Abstract Painters Then

What was it that made those historic abstract artists so different, so appealing...? This program takes a look at the New York Abstractionists of the 1950s and '60s, at some of their European predecessors, and at two Canadian counterparts, offering a broader critical context for the exhibition hungry eyes (recent abstract painting from New York and Toronto).

23 October - Painters Painting

Emile de Antonio, USA, 1972, 116 minutes

Legendary documentarian de Antonio's classic examination of the New York School consists of interviews with the principal artists of that movement, many of whom were close associates of the director.

30 October - Vassily Kandinsky

60 minutes

A close look at the work of the painter who led the abstract movement in Europe, filmed during a major retrospective at the Pompidou Centre, Paris. 

6 November - Riopelle

Marianne Feaver, NFB, 1982, 27 minutes. A biographical portrait of the late great Quebecois automatiste/abstractionist.

and

Mondrian

30 minutes

A documentary on the influential Dutch abstract artist and his search for spiritual enlightenment, order and structure. 

13 November - Jack Bush

Murray Battle, NFB, 1979, 57 minutes

A portrait of the acclaimed Canadian painter, including a tour of his retrospective exhibition with critic Clement Greenberg.

20 November - The New York School

Michael Blackwood, 1975, 58 minutes

The definitive film on abstract expressionists by fine art specialist Michael Blackwood. With critics Clement Greenberg and Harold Rosenberg, and artists Philip Guston, Hans Hoffman, Franz Kline, Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner, Robert Motherwell, Barnett Newman, Jackson Pollock, and many more.

27 November - Pollock

Ed Harris, USA, 2000, 117 minutes

Actor Harris stars in and directs this popular biopic on the life of Jackson Pollock. Compare this version to the archival footage in previous films in this series.