Educational Media Reviews Online

Pam Walton’s well-executed documentary introduces ceramic artist Lana Wilson, painter Nan Golub and writer Jeanne DuPrau at work discussing their work. Wilson punches and carves her clay with gusto; Golub is equally physical with her art, sometimes slapping her paintings, reveling in their colors; and DuPrau is shown at her computer explaining how her Cold War fears of the 1950s and ‘60s shaped the background of her first novel, while the film reveals magazine images of bomb shelters and fearful people.

After depicting the artists at their work, Walton next shows them in a living context—Wilson with daughter and grandchildren in her studio and at home; Golub with a book of paintings of her “muse,” Dixie, or surrounded by the moving subways and lights of New York City that inspire her; and DuPrau in her garden, walking her dog or giving book tours. The film gives generous coverage to Wilson’s ceramics, Golub’s paintings, and scenes from The City of Ember (2008), a movie made from one of DuPrau’s books.

Walton lets the artists speak for themselves. Wilson mentions “the joy of creation,” and DuPrau talks about how she “discovers the book” as she writes it. Golub’s love of painting is contagious when she mentions that she believes a lot of artists “would like to eat the paint—it’s that delicious.”

The fact that these three women are all older, working successful artists may be a reason that Walton made this documentary (she also wrote the well-received Raging Grannies), but it is her depiction of the enthusiasm these artists bring to their work that makes this film worth seeing by anyone interested in the creative process. The film is beautifully shot and edited, and it evinces a wry sense of humor by ending with a quote by Wilson discussing what she has learned about her art as she has gotten older: “I know when to stop.”

Awards

• Filmmaker Award, 2014 CreaTIV Awards