Jeffrey Scher's illustration in "The President Sang Amazing Grace"
President Obama’s 2015 rendition of “Amazing Grace,” which he performed as part of a eulogy for Charleston shooting victim Senator Clementa Pinckney, has inspired yet another work of art. The President Sang Amazing Grace is a newly released picture book that is designed as an artistic toolkit to help parents have conversations with their children about national tragedies. The children’s book adapts Joan Baez’s song and music video of the same name, which itself was a cover of singer/songwriter Zoe Mulford’s original.
Jeffrey Scher (Adjunct Instructor, UGFTV) designed the book’s artwork, which is repurposed from his watercolor paintings featured in Baez’s music video for the song. Songwriter and Filmmaker, Rick Litvin (Associate Arts Professor, UGFTV) produced the music video and helped bring the children’s book to life. He recently spoke with NYU News about how one of Obama’s more indelible moments went on to demonstrate art’s capacity to heal.