Next Step Workshop

We see this throughout history in the lives of comedic artists. Charlie Chaplin, the little tramp, did not only perform as his little tramp. Chaplin also wrote his movies. He directed his movies. Often, he wrote the musical score for his movies. At the beginning of the opening credits of one of my favorite silent screen films “The Circus,”¹ you can hear Chaplin himself sing the song “Smile.” He was a multifaceted artist that expressed himself creatively in multiple ways.

Red Skelton, known for his comedy, also painted, sang and spent long hours in his garden pruning, arranging and caring for his bonsai plants and Japanese gardens.²

Steve Martin, known for his wacky comedy, also is a musical Grammy Award winning banjo player.³

Jim Carrey, known for his eccentric crazy characters like Ace Ventura, now spends hours a day painting. He states, “It is so gratifying when I finish a painting. I step back and look and think to myself, ‘well, there is something there now that was not there before.’”⁴ He is the creator.

Creativity is something that needs to be expressed. I like to say, “Art is the creative expression of the soul.”

One reason I love clowning is because it’s of its’ creative elements. Face painting, costume design, balloon sculpture, music, choreography, mime, prop-making. A multitude of other areas are included in the creative presentations of clowning. For some, their favorite part of clowning is putting on the make-up. Some love the process of designing, sewing, stitching…

The heart of the artist cries out to express one’s personal soul. Artful expression shows what is in the heart, mind, and soul of the artist. This is one reason why clowning is such a personal thing to each clown. Clowns pour their heart into their art.

International Clown Hall of Fame Inductee, Steve Smith, talks about how a clown is a reflection of oneself, but in a carnival funhouse mirror.  It’s you…but exaggerated into cartoon form.

Sometimes, artists create out of their own personal drive. It’s for their own personal enjoyment. Clowning “makes me feel good,” is voiced by those in motley. But, clowning does not exist without an audience. This artform is best when shared. Just as art is not only done for the artist’s personal enjoyment, the clown art is also something to be put on display. We perform for the public to view and experience. It’s a shared experience.

Some of the public does not understand why we choose this art form to express ourselves. Our audience can only interpret our presentations based on their previous experiences. This may create challenges.

Recently, while at the Minnesota Museum of Art, I viewed some paintings. As I looked at them, I interpreted the artists painting based on my own feelings and past experiences. I had to interpret what the artist was trying to say. Then, I read the placard next to the painting which explained why the artist painted the images he produced. What a surprise to me! His intent was something totally different than what I had interpreted.

This happens with some of our clown audiences today. Some people’s interpretations assign inaccurate motives to the clown; different intentions than what we personally have in our hearts. One example: Consider the interactions that happen between people previously scared by horror clown images and a happy friendly clown today. That previously frightened person can only interpret our art based on their previous experience.

Recently, our former WCA south east Asia regional director Sam Tee performed a children’s program at my church in Mankato, Minnesota. When he entered, one boy began to panic. I saw the reaction, and I took the boy to the back of the area away from the stage where Sam would be performing. Later, the parents of this boy shared with me that during this past school year, on the school bus, there were some high school boys that wore Halloween horror clown masks in order to scare the younger children on the bus. That was this boy’s only interaction with a clown image. It’s a totally different experience than what Ron Severini and many others have had in the past. This young boy, Ben, interpreted the clown image based on his previous experience.

On the contrary, WCA historian, Ron Severini, shares that as an infant, his mother placed a small, happy, smiling clown doll into his crib. Ron’s experience with this clown doll brought him much comfort and happiness. It actually set the pace for his love and admiration for clowns for the rest of his life.

I realize that some people enjoy sports. Some don’t. Others love going to craft stores and thrift shops to occupy their time. Many don’t. Some people enjoy country western music. Others do not. In this wide, wide world there are all kinds of people that enjoy one type of entertainment, but not another.

Some people enjoy visual arts. One may enjoy looking at painted landscapes and nature scenes. Others prefer modern art splashed on the canvas. There’s a wide variety of styles to view.

The old television commercial for LIFE cereal had a small boy in it named Mikey.  His brother would tell him over and over, “Try it. You’ll like it.”  Mikey resisted, but final tried eating a spoonful of the cereal.  “He LIKES it! Hey Mikey!”⁵

This is what I’ve learned: I can argue with someone about why they should like the entertainment I like, but realistically, not everyone is going to appreciate what I enjoy. The better approach is probably to show them what I like. Have them experience a taste of it (like Mikey) and they may find they like it too!

Various schools offer programs on the topic of art appreciation. One of my goals is to help people begin to understand and appreciate the art of clowning. Recently, I was asked to do a presentation at a local library. They requested that I talk about clowns and put on make-up in front of the children, then perform a 10 minute comedy show. I hesitated, because I had not done this for a children’s audience before, but then I realized I had a wonderful opportunity to do this as a “clown art appreciation project.” I did the presentation and had a wonderful response from all ages.

We that love, respect and appreciate the art of clowning need to share that with others. When there’s an opportunity to educate others about this historic, heart-felt craft, let’s be faithful representatives so others may grow to enjoy the art also. Share your heart as you share the art.

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^1”The Circus” (1928), Charles Chaplin. Playhouse Video: A division of CBS/FOX

²Wes D. Gehring, Seeing Red: The Skelton In Hollywood’s Closet, Robin Vincent Publishing, 2001, page 241.

³ www.britannica.com/biography/Steve-Martin

^4”Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee” (2016). Jerry Seinfeld – Netflix.

^5”Life cereal commercial” on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLQ0LZSnJFE

Artwork used with permission by Rosetta McBride  * published in WCA’s Clowning Around magazine

# posted by Randy @ 10:24 AM