The film series of UT’s College of Architecture and Design will showcase several documentaries about artists and designers this month through April.
Free and open to the public, the films begin at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in McCarty Auditorium of the Art and Architecture Building, 1715 Volunteer Boulevard.
On January 29, there will be a showing of Rivers and Tides (2002) by Thomas Riedelsheimer. The documentary explores the relationship between art and nature and highlights the elaborate sculptures of Andy Goldsworthy, an artist who uses materials found in nature.
The film series is coordinated by Brian Ambroziak, an associate professor of architecture, who resurrected the program in 2008 as an extension of his research about visual thinking.
Each semester features a new theme, and topics have ranged from the abstract to film genres such as an overview of Italian cinema. This semester’s series explores documentaries about artists and shows “how they engage the creative act and the development of one’s artistic conscience,” Ambroziak said.
“Film has the capability to help its viewers understand, portray and create elements of architecture and design that may not otherwise be fully realized,” Ambroziak said. “Traditionally, the use of video in architectural education and practice has been relegated to the end of the design process as a mere tool for presentation. The series considers film as a medium that has direct significance to one’s understanding of space, its multiple connotations, and the practice of architecture.”
The film series lineup:
February 12: Beauty is Embarrassing (2012) by Neil Berkeley. The film explores the life and work of artist Wayne White, the Emmy-winning puppeteer of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, who was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
February 26: Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) by Banksy. It tells the story of a French immigrant in Los Angles who, through his obsession with street art, tries to locate and befriend Bansky, an internationally infamous graffiti artist.
March 26: Manufactured Landscapes (2007) by Jennifer Baichwal explores the work and life of Edward Burtynsky, a photographer who documents changes in the world’s landscapes as a result of industry and manufacturing.
April 9: Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (2012) by Alison Klayman documents the experiences of artist and activist Ai Weiwei as he prepares for a series of exhibitions and faces conflicts with the Chinese government.
For more information about the series, visit the website.
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C O N T A C T :
Kiki Roeder (865-974-6713, kroeder@utk.edu)