Marc Rosemond interviewed by Michael Lenahan
Michael Lenahan (00:03): All righty. Hey. So, this is Michael Lenahan here at the Wave Art Program. It is July 13th, 2023. Um, I am here with Mr. Mark Roseman, right?
Mark Roseman (00:19): Yes.
Michael Lenahan (00:19): [foreign language 00:00:20].
Mark Roseman (00:19): [foreign language 00:00:20].
Michael Lenahan (00:23): [foreign language 00:00:22]. Right. We are here and- this evening for an interview session, an oral history interview questions. And it is a pleasure to have Mr. Roseman here.
Mark Roseman (00:35): Thank you.
Michael Lenahan (00:35): He has a very unique personality within the, in this, the confines of, in, in, in these walls-
Mark Roseman (00:41): Thank you, I appreciate it.
Michael Lenahan (00:41): ... and it will be great to have him. This is his first class, right?
Mark Roseman (00:45): Yeah.
Michael Lenahan (00:46): Um, and hopefully one of many classes.
Mark Roseman (00:49): Hopefully.
Michael Lenahan (00:49): Um, and it will be, it's, um, I am humbled and curious to see, and to hear, his perspective on uh, these- on the following questions. I, uh. Okay. How are we doing this evening, Mr. Roseman?
Mark Roseman (01:06): Oh, I'm doing fine. I'm doing fine. Although these circumstances, I'm doing fine. This program and everything, it just, wow. That's all I have to say about that.
Michael Lenahan (01:20): Okay, great. Um, am I supposed to hear you? Am I supposed to be hearing you?
Mark Roseman (01:23): Yes.
Michael Lenahan (01:24): Oh, I hear you now. Sorry. Oh, okay. I- Sorry. A little technical difficulty. Now I hear him. Okay, great. I heard you there before.
Mark Roseman (01:29): You didn't hear nothing I said before that?
Michael Lenahan (01:31): I- I hear you now.
Mark Roseman (01:33): Okay.
Michael Lenahan (01:33): It sounded like a little bit... when you just did that now, I heard you.
Mark Roseman (01:36): Alright.
Michael Lenahan (01:37): Yeah. Okay. All right, great. So, alright. Right now, being in this class right now, and it's very humid. Right now, we're at 90 plus degrees in this environment right now. We have a few fans going on. There's- there's a light breeze going on. But being in this class right now, how does this make you feel about...
Mark Roseman (01:56): Feel? Feel? I feel great. Although I should- I didn't feel so great all day. You know, I've been-
Michael Lenahan (02:06): Temperature? The weather?
Mark Roseman (02:08): No, it wasn't really that. I was stressing over my clemency not being heard yet.
Michael Lenahan (02:13): Naturally. Naturally.
Mark Roseman (02:14): You know, um, 30 years plus in incarceration, you know, I've- I thought it was my time and, you know, I've just been feeling a little let down.
Michael Lenahan (02:25): Mm-hmm.
Mark Roseman (02:25): So, right now I didn't think at it, of it at all. Just having these mics in my hand, sitting in front of you and being able to press a record button and, you know, music is what I do. Audio is like my life. So-
Michael Lenahan (02:40): Mm-hmm.
Mark Roseman (02:40): .. just to be able to touch the instrument itself, the recorder itself-
Michael Lenahan (02:44): Absolutely.
Mark Roseman (02:44): ...it makes me happy. Just seeing the headphones.
Michael Lenahan (02:47): Right.
Mark Roseman (02:47): It took me to another place.
Michael Lenahan (02:48): Right.
Mark Roseman (02:49): So the heat.
Michael Lenahan (02:49): Right.
Mark Roseman (02:50): What heat?
Michael Lenahan (02:50): Right. Absolutely.
Mark Roseman (02:52): That's it. I don't feel the heat.
Michael Lenahan (02:53): Heat. What's that?
Mark Roseman (02:54): What's that?
Michael Lenahan (02:54): What's that? You're used to microphones all the time. This is nothing.
Mark Roseman (02:56): (Laughs)
Michael Lenahan (02:57): This is just a smaller version of what you're used to all the time.
Mark Roseman (02:59): Yes, sir.
Michael Lenahan (03:00): You know what I mean? And even- even this is just something physical. You don't even need a mic. Your- your- your voice is your mic. Your- is your instrument. Um, alright. Um, it is a very, very unique time, um, with regards to certain brothers and inmates, and you know, and uh, in- who are waiting clemency, awaiting responses, awaiting medical clemency, clemency in general, who've put the work in, and um, you know, all blessings and- and- and positive energy to, you know, a positive outcome.
Mark Roseman (03:34): Thank you.
Michael Lenahan (03:35): You know, it is, um, for someone such as yourself, long, long overdue.
Mark Roseman (03:39): Thank you.
Michael Lenahan (03:39): Um, yeah.
Mark Roseman (03:41): For that energy itself.
Michael Lenahan (03:42): Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. So, is this living up to your expectations so far? Considering this is a, you know- and I look at this as, like, your first class coming in. We are starting off in the oral interview. Generally, the classes before we would have paintbrushes, paints, you know, all around here, and, uh, you know, we would have projects. But you're starting off on a very unique, um, scenario. With that in mind, right? Uh, is this what you expected? Right?
Mark Roseman (04:17): No.
Michael Lenahan (04:18): No.
Mark Roseman (04:18): Not at all. I didn't foresee a recorder, uh, two young girls, uh, uh, headphone sets and, uh, learning about what it is actually, a oral history, I never even heard of it till tonight. And I like learning, so this is, uh, beautiful, but not what I expected.
Michael Lenahan (04:41): Mm-hmm.
Mark Roseman (04:41): I expected to come here and draw, use paintbrushes, because you, a few guys gave me a little bit of what goes on here.
Michael Lenahan (04:48): Oh, you will next time. Ne- ne- next time. You- you definitely will. Next time, they will um, you know, um- But this is a very unique, uh, way to start off.
Mark Roseman (05:00): Yes.
Michael Lenahan (05:01): And um. And you know, kudos to you for coming in with those, you know, par- to come in and- and look at that- look at it for what it is.
Mark Roseman (05:09): Of course. I- I mean, what am I going to do? Sit in a cell? In a cage?
Michael Lenahan (05:13): Hey. Hey. Hey Hey.
Mark Roseman (05:15): Watching TV?
Michael Lenahan (05:17): Yeah. Yeah.
Mark Roseman (05:17): When I can Interact with human beings. Socially.
Michael Lenahan (05:20): Absolutely. Absolutely.
Mark Roseman (05:20): Learn new things.
Michael Lenahan (05:21): Right, Right. Right. Listen, I'll take this than- than sitting in the - in my cell right now, with the fan ri- and- and just twiddling my thumbs.
Mark Roseman (05:28): A little fan.
Michael Lenahan (05:29): You know, Yeah. A little fan. A little 6 inch fan. You know, contemplating, "Oh, woe is me." You know, pity party. We don't have time for that.
Mark Roseman (05:36): Yes.
Michael Lenahan (05:36): Get busy living or get busy dying. Here we go.
Mark Roseman (05:39): Yes. Like they say, "Move, Marine. Move it or lose."
Michael Lenahan (05:41): Move it or lose. Wha- what does not move, is dead. And we- and you stay moving in motion, baby.
Mark Roseman (05:46): Exactly.
Michael Lenahan (05:46): Locomotion, all day long.
Mark Roseman (05:48): Thank you.
Michael Lenahan (05:49): All right. What do you think you an attribute, or feeling that you can take away with you from this very moment right now, from this class? When you leave here in 10 minutes, right? What do you feel you could take away from this experience?
Mark Roseman (06:04): Take away from this experience?
Michael Lenahan (06:06): Yes.
Mark Roseman (06:06): That there are new things about- there are things happening that I have no understanding of. Nor do I know is happening. But they are happening. This in itself, being different from the 30 plus years that I've been in here, this is the first time I've had a class like this, or a setting like this, where we could record all voices on a smaller recorder.
Michael Lenahan (06:29): Mmnn.
Mark Roseman (06:29): When?
Michael Lenahan (06:30): Yes. Yes. It's unheard of for me.
Mark Roseman (06:32): So, me leaving here, I'm leaving with optimism.
Michael Lenahan (06:37): Absolutely.
Mark Roseman (06:37): You know, there are things working that I have no knowledge of. That I should just prepare myself and get ready for when they come.
Michael Lenahan (06:48): Mmnn. Mm-hmm. I have to say was very dis- I was- I was- I- you know- a bit discouraged when I saw this and heard that um, (laughs) that we have to interview...
Mark Roseman (06:57): (Laughs)
Michael Lenahan (06:57): ... and- and I'm like a recorder. What? Like, what the what what what? And- But this is, I'm really beginning to dig this. I'm really beginning to appreciate this for what it is.
Mark Roseman (07:09): Yes.
Michael Lenahan (07:10): For what it is. And I see that you're begi- you know, you- you know- you- you- you try something before even judging it. You don't judge a book by its cover. You like, "Hey, you know what? Let's try it." That's you. Me, I have my trepidations. But those are long gone.
Mark Roseman (07:24): Yes.
Michael Lenahan (07:25): And I can see that's the same situation with you as well. Um, is there anything in this class that you, over time, and I know your schedule's hectic, and- and I know we'll see you again soon um, in future classes. Is there anything that you would like to share in this class specifically? This class, in the future?
Mark Roseman (07:46): Well...
Michael Lenahan (07:48): Besides the drawing and the painting and the other creative energies.
Mark Roseman (07:51): That is all I want to do is to-
Michael Lenahan (07:54): >Right.
Mark Roseman (07:55): ... uh, actually to take.
Michael Lenahan (07:57): Mmnn.
Mark Roseman (07:58): I've lost a lot in my life and now I'm more into living.
Michael Lenahan (08:04): Mmnn.
Mark Roseman (08:04): Like I'm more into taking opportunities and advantages presented to me. So, I'm really- I- I didn't come to give, but I'm a giving person. I'm a giving person. So I do it naturally.
Michael Lenahan (08:19): Yes, you do. You do. You are-
Mark Roseman (08:21): Uh, I don't worry about giving 'cause that's something I just do.
Michael Lenahan (08:24): Yeah.
Mark Roseman (08:24): Uh, I worry more on the taking because I'm usually a person that says, "I'm okay. I'm good. I don't need this, and I don't need that." Now, I say, "Thank you, brother. I appreciate that."
Michael Lenahan (08:36): Mmnn.
Mark Roseman (08:37): And this is what I expect to take.
Michael Lenahan (08:39): Mmnn.
Mark Roseman (08:40): I expect to take uh, all the things that I haven't done yet. All the experiences that I haven't uh, experienced yet. With the paintbrush and uh...
Michael Lenahan (08:51): Mmnn.
Mark Roseman (08:51): ...papers and uh-
Michael Lenahan (08:52): Getting your hands dirty.
Mark Roseman (08:54): Getting my hands dirty and washing it off.
Michael Lenahan (08:54): That's the best feeling for me last week.
Mark Roseman (08:57): And being able to sit here instead of my cramped up you know, space...
Michael Lenahan (09:01): Yeah.
Mark Roseman (09:02): Where I take everything in there to make sure-
Michael Lenahan (09:04): Yes.
Mark Roseman (09:05): 'Cause I'm so used to being locked up for so long that I make sure that my cell is full of everything in there, that I'll never be bored.
Michael Lenahan (09:13): Yes.
Mark Roseman (09:14): So, I've got a cramped up cell full of books, papers, pens, pencils, markers, paint, uh, charcoal, not charcoal, but I mean uh, what's that? Paste? Pastel?
Michael Lenahan (09:27): Pastel. Yeah, I am sure you have some charcoal pencils or graph- graphite pencils, et cetera.
Mark Roseman (09:32): Graphic novels.
Michael Lenahan (09:33): Right. Right. Right. Right.
Mark Roseman (09:33): Everything. Tapes.
Michael Lenahan (09:35): Right.
Mark Roseman (09:35): Songs.
Michael Lenahan (09:35): Right.
Mark Roseman (09:35): Anything you could think about.
Michael Lenahan (09:35): Right.
Mark Roseman (09:38): I try to make sure I have them. But um, this right here. Yes, I was looking forward to sitting down on a regular table now where I don't have to- like, my old legs don't, you know, take too kindly to me sitting in a Buddha monk position-
Michael Lenahan (09:52): Yeah.
Mark Roseman (09:52): ... you know-
Michael Lenahan (09:54): Yeah.
Mark Roseman (09:54): ...for over- over hours-
Michael Lenahan (09:57): Yeah.
Mark Roseman (09:57): ... playing piano-
Michael Lenahan (09:57): Right.
Mark Roseman (09:57): ... and trying to draw-
Michael Lenahan (09:59): Right.
Mark Roseman (09:59): ... hand write.
Michael Lenahan (09:59): It's a bit- it's- it's a bit tough on the muscles-
Mark Roseman (10:02): Yeah.
Michael Lenahan (10:02): ... in the lotus position playing piano. But you know (laughs), the legs. But-
Mark Roseman (10:06): I've gotten used to it.
Michael Lenahan (10:06): And this uh-
Mark Roseman (10:08): Plus, I love art so much-
Michael Lenahan (10:09): Right.
Mark Roseman (10:10): ... that I ignore the pain until-
Michael Lenahan (10:11): Right. Right.
Mark Roseman (10:11): ... it becomes unbearable.
Michael Lenahan (10:13): Right. Right. Right.
Mark Roseman (10:14): So, yeah, I was looking forward to sitting down-
Michael Lenahan (10:15): Yeah.
Mark Roseman (10:15): ... on a regular table. 'Cause if I do it in a block, everybody just comes to the block-
Michael Lenahan (10:20): Here we go.
Mark Roseman (10:20): ... with questions. And-
Michael Lenahan (10:21): Here we go.
Mark Roseman (10:21): ... asking what is it you're doing?
Michael Lenahan (10:23): Yes.
Mark Roseman (10:23): Who you doing it for?
Michael Lenahan (10:24): Yes.
Mark Roseman (10:25): I fall into-
Michael Lenahan (10:27): It's impossible to find a quiet space-
Mark Roseman (10:28): Yes.
Michael Lenahan (10:29): ... and this is a- this is a refuge to come here and have a space to-
Mark Roseman (10:32): Perfect word.
Michael Lenahan (10:33): Right. You know what I mean? It's a refuge. Yes. It's a sanctuary, a refuge of sorts.
Mark Roseman (10:37): That's what I was looking for.
Michael Lenahan (10:37): You know? Yeah. Yeah. Well, "Gratitude is the parent of all other virtues," and that';s something that you live by with every day.
Mark Roseman (10:45): Thank you.
Michael Lenahan (10:45): And that's that you- I'm seeing at this very moment. So, thank you for this time, Mr. Roseman, and um, it's an honor, and a pleasure, to sit down and talk with you. Long overdue. And um, uh look forward to uh, the future. All right? And uh, thank you and uh, peace out.
Mark Roseman (11:04): Peace.