A World of Art: Works in Progress 1997
Distributed by Annenberg Learner, PO Box 55742, Indianapolis, IN 46205-0742; 800-532-7637
Produced by Annenberg/CPB
Director n/a
VHS, color, 10 cassettes, 30 min. each
High School - Adult
Art
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Head, Web and Digitization Services, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las VegasThis art appreciation video series/telecourse (which premiers on PBS Fall of 1997) takes viewers inside the studios of ten contemporary artists, including painters, photographers, printmakers, and performance artists. Each program shows an artist taking one or more of their works from start to finish, along with a personal narrative. The purpose is to show viewers that works of art do not stand alone but are personal reflections of their creators. The ten artists featured in the series are: Lorna Simpson, Guillermo Gomez-Pena, Bill Viola, Hung Liu, Beverly Buchanan, June Wayne, Milton Resnick, Judy Baca, the performing group Goat Island, and Mierle Ukeles. The video series may be used as a college-level telecourse in art appreciation, as supplemental materials for college or graduate courses in the arts/humanities, as resource materials for teacher in-service programs in art, as discussion materials for high school classes in the arts/humanities, and as a video reference for public/university/media center libraries.
After viewing the two tapes sent for review (Bill Viola and Hung Liu), I can heartily recommend this art appreciation series. The technical quality was excellent, and the audience level recommendations by the producer are right on target. For anyone looking for a way to present 20th century art appreciation as an understandable and visual experience for high school/college level students, this series is excellent. The price of $225 for the entire 10 videocassettes, or $24.95 per program, is very reasonable and accessible for most libraries or art departments. When one considers that it is almost next to impossible to enter and understand the mind of an artist at work, this series comes about as close as one can get to the actual creative experience of conceptualizing, formulating, constructing, planning, problem solving, and presenting a work of art. Annenberg/PBS productions are well known for their quality of production and content, and this series is no different.