"...the arts matter and can improve our lives just as much as new buildings or roads."
"The story of the WPA is amazing, and I've always been fascinated by it," said Rodney Whittenberg, Production Coordinator for the Spare A Dime project. "That the government took the initiative to put people back to work -- even though, in some circles, it was extremely unpopular -- showed both courage and foresight. The infrastructure that we have in this country today -- interstate highways, airports, bridges -- would not be possible without the WPA. Even more amazing, and so modern, so early 20th century, is that art was considered valuable work and that artists were an essential part of the project. Can you imagine trying to do that today -- give millions in government money to actors, musicians, writers, and painters to create new work? I think it speaks to the more well-rounded education of the last century. Everyone, whether wealthy or working class, understood that the arts matter and can improve our lives just as much as new buildings or roads."
Whittenberg is an Emmy award-winning composer, filmmaker, and entrepreneur. He is founder of Melodyvision, a full service music, audio, and video production company specializing in original compositions for film, television, and advertising. In the past twenty years, Melodyvision has met with critical acclaim for both film and recording, most recently winning Best Sound Design for film The Toll Taker at the 2012 Terror Film Festival. Melodyvision's lastest initiative, Pre-Concert.com, is an innovative tool for presenters and venues to highlight upcoming performances. Wittenberg is an active member of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and is a former governor of the Philadelphia Chapter. For thirty years, Whittenberg has educated the next generation of musicians about guitar, bass, songwriting, and band at major institutions throughout the region, including Drexel University, Lincoln University, and the University of the Arts, where as a student he studied jazz guitar and music composition. Currently, Whittenberg is teaching audio production at Philadelphia University.
Whittenberg is an Emmy award-winning composer, filmmaker, and entrepreneur. He is founder of Melodyvision, a full service music, audio, and video production company specializing in original compositions for film, television, and advertising. In the past twenty years, Melodyvision has met with critical acclaim for both film and recording, most recently winning Best Sound Design for film The Toll Taker at the 2012 Terror Film Festival. Melodyvision's lastest initiative, Pre-Concert.com, is an innovative tool for presenters and venues to highlight upcoming performances. Wittenberg is an active member of The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and is a former governor of the Philadelphia Chapter. For thirty years, Whittenberg has educated the next generation of musicians about guitar, bass, songwriting, and band at major institutions throughout the region, including Drexel University, Lincoln University, and the University of the Arts, where as a student he studied jazz guitar and music composition. Currently, Whittenberg is teaching audio production at Philadelphia University.