First hour: Hidden Passions Series at the Memorial Art Gallery
Second hour: The rise, fall, and rediscovery of silent film star, Louise Brooks
In our first hour, we talk about hidden talents. You probably know that former President Bill Clinton plays the saxophone, but did you know that Angelina Jolie is a skilled knife thrower? And that Pierce Brosnan eats fire and was hired by a circus? And how about former President George W. Bush? He was a cheerleader in high school. These are just a few special talents of celebrities and politicians, but what about people in our own community? Rochester’s doctors, accountants, and college presidents moonlight as musicians, beekeepers, and quilters. Projectionists write plays, professors restore cars, and optical engineers invent hot sauce. We’ll spend the hour talking to some of these people and learning about their talents and hobbies. They are part of a continuing speaker series at the Memorial Art Gallery called Hidden Passions. Our guests:
- Jonathan Binstock, director of the Memorial Art Gallery
- Catelyn Augustine, massage therapist and co-owner of Eat Me Ice Cream
- Joe Carney, director of advancement at the Memorial Art Gallery and adjunct assistant professor of English at Monroe Community College
- Spencer Christiano, projectionist at the George Eastman Museum and playwright
- Anne Kress, Ph.D., president of Monroe Community College and quilter
- Danielle Raymo, office manager at Lime Energy and owner of the Rochester Brainery
- Jefferson Svengsouk, M.D., associate professor of emergency medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Native American flute player
In our second hour, we discuss one of Rochester's hidden gems. You may have never heard of Louise Brooks, but this silent film star was at the height of her career when she ran away from Hollywood and…disappeared. That’s until she came to Rochester and, with the help of the Eastman Museum, reemerged from obscurity to a new kind of fame. A new documentary is being produced about Brooks' years in Rochester. We’ll spend the hour discussing the rise, the fall, and the rediscovery of Louise Brooks. Our guests:
- Jack Garner, film critic
- Thomas Gladysz, director of the Louise Brooks Society
- Charlotte Siller, student at SUNY Purchase, researcher/writer and filmmaker
