individuals should see when they’ve fi-

ous place for children with autism, Asperger Syn-

nally swallowed all the 24-hour news they can

drome, blindness, mental challenges, traumatic

stomach, seemingly sure there’s no compassion

brain injury and cerebral palsy? You’d likely say,

or good in the world. It’s the kind of place that

“Wow, now that’s a place to be!” And I’d say, ex-

quickly reboots the human head and makes you

actly!

so completely appreciative of your physical well

“A Place To Be” is the kind of place perfectly 48 |

being and possibly even your materialistic wan-

derings, that you find any level of personal ail-

tem, which, as we know, can vary widely from

ment insignificant. Please allow me to take you

not only state to state, but county to county. Toss

to a world you might want to feel sorry for, but

in autism, a speech impairment or other gray ar-

where your pity will be replaced with empower-

eas of emotional trauma and it’s the difference

ment. Your empowerment.

between a drive you take on a great day or one

Most of us can grasp the term disability. What

in rush hour traffic or inclement weather. One

we possibly can’t grasp, for lack of exposure, is the

is just fine, the other is slow, stressful and often

shear range of disabilities there are. It is not a sal-

dangerous.

ad, it’s a salad bar of choices and both the children

Okay, enough gloom, let me get back to em-

and parents of children who are afflicted and af-

powerment. These kids are more often complete-

fected by this range of impairments are not just a

ly aware of who they are than you might think.

few. In the barbaric old days we institutionalized,

They know they have a disability, but what they

using a sweep-under-the-rug house-cleaning

know that you may not, is that they have abilities

technique. Thankfully, we eventually recognized

too and A Place To Be strives to put the point on

ourselves as being human. All animals are capa-

that pencil. There, their disabilities are down-

ble of compassion and we, as

played, as APTB focuses on

a society, knew we could do

their abilities and normalcies,

better. Oddly, we even start-

in a safe environment.

ed redesigning our zoos, both

I think humans avoid what

being steps forward for man-

they don’t understand in almost

kind.

a contagious fashion. Avoid-

Since the enacted Individ-

ance is one thing, making fun

uals with Disabilities Act in

of it is another. But I could ask;

1975, children and youth

Have you ever found yourself

- ages 3 to 21, with a wide

among uninteresting humans

range of disabilities, are pro-

considered normal and asked

vided a free public school ed-

yourself why am I here? Well

ucation. But even those lacking disabilities have

welcome to the wildlife! No one at A Place To Be

been known to struggle in the public school sys-

can be labeled as uninteresting.

Today I’m a guest of A Place To Be founders,

on writing 35 original youth-based musicals and

Tom Sweitzer and Kim Tapper, at the non-profit’s

plays? Tom doesn’t sit on his hands much! Pro-

Summer Music Camp. The camp as a program

ficient in educational theater, he then went on to

will serve as a production rehearsal for their up-

receive his Masters Certificate in Music Therapy

coming musical, along with time for teaching

in 2009.

mentoring, creativity and certainly fun!

You

Neither of these personal metamorphoses hap-

may now know Kim Tapper as a contributing

pened overnight, but the duo’s friendship and

writer for this publication. Tom Sweitzer is Kim’s

constant collaboration has always had them clos-

creative muse and vica versa. Theatrical per-

er than arms length. I’m not sure I’ve met two

formances are possibly what this duo does best.

more mentally connected people, which I think makes for APTB’s greatest asset. While their credentials speak for themselves, I actually think their second most powerful asset is a strong sense of love and compassion. Not just in a hug-you sort of way, but that which says you are special - an unconditional love, the real kind and these children immediately sense it. These two seem to know more about that kind of love than most and it not

Yet they both are amazing examples of what can grow out of artistry. As Kim’s artistry in dance has blossomed into her work as a certified Life Coach, as well as APTB’s Head of Expressive Arts, Tom’s theatrical background has grown into Music Therapy. Just a taste of that background includes 17 years heading the theater department of The Hill School in Middleburg, Virginia. Then co-founding The Creative Youth Theater Foundation (also with Kim), and how about we add 50 |

only makes them a successful duo, it has allowed them to assemble a very able and highly professional team. Everyone knows the mission and that mission is backed by and guided by a very connected board of directors A Place To Be’s mission of helping their clientele face, navigate and overcome challenges, is unique in its multiple pronged, core approach. Tom shares with me, “We want to make sure people know clearly the core of APTB is based on the

clinical work of music therapy and we use the ex-

off button.

pressive arts; of music, movement, visual art and

Thinking she was 100% verbal, (wrong), she

writing, as additional tools for the diverse needs

then shares her portfolio of sketches. A many

of our clients.” Add in community theater pro-

paged stack of drawings, at a skill level younger

ductions and recitals and they have amazing cre-

than her years, it's filled with imagination, com-

ative resources to tailor their team to a wide range

pletely narrative including her own languages,

of challenges. There’s no other facility quite like

all from her story-book personality. I can’t help

this.

thinking a creative think tank should be tapping

The camp is full, the demand obvious, the staff attentive. There are mentors too and I am intro-

her supercharged mind. Hyperactive yes, but it’s alive and firing on all cylinders.

duced. It’s a way of letting everyone know not only who I am, but who I’m not - simply a stranger or an unrecognizable face. I quickly meet sixteen year old Crystal who introduces herself.

At sixteen, her colorfully

flowered blue dress, sun hat and chic sunglasses, would have you thinking you are meeting a child starlet. As Crystal paints you with endless dialog from a full spectrum palette - vast in vocabulary, she dramatically dangles you with words like “darling” and “awesome-licious”. This offered up with her special handshake, with each move followed by “boom, boom, boom,” ending with all fingers splayed out and her theatrical voice undulating with “sizzle-n” ... “yeah, OMG, woo-hoo!”

Crystal as “CoCo”

Though I actually found her delightfully infec-

I’m then introduced to Amy. Though struggling

tious and infused with endless enthusiasm, her

to make words, Amy knows exactly what she

Asperger Syndrome apparently keeps her vocal

wants to tell me. What I hear is a nineteen-year-

production in perpetual motion. There is no real

old young lady share that she wants everyone to

understand she is normal on the inside. What I

Being normal - whatever that actually is ... let’s

see are the effects of cerebral palsy. With hands

just say being able to fit in, is a natural desire for

clinched, her torso contorted and eyes looking

everyone, even the most flamboyant among us.

through the top of her head, she explains how she

Being an outcast for whatever reason, is lone-

is both a client and a mentor. In her role as a men-

ly and demoralizing. Amy and others like her,

tor, Amy says that her favorite thing about APTB

seek that place to be, one which sees past the ab-

is how “Everyone is accepted and that everyone

normality to that which is normal. This doesn’t

is able to be who they are in a structured envi-

mean that their disabilities are not recognized,

ronment.” Then on the client side, she goes on to

they most certainly are. It means the person in-

say, “I love writing songs and I love to dance and

side is recognized equally and this is what fosters

do all kinds of things like that.” Take note: Amy’s

ability.

crippled body may be trapped

Amy shared with me that when

in a wheelchair, which at least

she’s nervous her legs tremor. I tell

gives her mobility, but her mind

her that makes sense to me as we

most certainly is not. A passion-

are all wired with a fight or flight

ate spokesperson, she continues

impulse. She can’t fight, nor can

with, “I’ve been involved with

she run, but her legs attempt to do

APTB since it opened and one

so anyway. Thankfully they were

of the biggest things is watching

relaxed as we spoke. As an artist,

APTB become what it is today.”

in my time with Amy I ask if she

Though she struggles with her

likes to paint and she shares that

words, her conversation is engag-

Amy with her iPad painting!

it is difficult to hold and control

ing and present and I simply can’t think of any-

things with her hands. It dawned on me that a

place I rather be at this moment.

drawing app on my iPad may allow her to artistically express herself this way. She paid careful

Recently Amy shared that she has been doing physical

attention and then with only the use of her finger,

therapy up and out of her chair with the CEREBRAL PAL-

the budding artist awoke, telling me her favor-

SY ABILITY CENTER. An exhausting workout, it’s also

ite color was orange and that she loved the sun.

very gratifying. For more info visit cpabilitycenter.org

Amy didn’t know she was this type of artist. I for-

52 |

tunately knew it was just about having the right

partially blind, one with traumatic brain injury

tool and must admit I was having the time of my

and one diagnosed as emotionally challenged.”

life in the process. Soon after, Kim told me that

He also tells me, “There’s no place I would rather

you are completely present when working with

be.” By the time “Best Friend” made its debut on

these kids. So true.

June 27th, I can say for sure that there was no

At this point the camp breaks up into smaller

place I’d rather be either.

groups and activities. One activity turns out to be with World Frisbee Champion, Gary Auerbach “The Frisbee Guy." As a guest mentor, Gary fits in so perfectly with the kids and APTB because he turns the Frisbee into a learning, exercising and dexterity tool. I saw a lot of smiles. The primary focus of the camp though is the rehearsal of “Best Friend,” a heart-warming musical written of course by Tom. An experienced actor The production had 38 participants, both clients and mentors, including narration by Cameron Friedrich who's been blind since birth and his also blind brother and actor, Brendan. They would have to learn the script using Braille and then memorize it. During time with the brothers, I found that Brendan wants to be a weatherman and when someone asked what the weather was going to be for the weekend, he transformed himself, there is a depth of experience here hard

himself into a full-on weather guy with a report

to match. Working with non-disabled kids and

as professional as anyone I’ve seen on television.

adults is one thing, but as I watch this rehears-

My jaw dropped.

al, Tom shares of the kids rehearsing on stage

Possibly APTB’s most recognized client is For-

together, “There are 3 children with autism, one

rest Allen, who in the winter of 2011 suffered

traumatic brain injury from a snowboarding ac-

of his accident is the helmet he wears to protect

cident, leaving him in a vegetative state for over a

his fragile head and brain. It’s an ironic reminder

year. Forrest had been a student of Tom’s at The

too, because not wearing his helmet that fateful

Hill School and Tom had continued mentoring

day is what allowed a lot of the damage. He’s be-

him through the years. Six months after the accident, Tom reached out to see if he and his music therapy could be of help. He began the slow and patient year and a half process of working with Forrest who wasn’t walking or speaking. What eventually started as just a hum, became his first words in nearly two years - “Good Morning,” which they joke finally came at about 5:30 that evening. The American Music Therapy Association states that “music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to

come a strong advocate for wearing helmets.

accomplish individualized goals within a thera-

The camp is over and it’s showtime! The Hill

peutic relationship by a credentialed professional

School generously hosts APTB’s larger events

who has completed an approved music therapy

at this point. As a non-profit itself, the school’s

program.” Music therapy should be thought of

beautiful theater and gallery area is a perfect ven-

as valid and as important as that of occupational

ue for this occasion. With a seating capacity of

therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapy or any

around 230, you would think they would easily

other type of therapy.

have the demand covered for their three show

Today, at 21, Forrest is a tall young man, sport-

nights, plus an open dress rehearsal on Thursday.

ing a genuine smile. He walks on his own and

The dress rehearsal brings in 150 and the rest

speaks, but his voice is soft and lacks inflection.

of the shows are jam packed, sold out at just $10

This hasn’t silenced the same wit and humor he

per person, plus having kids being able to sit on

always had. He’s quick with his signature thumbs

the floor in front of the stage! The demand and

up and actually the most evident quick reminder

support is both a good thing and one that may

54 |

sadly reflect APTB’s true demand. There are a lot

you would be left focusing on actor disabilities,

of families touched by those with disabilities.

remember who we are dealing with here … this

The show “Best Friend” is about a boy who

show was amazing and ability was addictively ev-

needs a friend in the worst way and finds mu-

ident and the cast rewarded everyone with mem-

tual loving affection through a deserted pound

orable performances.

dog he adopts. This show has many layers, including its role as music therapy, confidence inspiring, mentor training, community outreach and let’s not forget entertainment and enlighten-

For more information on A Place To Be,

ment. Tissues placed throughout the theater was

or to support their program, please visit

smart, but acted little in stopping the flow of tears

A Place To Be

- both happy and sad. In case you might think Below: Tom working with the group on yet another production “44,” written by and about Forrest Allen.

The Artist’s Perspective By Tom Neel

I recently purchased a new car. It’s my first with

throughout history and my guess is that if the old

a lot of technological wizardry. Assorted bells

masters had what we have today, they would have

and whistles that we know no one really needs to

used it too.

get from point A to B. Why then? I must admit,

That proof lies in a look at the past, with Dutch

much of it is cumbersome and the old me likes

masters using “camera obscura” in the 17th cen-

simplicity, while the new me tries not to be left

tury. A more modern master, Norman Rockwell,

behind. Yes, my smart phone is smarter than me.

used both photography to shoot his models and a

But, if we progressively learn to grow with tech-

balopticon, or what we now know as an overhead

nology, it can make life simpler and often even

projector, to trace a basic layout of his work to be

better. The key is holding onto the basics, while

painted. He was quick to mention that many re-

navigating through the process of evolution.

visions would then be made to his sketch and he

Art has experienced a technological evolution

said, “Painting from photographs can be a wholly

too. It is all around us, despite what many artists

creative performance if the artist himself is cre-

think. As pure as you may think you are to your

ative.” I welcome anyone to tell me that Norman

creative process, you have progressed wildly from

Rockwell wasn’t a master painter and easily one of

the olden days. In fact, many artists seem to be

the most creative and narrative artists in history.

dragged kicking and screaming into a new world,

He understood the advantages of technology and

leaving behind the so called “traditional” ways of

where he would draw the line. No pun intended!

the old masters. I get it.

Even if any of us tries, what we could never repli-

I also understand that first there was dark-

cate in the old master’s work is their life with mud

ness, then a candle and then a light bulb. A

streets, polio, no antibiotics or flu shots and most

pretty straight-hand-drawn line, then a perfect

certainly not enjoying the abundant food supply

one made with a ruler. Hand mixing paint with

we take for granted today. Old masters were often

ground pigment, egg yokes and water, and today

starving artists because food was much harder to

paint from a tube. Water came from a river and

come by. I’ll take the modern world, thank you

now a faucet. We all have accepted technology

very much.

56 |

The creative key is not the purity of the old mas-

Here’s the kicker though. On his website, he is

ters, it’s the purity of creative basics and keeping

completely and descriptively honest about his

mindful of where the boundary line is for you

process, thus making me feel there’s no problem

and your collectors. Andy Warhol seemed to use

with it at all. He is using technology to its fullest

anything and everything in the creation of his

and proud of it. His collectors can easily choose

artwork, including lifting other photographer’s

to embrace his process or not. This single act of

photographs! He is considered one of the greatest

being transparent itself validates a new creative

pop artists of all time. I personally think he over-

boundary for him.

stepped the boundaries of originality, but there’s

Don’t think this is all simply about visual art ei-

little question of his creativity. Confusing isn’t it?

ther. Actors, dancers and singers use impressive

Today, some of the best-known artists I know,

lighting to bring drama and illusion, recording

even ones that lead the charge on painting en plein

artists and producers are using voice auto-tuning,

air, at times strongly depend on photography and

there are electric pianos instead of those heavy

even digital manipulation of their photos through

ones with all those strings inside. Hell, even a roll

Photoshop. I personally use the advancement of

of paper towels is a painting advancement from

water soluble oil paint and there are many other

the old days of a rag. Technology creeps slowly

examples of technological progression that could

upon us.

be named.

In the end, all forms of creative expression are

Recently though, I was exposed to a pet artist

choices and how you as an artist chooses to use or

that I felt was really crossing all the boundaries.

not use technology is a personal one. Being real-

I will not mention his name here, but I knew

istic about the technology you already use is be-

looking at his paintings that they were nothing

ing honest with yourself, and being open-minded

more than 100% photo manipulation or digital

about the other technology at your disposal may

paintings. Using a stylus and software, he makes

expand your horizons. I feel understanding ba-

his photo of a pet sort of look as though it was

sics is a good and necessary foundation and do-

painted. While he does call the final product an

ing what is comfortable for you from there is the

original, technically it is really nothing more than

key to your personal growth as an artist.

a print, as the original itself only lives in a digital world and can only be created as such.

Live

An Artful G A L L E R Y

Life®

Fine Art Fine Craft Made in America Located one hour west of Washington D. C., just off I-66 at Exit 31 in the beautiful Virginia counryside. The Plains is a quant little town with great restaurants and minutes away from over 20 wineries.

6 4 7 4 M a i n S t r e e t , T h e P l a i n s , Va 2 0 1 9 8 540-253-9797 • LiveAnArtfulLife.com 58 |