Pollock and Dali Subjects of Two Upcoming Movies
Wednesday November 8, 2006
by Stan Parchin
American Abstract Expressionist painter Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) and Spanish Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) are the subjects of two upcoming films.
Premiering on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at New York's Independent Film Channel's Film Center in Greenwich Village is Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? The documentary, released by Picturehouse, is written and directed by Harry Moses and produced by Steven Hewitt and Mr. Moses. Don Hewitt, the former Executive Producer of WCBS-TV's 60 Minutes, serves the same role for the film.
Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? is the story of witty Teri Horton, a 73-year-old retired truck driver with an elementary school education. She purchased an unsigned painting by Jackson Pollock for five dollars in a thrift shop. Forensic art specialist Peter Paul Biro matched up a fingerprint of Pollock on the canvas' reverse side with one on a can of paint in the artist's studio. The composition's paint was also the same as that on the floor of Pollock's workspace. Biro's authentication of Horton's acquisition opened up a controversy in the art world regarding the painting's worth, making the documentary an interesting look at how art is purchased and sold in the United States.
Among those featured in the movie are Ms. Horton, Mr. Biro and Thomas Hoving, former Director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Elsewhere, Reuters News Service reported on November 3, 2006 that Andrew Niccol of Lord of War fame will begin filming Dalí and I: The Surreal Story in Spring 2007. The movie is based on Dalí and I, the autobiography of art dealer Stan Lauryssens; it deals with the last three decades of Salvador Dalí's life. The film is being produced by David O. Sacks, Daniel Brunt and Michael R. Newman of Room 9 Entertainment.
Sacks indicated that he's interested in exploring Dalí's later years, when the eccentric artist's creative output had diminished while the sale of his works increased. Dalí's lust for money in the last 30 years of his career was encouraged by Gala, his wily Russian immigrant wife and inspiration.
Image credit:
Philippe Halsman (American, born Latvia, 1906-1979)
Tilted Head, 1942
Gelatin silver print
Philippe Halsman Estate/Courtesy of
Howard Greenberg Gallery, NYC
(As seen in the Special Exhibition Review: Dalí.)
American Abstract Expressionist painter Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) and Spanish Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) are the subjects of two upcoming films.
Premiering on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at New York's Independent Film Channel's Film Center in Greenwich Village is Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? The documentary, released by Picturehouse, is written and directed by Harry Moses and produced by Steven Hewitt and Mr. Moses. Don Hewitt, the former Executive Producer of WCBS-TV's 60 Minutes, serves the same role for the film.
Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? is the story of witty Teri Horton, a 73-year-old retired truck driver with an elementary school education. She purchased an unsigned painting by Jackson Pollock for five dollars in a thrift shop. Forensic art specialist Peter Paul Biro matched up a fingerprint of Pollock on the canvas' reverse side with one on a can of paint in the artist's studio. The composition's paint was also the same as that on the floor of Pollock's workspace. Biro's authentication of Horton's acquisition opened up a controversy in the art world regarding the painting's worth, making the documentary an interesting look at how art is purchased and sold in the United States.
Among those featured in the movie are Ms. Horton, Mr. Biro and Thomas Hoving, former Director of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Elsewhere, Reuters News Service reported on November 3, 2006 that Andrew Niccol of Lord of War fame will begin filming Dalí and I: The Surreal Story in Spring 2007. The movie is based on Dalí and I, the autobiography of art dealer Stan Lauryssens; it deals with the last three decades of Salvador Dalí's life. The film is being produced by David O. Sacks, Daniel Brunt and Michael R. Newman of Room 9 Entertainment.
Sacks indicated that he's interested in exploring Dalí's later years, when the eccentric artist's creative output had diminished while the sale of his works increased. Dalí's lust for money in the last 30 years of his career was encouraged by Gala, his wily Russian immigrant wife and inspiration.
Image credit:
Philippe Halsman (American, born Latvia, 1906-1979)
Tilted Head, 1942
Gelatin silver print
Philippe Halsman Estate/Courtesy of
Howard Greenberg Gallery, NYC
(As seen in the Special Exhibition Review: Dalí.)
Comments
Teaching Art Appreciation in an geographically isolated area, I find that trying to introduce students to independent films/documentaries/or controversial films almost impossible. Do you know of a link or source where DVD’s or videos can be obtained?