Free films about glass

Free Film Series Offered in Conjunction with Glass Exhibition at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond Looking Glass: Films About Art and Glass enhances the run of From Sand: Works in Glass by Ken Daley, Richard Jolley and Joyce J. Scott with a free screening on (mostly) alternating Saturdays, January 31- March 21. Films begin at […]

February 13, 2009; 9:40 PM • by FTRea

Free Film Series Offered in Conjunction with Glass Exhibition at the Visual Arts Center of Richmond

Looking Glass: Films About Art and Glass enhances the run of From Sand: Works in Glass by Ken Daley, Richard Jolley and Joyce J. Scott with a free screening on (mostly) alternating Saturdays, January 31- March 21. Films begin at 2 p.m., with fresh popcorn for all!

Films remaining in the series are:

Feb. 14: Heart of Glass (directed by Werner Herzog, 1973) Running time: 93 minutes

This is the story of an 18th-century Bavarian glassblower who by virtue of his delicate work casts a spell over his neighbors. When the glassblower dies, the townsfolk discover that he failed to leave behind the secret for his special ruby glassware, and they will do literally anything to find the answer. The word usually used to describe Heart of Glass is “haunting”; some viewers have gone beyond haunted and into “possessed.”

Feb. 28: Chihuly over Venice (1999) Running time: 90 minutes

Acclaimed glass artist Dale Chihuly goes on the road to the glass-blowing centers of the world to create a stunning 14-chandelier installation to hang over the canals and alleys of old Venice. Departing from their Seattle studio, Chihuly’s team collaborates with master glass blowers at the Hackman factory in Finland, Waterford Crystal in Ireland, and Vitro Crisa in Monterey, Mexico. As they create the fanciful, organic sculptures, Chihuly and members of his team talk about working together on the project before continuing to Venice for final assembly.

March 7: Alchemy in Light: Making Art Glass (1995) Running time: 29 minutes

Alchemy in Light is a multiple-award-winning film that combines music and cinematography for a sensual and vicarious experience about creation. The film examines the ancient craft of glass blowing from the perspective of three modern artists. Beginning with sand and fire, we watch them labor at Vulcan’s forge to transform the 2,000-degree honey-like material into art glass. Each artist has a unique style and technique; the life they breathe into the glass is their own, and their art reflects their personality. As they work the material, the artists talk about the craft of glass blowing and working with the molten glass.

March 14: Neon: An Electric Memoir (1985) Running time: 26 minutes

A pop culture history of neon as told by Gloria Raposo, a showgirl in love with all the tubes of colored light that illuminate the theaters, bars, diners and hotels of North America. Raposo introduces viewers to famous and obscure neon from New York’s 42nd Street to the Las Vegas Strip.

From Sand: Works in Glass by Ken Daley, Richard Jolley and Joyce J. Scott presents three artists who express their artistic visions using different forms of glass and remains on view through March 22, 2009. VACR exhibitions are also supported by a generous grant from the Gwathmey Memorial Trust and educational programming is supported by a grant from The Wachovia Foundation.

For info call 804/353-0094 or click here.

– The information above was provided by Maggi Tinsley at the VACR.