let me ask you something has the seed of an idea ever come into
has the seed of an idea ever come into
has the seed of an idea ever come into your mind that you thought you might
your mind that you thought you might
your mind that you thought you might like to pursue something you want to
like to pursue something you want to
like to pursue something you want to write or build or draw maybe an app you
write or build or draw maybe an app you
write or build or draw maybe an app you want to design maybe a painting or a
want to design maybe a painting or a
want to design maybe a painting or a poem maybe you want to start a new
poem maybe you want to start a new
poem maybe you want to start a new business did you push that idea aside
business did you push that idea aside
business did you push that idea aside thinking no I don’t have the time or
thinking no I don’t have the time or
thinking no I don’t have the time or money to take on such a thing or maybe
money to take on such a thing or maybe
money to take on such a thing or maybe somebody else should do that not me or
somebody else should do that not me or
somebody else should do that not me or did you say yes Nature has a brilliant
did you say yes Nature has a brilliant
did you say yes Nature has a brilliant way of nurturing ideas inside each one
way of nurturing ideas inside each one
way of nurturing ideas inside each one of those acorns is the idea of a tree
of those acorns is the idea of a tree
of those acorns is the idea of a tree and like those acorns your ideas when a
and like those acorns your ideas when a
and like those acorns your ideas when a flourish and Grove I think we reject our
flourish and Grove I think we reject our
flourish and Grove I think we reject our ideas without considering the ripple
ideas without considering the ripple
ideas without considering the ripple effect they might have on the world
effect they might have on the world
effect they might have on the world American author and essayist Ralph Waldo
American author and essayist Ralph Waldo
American author and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson said the creation of a thousand
Emerson said the creation of a thousand
Emerson said the creation of a thousand forests is in one ACORN your one idea
forests is in one ACORN your one idea
forests is in one ACORN your one idea might inspire so many others but you’ll
might inspire so many others but you’ll
might inspire so many others but you’ll never know if you don’t say yes it would
never know if you don’t say yes it would
never know if you don’t say yes it would be easy to say no to creative ideas
be easy to say no to creative ideas
be easy to say no to creative ideas because they seem too big or
because they seem too big or
because they seem too big or overwhelming I get that I felt the same
overwhelming I get that I felt the same
overwhelming I get that I felt the same way the day I discovered a fascinating
way the day I discovered a fascinating
way the day I discovered a fascinating but very obscure 20th century furniture
but very obscure 20th century furniture
but very obscure 20th century furniture maker and thought somebody should make a
maker and thought somebody should make a
maker and thought somebody should make a documentary about that guy not thinking
documentary about that guy not thinking
documentary about that guy not thinking it would be me so today I want to share
it would be me so today I want to share
it would be me so today I want to share with you how an acorn by the name of
with you how an acorn by the name of
with you how an acorn by the name of wort metric came into my life and how
wort metric came into my life and how
wort metric came into my life and how that acorn became a film Whorton Eric
that acorn became a film Whorton Eric
that acorn became a film Whorton Eric was an artist and furniture maker who
was an artist and furniture maker who
was an artist and furniture maker who came of age during the Industrial
came of age during the Industrial
came of age during the Industrial Revolution at a time when America was
Revolution at a time when America was
Revolution at a time when America was enamored with consumerism and mass
enamored with consumerism and mass
enamored with consumerism and mass industry Wharton moved to a small farm
industry Wharton moved to a small farm
industry Wharton moved to a small farm outside Philadelphia Pennsylvania and
outside Philadelphia Pennsylvania and
outside Philadelphia Pennsylvania and began making handcrafted furniture one
began making handcrafted furniture one
began making handcrafted furniture one piece at a time by saying yes to wood
piece at a time by saying yes to wood
piece at a time by saying yes to wood Wharton became one of the forefathers of
Wharton became one of the forefathers of
Wharton became one of the forefathers of the American studio craft movement which
the American studio craft movement which
the American studio craft movement which is a style characterized by independent
is a style characterized by independent
is a style characterized by independent artists making handcrafted pieces in
artists making handcrafted pieces in
artists making handcrafted pieces in their home studios if you’ve ever bought
their home studios if you’ve ever bought
their home studios if you’ve ever bought anything on
anything on
anything on see you a wart ‘no thank you
see you a wart ‘no thank you
see you a wart ‘no thank you I discovered wart in studio in the
I discovered wart in studio in the
I discovered wart in studio in the winter of 2013 it was one of those
winter of 2013 it was one of those
winter of 2013 it was one of those magical moments when you know you were
magical moments when you know you were
magical moments when you know you were about to experience something truly
about to experience something truly
about to experience something truly extraordinary you want to see inside
it’s very quiet there light flows in
it’s very quiet there light flows in from every angle standing among his
from every angle standing among his
from every angle standing among his sculptures his beautiful furniture and
sculptures his beautiful furniture and
sculptures his beautiful furniture and ephemera I could feel Wharton’s presence
ephemera I could feel Wharton’s presence
ephemera I could feel Wharton’s presence I was truly awed by his creativity after
I was truly awed by his creativity after
I was truly awed by his creativity after the tour I kept staring at the studio it
the tour I kept staring at the studio it
the tour I kept staring at the studio it reminded me of the tree fort I built
reminded me of the tree fort I built
reminded me of the tree fort I built when I was a kid it wasn’t that cool but
when I was a kid it wasn’t that cool but
when I was a kid it wasn’t that cool but my tree fort was my Haven it was the
my tree fort was my Haven it was the
my tree fort was my Haven it was the place that I could hide from the world
place that I could hide from the world
place that I could hide from the world and play and dream about the future
and play and dream about the future
and play and dream about the future again yeah I get the idea came to me
again yeah I get the idea came to me
again yeah I get the idea came to me that somebody should make a documentary
that somebody should make a documentary
that somebody should make a documentary about this guy and even though I’m a
about this guy and even though I’m a
about this guy and even though I’m a filmmaker and I felt a kind of affinity
filmmaker and I felt a kind of affinity
filmmaker and I felt a kind of affinity with Wharton I didn’t think I was the
with Wharton I didn’t think I was the
with Wharton I didn’t think I was the right person to tell his story I’m not a
right person to tell his story I’m not a
right person to tell his story I’m not a woodworker I know nothing about
woodworker I know nothing about
woodworker I know nothing about furniture making nothing about craft
furniture making nothing about craft
furniture making nothing about craft culture and how would I produce it I
culture and how would I produce it I
culture and how would I produce it I live in California I have a full-time
live in California I have a full-time
live in California I have a full-time job and where would I get the money so
job and where would I get the money so
job and where would I get the money so when the idea came to me of course I
when the idea came to me of course I
when the idea came to me of course I said no wouldn’t you
still his creativity called to me
still his creativity called to me and I thought okay Wharton I don’t know
and I thought okay Wharton I don’t know
and I thought okay Wharton I don’t know why you picked me but I’ll tell your
why you picked me but I’ll tell your
why you picked me but I’ll tell your story so in the spring of 2014
story so in the spring of 2014
story so in the spring of 2014 I said yes I felt like a linear
I said yes I felt like a linear
I said yes I felt like a linear retelling of Wharton’s life would be an
retelling of Wharton’s life would be an
retelling of Wharton’s life would be an injustice because mostly Wharton
injustice because mostly Wharton
injustice because mostly Wharton designed pieces that were patterned
designed pieces that were patterned
designed pieces that were patterned after nature in what’s called his
after nature in what’s called his
after nature in what’s called his organic style when asked how he could
organic style when asked how he could
organic style when asked how he could create these beautifully shaped pieces
create these beautifully shaped pieces
create these beautifully shaped pieces Wharton would say the wood told me
Wharton would say the wood told me
Wharton would say the wood told me Wharton listen to the wood and let it
Wharton listen to the wood and let it
Wharton listen to the wood and let it guide him that feeling of the idea
guide him that feeling of the idea
guide him that feeling of the idea coming through you is something a lot of
coming through you is something a lot of
coming through you is something a lot of creative people say they feel while
creative people say they feel while
creative people say they feel while working in the same way the Acorn has to
working in the same way the Acorn has to
working in the same way the Acorn has to release itself to nature to become a
release itself to nature to become a
release itself to nature to become a tree you have to release yourself to the
tree you have to release yourself to the
tree you have to release yourself to the creative process Wharton
creative process Wharton
creative process Wharton listen to the wood and let it guide him
listen to the wood and let it guide him
listen to the wood and let it guide him I decided to take the same approach to
I decided to take the same approach to
I decided to take the same approach to the film I listened for Wharton story
the film I listened for Wharton story
the film I listened for Wharton story believing it would guide me and this is
believing it would guide me and this is
believing it would guide me and this is what I heard Wharton Erik wanted to be a
what I heard Wharton Erik wanted to be a
what I heard Wharton Erik wanted to be a painter a profession he pursued for over
painter a profession he pursued for over
painter a profession he pursued for over a decade without success
a decade without success
a decade without success in fact he discovered wood by carving
in fact he discovered wood by carving
in fact he discovered wood by carving frames for his paintings and thought he
frames for his paintings and thought he
frames for his paintings and thought he had a talent for it his wood carvings
had a talent for it his wood carvings
had a talent for it his wood carvings gave way to wood sculptures and
gave way to wood sculptures and
gave way to wood sculptures and eventually wood furniture and by the
eventually wood furniture and by the
eventually wood furniture and by the late 1920s furniture-making became his
late 1920s furniture-making became his
late 1920s furniture-making became his full-time profession by saying yes to
full-time profession by saying yes to
full-time profession by saying yes to wood Wharton was finally able to express
wood Wharton was finally able to express
wood Wharton was finally able to express himself as an artist one of his first
himself as an artist one of his first
himself as an artist one of his first pieces was made for a local theatre
pieces was made for a local theatre
pieces was made for a local theatre group where he also designed stage sets
group where he also designed stage sets
group where he also designed stage sets and made these ingenious chairs which
and made these ingenious chairs which
and made these ingenious chairs which were fashioned entirely out of hammer
were fashioned entirely out of hammer
were fashioned entirely out of hammer handles during the Depression Wharton
handles during the Depression Wharton
handles during the Depression Wharton was able to support his family by making
was able to support his family by making
was able to support his family by making pieces for clients in the philadelphia
pieces for clients in the philadelphia
pieces for clients in the philadelphia area
area
area in 1940 he designed a room for the New
in 1940 he designed a room for the New
in 1940 he designed a room for the New York World’s Fair which featured a
York World’s Fair which featured a
York World’s Fair which featured a number of his signature pieces and was
number of his signature pieces and was
number of his signature pieces and was seen by over 44 million people in the
seen by over 44 million people in the
seen by over 44 million people in the late 1950s the Museum of Contemporary
late 1950s the Museum of Contemporary
late 1950s the Museum of Contemporary crafts hosted a major show of Wharton’s
crafts hosted a major show of Wharton’s
crafts hosted a major show of Wharton’s work ultimately recognizing him as the
work ultimately recognizing him as the
work ultimately recognizing him as the Dean of American craftsmen Morton passed
Dean of American craftsmen Morton passed
Dean of American craftsmen Morton passed away in 1970 leaving behind a legacy of
away in 1970 leaving behind a legacy of
away in 1970 leaving behind a legacy of not only beautiful wood furniture but
not only beautiful wood furniture but
not only beautiful wood furniture but also a you a dedication to a unique
also a you a dedication to a unique
also a you a dedication to a unique design for living that would influence
design for living that would influence
design for living that would influence hundreds if not thousands of other
hundreds if not thousands of other
hundreds if not thousands of other makers today Wharton is considered one
makers today Wharton is considered one
makers today Wharton is considered one of the most influential woodworkers of
of the most influential woodworkers of
of the most influential woodworkers of the 20th century all because he listened
the 20th century all because he listened
the 20th century all because he listened to the wood and said yes it took me
to the wood and said yes it took me
to the wood and said yes it took me three years to gather all the materials
three years to gather all the materials
three years to gather all the materials I needed to tell Wharton’s story from
I needed to tell Wharton’s story from
I needed to tell Wharton’s story from the museum archives I scanned hundreds
the museum archives I scanned hundreds
the museum archives I scanned hundreds of photos I listened to hours of oral
of photos I listened to hours of oral
of photos I listened to hours of oral histories and transcribed a number of
histories and transcribed a number of
histories and transcribed a number of old recordings it was a lot of work
but it was fascinating work and a number
but it was fascinating work and a number of people helped me along the way
my first editor had to back out for
my first editor had to back out for personal reasons and when that happened
personal reasons and when that happened
personal reasons and when that happened I was kind of stuck really I didn’t know
I was kind of stuck really I didn’t know
I was kind of stuck really I didn’t know what to do
what to do
what to do she had been with me throughout the
she had been with me throughout the
she had been with me throughout the production and she knew all the footage
production and she knew all the footage
production and she knew all the footage and we had already decided how to
and we had already decided how to
and we had already decided how to approach the Edit so at this point I
approach the Edit so at this point I
approach the Edit so at this point I really needed an influx of cash to pay a
really needed an influx of cash to pay a
really needed an influx of cash to pay a second editor to work with me so I
second editor to work with me so I
second editor to work with me so I launched a Kickstarter I made a
launched a Kickstarter I made a
launched a Kickstarter I made a promotional video about Wharton and how
promotional video about Wharton and how
promotional video about Wharton and how I needed money to finish the film and to
I needed money to finish the film and to
I needed money to finish the film and to my surprise a number of backers came
my surprise a number of backers came
my surprise a number of backers came forward and supported the film
forward and supported the film
forward and supported the film ultimately accruing enough money for not
ultimately accruing enough money for not
ultimately accruing enough money for not only the Edit but also music and sound
only the Edit but also music and sound
only the Edit but also music and sound design and special effects editing any
design and special effects editing any
design and special effects editing any film is a labor of love but cutting a
film is a labor of love but cutting a
film is a labor of love but cutting a documentary is really a special kind of
documentary is really a special kind of
documentary is really a special kind of patience we had over 40 hours of
patience we had over 40 hours of
patience we had over 40 hours of material we were trying to cut into
material we were trying to cut into
material we were trying to cut into maybe like a 60 minute film and it’s
maybe like a 60 minute film and it’s
maybe like a 60 minute film and it’s like a big puzzle that sometimes really
like a big puzzle that sometimes really
like a big puzzle that sometimes really frustrating you really you kind of want
frustrating you really you kind of want
frustrating you really you kind of want to give up sometimes but and there was a
to give up sometimes but and there was a
to give up sometimes but and there was a certain point where I kind of had enough
certain point where I kind of had enough
certain point where I kind of had enough of Wharton
[Laughter]
[Laughter] the next day I’d get up and work out
the next day I’d get up and work out
the next day I’d get up and work out another part of the story and that would
another part of the story and that would
another part of the story and that would finish another piece of the film and
finish another piece of the film and
finish another piece of the film and after several months the film was cut at
after several months the film was cut at
after several months the film was cut at that point I could begin working with
that point I could begin working with
that point I could begin working with composers to do the music and sound
composers to do the music and sound
composers to do the music and sound editors to do the sound design and a
editors to do the sound design and a
editors to do the sound design and a graphic designer to do animated
graphic designer to do animated
graphic designer to do animated sequences at last the film premiered
sequences at last the film premiered
sequences at last the film premiered this fall at the Barnes Foundation a
this fall at the Barnes Foundation a
this fall at the Barnes Foundation a museum in Philadelphia Pennsylvania
museum in Philadelphia Pennsylvania
museum in Philadelphia Pennsylvania where we hosted a panel discussion about
where we hosted a panel discussion about
where we hosted a panel discussion about Wharton Eric and the making of the film
so getting back to my original question
so getting back to my original question has the seed of an idea come into your
has the seed of an idea come into your
has the seed of an idea come into your life and if so what did you say I think
life and if so what did you say I think
life and if so what did you say I think people get caught up and comparing their
people get caught up and comparing their
people get caught up and comparing their ideas to others and they think they
ideas to others and they think they
ideas to others and they think they don’t have the time or money to produce
don’t have the time or money to produce
don’t have the time or money to produce them or they think somebody else should
them or they think somebody else should
them or they think somebody else should do it not me
do it not me
do it not me nature doesn’t think about time or money
nature doesn’t think about time or money
nature doesn’t think about time or money when an acorn drops to the ground it
when an acorn drops to the ground it
when an acorn drops to the ground it doesn’t compare itself to anything when
doesn’t compare itself to anything when
doesn’t compare itself to anything when called upon to create a tree out of a
called upon to create a tree out of a
called upon to create a tree out of a tiny acorn it just says yes Warren Eric
tiny acorn it just says yes Warren Eric
tiny acorn it just says yes Warren Eric was a failed painter that discovered
was a failed painter that discovered
was a failed painter that discovered wood and in doing so he founded an
wood and in doing so he founded an
wood and in doing so he founded an entire art movement his creativity
entire art movement his creativity
entire art movement his creativity inspired me to create and sometimes it
inspired me to create and sometimes it
inspired me to create and sometimes it was hard and frustrating and there were
was hard and frustrating and there were
was hard and frustrating and there were times I wanted to give up but I kept
times I wanted to give up but I kept
times I wanted to give up but I kept going and eventually the Acorn became a
going and eventually the Acorn became a
going and eventually the Acorn became a tree the lesson I learned in making this
tree the lesson I learned in making this
tree the lesson I learned in making this film is that it’s not up to us which
film is that it’s not up to us which
film is that it’s not up to us which seeds of creativity come into our lives
seeds of creativity come into our lives
seeds of creativity come into our lives but it’s incumbent upon us to nurture
but it’s incumbent upon us to nurture
but it’s incumbent upon us to nurture them our creativity inspires others
them our creativity inspires others
them our creativity inspires others Wharton made furniture I make movies you
Wharton made furniture I make movies you
Wharton made furniture I make movies you you can make anything if you just say
you can make anything if you just say
you can make anything if you just say yeah yes yes let me leave you with this
yeah yes yes let me leave you with this
yeah yes yes let me leave you with this quote from American author and
quote from American author and
quote from American author and theologian Frederick Beecher
theologian Frederick Beecher
theologian Frederick Beecher the life I touch for good or ill will
the life I touch for good or ill will
the life I touch for good or ill will touch another
touch another
touch another and in turn another until who knows
and in turn another until who knows
and in turn another until who knows where the trembling stops are and what
where the trembling stops are and what
where the trembling stops are and what far place my touch will be felt the next
far place my touch will be felt the next
far place my touch will be felt the next time a seed of an idea comes into your
time a seed of an idea comes into your
time a seed of an idea comes into your life I hope you say yes thank you
life I hope you say yes thank you
life I hope you say yes thank you [Applause]
”
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