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Painting the Air
USA | 2019 | 20 min • Documentary Short
Carlos Almaraz Playing With Fire
Harkins Sedona 6 - Theatre 5
Mon, Feb 25, 2019 7:15 PM
A look at the life and work of the late Los Angeles artist Carlos Almaraz. From the lens of an immigrant child coming to this country to live his American Dream of becoming a famous artist. Through interviews and personal journal entries we explore his inner demons, his passions, his rise as a beloved leader of the Chicano Art Movement and his subsequent success as an artist who is ultimately lost to AIDS in the late 1980’s.
Few artists in fact painted canvases with the fiery passion and commitment of Almaraz. The time has come to fully tell his story and acknowledge an American Master and his impact in the larger art world in general. The famous collected his works from NYC to LA. Yet his challenges, demons, struggles and explorations through sexuality provides the essential stuff of great storytelling. His journals will provide a rare window and essential perspective giving us full dimensionality in his own and often humorous voice.
Carlos once said “Painting is an illusion. It’s a
Carlos Almaraz Playing With Fire
Mary D. Fisher Theatre
Thu, Feb 28, 2019 1:00 PM
A look at the life and work of the late Los Angeles artist Carlos Almaraz. From the lens of an immigrant child coming to this country to live his American Dream of becoming a famous artist. Through interviews and personal journal entries we explore his inner demons, his passions, his rise as a beloved leader of the Chicano Art Movement and his subsequent success as an artist who is ultimately lost to AIDS in the late 1980’s.
Few artists in fact painted canvases with the fiery passion and commitment of Almaraz. The time has come to fully tell his story and acknowledge an American Master and his impact in the larger art world in general. The famous collected his works from NYC to LA. Yet his challenges, demons, struggles and explorations through sexuality provides the essential stuff of great storytelling. His journals will provide a rare window and essential perspective giving us full dimensionality in his own and often humorous voice.
Carlos once said “Painting is an illusion. It’s a
"Painting The Air" refers to the envelope of air that surrounds each of the subjects Curt Walters has chosen to capture on canvas, a skill recognized by many leading curators and collectors. This film explores the challenges, the various periods of creative experimentation and the emotions behind his art.
Exploring the influences of his childhood, and analyzing his formative years, he explains how he was able to create a life of color and adventure through paint. Walters found his way to Taos, NM in 1975 where he learned from the masters of that time and was able to hone his skill. He moved to Sedona, AZ in 1979 allowing him to greater access to the seasons and moods of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plataea.
His personal turmoil of the 1980’s was heavily reflected in his art. He discusses for the first time how the evolution of this era in his life changed his artwork. Curt also discusses the importance of using his imagery as a voice for his environmental concerns. Over the course of his career Walters has traveled and painted in many regions of the world and continually prepares for his next adventure.
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