The Beloved PBS Series ‘Art21’ Heads to Theaters for a Special Event Debuting New Films and Artist-Curated Screenings

For the very first time, the acclaimed PBS series  will be available to watch on the silver screen as part of the inaugural Art21 at the Movies event. For two nights in September, hosted first at the Metrograph Theater on September 13 and at the SVA Theatre on September 15, a lineup of film premieres and screenings will be projected to audiences in the heart of Manhattan.

The first evening kicks off at the Metrograph with a red carpet opening featuring artists, filmmakers, and trustees, before the premiere of Art21’s third season, “Friends and Strangers.” Episode three spotlights creatives including Linda Goode Bryant, Miranda July, Christine Sun Kim, and Cannupa Hanska Luger, many of whom will be in attendance at the event along with director Chiemi Karasawa. DJ Jennifly will spin at an afterparty where viewers and Art21 artists can mingle and carry on creative conversations.

“Art21 at the Movies is the latest initiative in our ever-expanding efforts to introduce the public to the brilliant artists of our time,” said executive director and chief curator Tina Kukielski. “We’re thrilled to offer this in-person opportunity to Art21 fans to make connections with contemporary artists and filmmakers, as well as engage with other art lovers.”

The second evening, at SVA Theatre, will debut the 3-D film “Westermann: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea.” Based on the life of artist H.C. Westermann, the film has a star-studded ensemble behind it: It was executive produced by artist Brian Donnelly, aka KAWS, narrated by actor Ed Harris, and scored by Laurie Anderson and the Kronos Quartet. After the screening, artists Trenton Doyle Hancock and Aaron Curry will be on hand, along with director Leslie Buchbinder, for a discussion, followed by other film screenings curated by artist Miranda July.

Watch the teaser trailer for Episode 3 of Season 11: Art in the Twenty-First Century, below. 

This is an installment of “Art on Video,” a collaboration between Artnet News and Art21 that brings you clips of news-making artists. A new season of the nonprofit Art21’s flagship series Art in the Twenty-First Century is available now on PBS. Catch all episodes of other series, like New York Close Up and Extended Play, and learn about the organization’s educational programs at Art21.org.