There are many visions in the river valley

I was remarkably impressed with the varied visions of the river valley that were expressed on the occasion of the recent celebration of Riverfest.

There were the artists and artisans who exhibited the creative visions of their works. They had paintings, wood carvings, pottery, jewelry and other artifacts, each with its own aura and energy. Much of it was about scenes of the river valley or was inspired by aspects of the river.

There were writers, a few of whom were writing explicitly about life in the river valley.

There were woodworkers showing their wares and musicians playing their compositions or the compositions of others as the crowds walked up and down the street, learning, looking, listening and celebrating the river.

go to column

Interns infuse Sullivan Renaissance with energy and verve

MOUNTAINDALE, NY – “I take great pride not only in my own gardening efforts, but in anything that will make Mountaindale look better,” says Leo Pucklis, a seventeen-year-old gardening intern who is working with the Mountaindale Action Committee, one of two town groups engaged in beautifying his home town as part of this year’s Sullivan Renaissance project. Such an infusion of youthful energy and pride spells hope not only for Mountaindale, but for other villages, hamlets and towns throughout the county where young people are working as gardening interns with Sullivan Renaissance this summer.

go to column

East Chicago, Indiana

We’re going to be in the same location for three days. It’s a drawbridge in the middle of a bunch of steel mills. Many of them are abandoned, and the rest are on their way out.

The scene, a dream sequence, is an interesting one. One day we will shoot Emma Thompson sitting on the side of the river, looking up at the bridge, trying to imagine a car crash. During the following days we will shoot the crash.

“So we’re not really in Chicago?” I ask repeatedly.

“Right. Closer to Gary, Indiana.”

The only thing I know of Gary is the song Harold Hill sings in “The Music Man.” And thinking about that leads me to realize that I know nothing about the Midwest. Standing on the set I am struck by how flat everything is.

go to column