The highly anticipated “Follow the Art: Tom Woodruff Retrospective” exhibit is set to debut at the Northport Arts Association (NAA) building on Friday, with the opening reception from 5-8 p.m. Those who can’t make it to the reception will have the chance to view art in various forms by the beloved Northport artist from Sept. 21-29 during gallery hours from noon to 4 p.m.
While people can both view and purchase art pieces like pen and ink works, illustrations, murals, stained glass and wood carvings, they will also be able to watch a 15 minute preview screening of the film “Follow the Art: The Creative Journey of Tom Woodruff” at the opening reception. Lydia, Tom’s daughter and one of the film’s producers, has been spearheading the documentary project of her father that follows his lifespan as an artist, capturing the story of how he got to where he is today.
Earlier this year, the duo traveled and did much of their filming in Michigan and other states like Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida that are relevant to Tom’s art journey. The upcoming NAA opening reception will be an important shot in the documentary as well, as many of Tom’s friends, family, and supporters will be present to see the evolution and wide range of art he’s created over the decades.
“Only a few eyes have seen some of the works that we’re putting in frames for viewing at NAA,” Lydia said. “We have found some of his art that goes back to his childhood… It follows the timeline that the whole documentary is based on. So we’re starting with the very beginning, his early days growing up in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids — We found some of his pencil drawings and his first oil painting that he ever did when he was like 15-years-old… So we’re kind of trying to salvage it all and digitize and scan it and share it with everyone.”
Looking at past works has been like a walk down memory lane for Tom just as much as his and Lydia’s recent trip to old stomping grounds was. With Lydia’s photography and film experience, they have slowly been working to digitize everything they have come across since they began digging through the archives more than a year ago now.
“A big part of this for me is just seeing things and bringing back the memories and thinking of the people who were such an important part of those times. Those are the people that I would like to honor and acknowledge through this show,” Woodruff said. “Even the ones (art pieces) that are tarnished… Lydia can bring that back up and have line clarity that’s just like it was brand new and fresh off the ink pen. It’s like a restoration project as well, I’m totally impressed with her skills and it constantly amazes me.”
Exploring the Woodruff archives and sifting through old artwork and photographs has been one of the highlights leading up to the exhibit, Lydia said, as she’s been able to reconnect with her roots and learn more about her father’s life in the process.
“I had no idea that my grandfather was so involved in the University of Michigan television center,” she said. “When I was going through the archives… it landed on a photo of my grandpa whom I’ve never met before, I just heard such great things about. It was my grandpa there with this giant film camera that says ‘U of M’ on it and my dad is standing right there next to him with a big smile and his hand on his hip and my dad’s siblings are there with his step mom… I feel like it’s exactly where we’re supposed to be in what we’re doing and how our lineage is just like a family of filmmakers. He would be so proud of the work we’re doing here today.”
Lydia said they were able to get a lot of important footage from their first trip and that she’s still in the process of working through it all to form a cohesive story. In addition, they have recruited an executive producer, John Mitchell, whom Tom has previously worked with on several other projects, and an associate producer, John Lund, to help bring together “Follow the Art.” Being at the halfway point now, she said they’re hopeful to raise enough money with the exhibit to fund the rest of the film’s production going forward.
“It’s deeply personal and it’s just finding a balance in creating this project, but also keeping that heart in the story and really wanting it to be something that people can relate to and walk away with their cups full,” Lydia said. “No one has seen his collection of work in one place before, people are going to be blown away.”
