Many will be surprised to learn that, from March 9 through April 7, there will be an exhibit of the prolific-film producer Thomas (or Tom) J. Busch’s drawings and paintings at the Project 308 Gallery in North Tonawanda, NY.
Especially for Chicagoans, when speaking of Tom Busch, what often comes to mind are his roles as a producer, location manager, or unit production manager for comical and heartfelt movies that helped define Chicago cinema, such as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989), Rookie of the Year (1993), Ri¢hie Ri¢h (1994), Soul Food (1997), and Barbershop (2002).
Reel Chicago spoke to Busch, and his comment on the first gallery exhibit of his work is: “It is time to get this out… I want to share it.”
According to Reel Chicago’s Owner/Publisher, Barbara Roche – who worked with Busch on a variety of projects, he is revered as an ethical producer with an uncanny ability to budget, keep the cost of production down, and secure the best locations.
In other words, he is considered an excellent businessman and producer.
Howling faces, sewn eyes and lips, sharp-toothed grins, frantic pistols, and piercing gazes frozen between black frames are not the images most associated with Busch.
However, when considering that Busch started out in the 1970s as an experimental and minimalist filmmaker, his current artwork is less of a surprise. Once his exhibit at the Project 308 Gallery is complete, he hopes to digitize his radical 16mm films from the ‘70s, such as One Forward, Two Back.
Tom Busch’s early films were along the lines of Stan Brakhage and were heavily influenced by Busch’s friend and film professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Paul Sharits. It was during this time that Busch viewed film as “a percussive instrument.” He remarks that his “approach to film back then was painterly.”
Three decades later, while Busch was producing Witless Protection (2008), the economy crashed and that moment in his life and the country “triggered a passion” Busch says he “had always had, but it was kind of sitting in the background.” The recession gave Busch time to work on the drawings and paintings originally meant for his family.
Once the film industry got back on its feet and Busch’s schedule filled, he still found time to paint and enter what he calls “a different world” between shoots. As he traveled the country producing movies, numerous locations influenced his personal work. For example, filming at the “Angola” Louisiana State Penitentiary, the largest maximum-security prison in the U.S., during the production of The Baytown Outlaws (2012) served as the inspiration for paintings that comment on race and criminal justice.
Busch’s artwork also reflects his “reaction to what’s happening culturally and politically.” One of the paintings featured is a direct response to gun violence and Pastor Ken Pagano’s call for parishioners to arm themselves when attending church.
In the words of Barbara Roche, “[Tom] is a do the right thing kind of guy. He is extremely talented, very knowledgeable, and he is very cool. And…very artistic as it turns out.”
Project 308 presents this artistic insight and mastery. It would be unfair to look at the exhibit through the lens of Tom Busch the filmmaker. These powerful images stand-alone and deserve to be engaged independently of Busch’s career as a producer.
However, after visiting Project 308, it will be more and more difficult to watch the films and television shows Busch produced and think of his influence on them as a businessman. From here on out, these movies and shows will be looked at through the lens of Tom Busch the artist.
To learn more about Tom Busch’s art exhibit and the Project 308 Gallery, click here or visit 308 Oliver St., North Tonawanda, NY 14120.
About the Author
Joey Filer is a writer, freelance videographer, and video editor who previously worked for Discovery Communications as a Video Content Coordinator.
Prior to that role, he co-founded WLUW 88.7 FM’s filming of musical performances as the station’s Video Director and Editor. As an undergraduate at Loyola University Chicago, Joey won numerous awards for his essays and short films.
Contact Joey at jafiler01@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @FilerJoey.
