artists

Encore Presentation of Between the Folds Tonight on Independent Lens on PBS

“For folks interested in the intersection of arts and science, the PBS series Independent Lens is presenting a fascinating in-depth look into origami titled Between the Folds.”
- Make Magazine

It’s National Youth Art Month, and tonight Independent Lens is celebrating with a special encore presentation of Between the Folds –– a film that will make you look at paper folding in a whole other way. Do you think origami is just paper planes and cranes? Meet a determined group of theoretical scientists and fine artists who have abandoned careers and scoffed at graduate degrees to forge new lives as modern-day paper folders. Together they reinterpret the world in paper, creating a wild mix of sensibilities towards art, science, creativity and meaning.

Watch this special encore presentation of Between the Folds, tonight, March 9, at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

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Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 All Video, Independent Lens View Comments

BETWEEN THE FOLDS Premiering Tonight on Independent Lens

“For folks interested in the intersection of arts and science, the PBS series Independent Lens is presenting a fascinating in-depth look into origami titled BETWEEN THE FOLDS.”
- Make Magazine

Think origami is just paper planes and cranes? Meet a determined group of theoretical scientists and fine artists who have abandoned careers and scoffed at graduate degrees to forge new lives as modern-day paper folders. Together they reinterpret the world in paper, creating a wild mix of sensibilities towards art, science, creativity and meaning.

BETWEEN THE FOLDS premieres tonight, December 8, at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

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Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 All Video, Independent Lens View Comments

Quiz: Can You Match the Folds?

BETWEEN THE FOLDS, premiering Tuesday, December 8 at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings), chronicles the stories of fine artists and intrepid theoretical scientists who have abandoned careers and hard-earned graduate degrees to forge unconventional lives as modern-day paper-folders.

Take our new quiz and see if you can spot the patterns.

Every finished origami object begins as a line or series of lines on a single plane. With each fold, the final shape begins to emerge.

Once you’ve completed the challenge, download some fold patterns provided by some of the artists featured in BETWEEN THE FOLDS and see if you can master the craft.

Take the quiz and start matching >>

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Friday, December 4th, 2009 Independent Lens, New Online View Comments

BETWEEN THE FOLDS Screenings Explore the Art of Paper Folding

In cooperation with OrigamiUSA and The Mathematical Association of America Community Cinema presented 42 free screening events for BETWEEN THE FOLDS a documentary by Vanessa Gould that delves deeply into the magical intersection of mathematics, science, and art that is paperfolding which is also known as origami. The film drew huge crowds across the country.

Rodger Despres, a local Michigan paper folder, displays a 45-foot long paper model train that took him 1,500 hours to construct.

Our first free event for BETWEEN THE FOLDS took place at the fabulous Urban Institute for Contemporary Art in Grand Rapids, Michigan where Community Cinema is in its 3rd smash season. Emily Maurin, Community Cinema Producing Partner with WGVU, told us, “We were extremely lucky to have two amazing paper folders with us––Richard Alexander, one of the film’s participants, and Rodger Despres, a local paper folder who has constructed a 45-foot long paper model train. They each offered a different perspective on paper folding. Richard spoke about his artwork as well as his experiences making his own paper. Rodger discussed how he has used paper to engineer working train cars and tracks. He was very excited since Richard was the first paper folder he had met! They talked about how paper folding is almost a secret society that is just now emerging as a mainstream art.”

In the video below, director Vanessa Gould gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like making the film, how she worked with artists and a discusses a variety of issues related to independent filmmaking.

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Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 Community Cinema, Independent Lens View Comments

Huge Turnout for BETWEEN THE FOLDS in St. Louis

Producing Partners are local community organizations that co-present Community Cinema screenings across the country. Last night, Producing Partner KETC in St. Louis, MO, screened the Independent Lens film BETWEEN THE FOLDS. The film looks at fine artists and theoretical scientists who have abandoned careers and hard-earned graduate degrees to forge unconventional lives as modern-day paper-folders. Sydney Meyer of KETC gives her take below:

Wow! That was the first word that came to my mind as people kept flowing into the St. Louis History Museum for the screening of BETWEEN THE FOLDS last evening. This was Community Cinema at its finest. Approximately 340 people showed up for the viewing of the film and I was amazed watching the diversity of people fill the auditorium and overflow onto the steps and the sides of the theater. People of all ages laughed and clapped at various parts of the film, signaling they understood what the artists were trying to communicate to them.

After the film, the fun continued as more than 120 folks stayed to try their hand at paper-folding with artist Sugi Taylor. There was a lot of laughter and concentration as people attempted to make a paper box and bird.

As I walked around the tables, I heard comments like “I thought the simple figures would be easier. Now I admire the film artists even more!” or “I loved the film and I am amazed I can make this figure out of almost nothing… one simple square of paper.”

A middle school girl who came with her math teacher told me, “I am a beginner paper-folder and the film inspired me to want to continue learning and try to become like the people in the film.” I loved the little girl’s comment and it made me appreciate Community Cinema even more because inspiration and change is what the program is all about.

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Thursday, November 12th, 2009 All Video, Community Cinema, Independent Lens View Comments

Interview With Director Vanessa Gould, BETWEEN THE FOLDS

Community Cinema selections are screened in more than 50 locations throughout the United States. This month, Community Cinema presents the Independent Lens film BETWEEN THE FOLDS, which chronicles the stories of fine artists and intrepid theoretical scientists who have abandoned careers and scoffed at hard-earned graduate degrees––all to forge unconventional lives as modern-day paper-folders.

In the video below, director Vanessa Gould gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like making the film, how she worked with artists and a discusses a variety of issues related to independent filmmaking.

Find Community Cinema screenings near you >>

Learn more about Community Cinema >>

BETWEEN THE FOLDS premieres on December 8 at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

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Thursday, November 5th, 2009 All Video, Community Cinema, Independent Lens View Comments

Recent Talkback About Independent Lens This Month

Always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial, Independent Lens brings you documentaries, dramas, shorts and Web-exclusive projects made by independent thinkers. Check out some of the recent Talkback from viewers about films airing this month.

HERB & DOROTHY

“What an inspiring film! If the Vogels are ‘greedy,’ it is yet a selfless compulsion–the best kind–that recognizes beauty and the persons that grow with the art. And thanks to the filmmaker who persevered to tell this intimate, quirky story.”
Posted by: Cynthia Pon on October 15, 2009

“Congratulations to all: Herb and Dorothy for your beautiful collections and sharing your love of each other and your wonderful collections. PBS you did your viewers a great service by bringing us this magnificent presentation… It touched my heart as I am sure it did others. Thank you very much.”
Posted by: Nancy on October 14, 2009

“What an informative film, captivating. Thank you to the Vogels for sharing their story with all of us and especially for supporting artists for so many years. And thank you for the gift to the National Gallery of Art.”
Posted by: Patricia Macklin on October 14, 2009

View more Talkback and submit your own for HERB & DOROTHY >>

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Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 Independent Lens, Talkback View Comments

Season Finale of Global Voices: REVOLUCION: Five Visions

“… an absorbing documentary…”
- The Virginian-Pilot

REVOLUCION tells the story of five Cuban photographers whose lives and work span more than four decades and whose perspectives on photography are as varied as their opinions about the Cuban Revolution. From revolution-era photographers whose lenses captured the heroic masses to more contemporary photographers who seek to portray individual truths, their stories reveal the power of art to liberate.

REVOLUCION: Five Visions airs Sunday, October 18 at 10:00 PM on Global Voices on PBS WORLD (check local listings).

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Friday, October 16th, 2009 All Video, Global Voices View Comments

Independent Lens Season Premiere: HERB & DOROTHY Tonight on PBS

“If Ripley’s Believe It or Not! were still around, Herb and Dorothy Vogel would surely be in it for amassing a world-class art collection on the most ordinary of working-class salaries.”
- Los Angeles Times

He was a postal clerk. She was a librarian. With modest means, this couple managed to build one of the most important modern art collections in history. Meet Herbert and Dorothy Vogel, whose shared passion and commitment defied stereotypes and redefined what it means to be an art collector.

HERB & DOROTHY premieres tonight, Oct. 13, at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

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Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 All Video, Independent Lens View Comments

Test Your Skills: Play The Collector Challenge

The wait is nearly over! An all-new season of Independent Lens kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 13 with HERB & DOROTHY. The film looks at the story of Herbert and Dorothy Vogel, a couple of modest means who managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history.

Together they had an uncanny eye for groundbreaking art work–often before others recognized it. Do you know collectible art when you see it?

Take The Collector Challenge >>

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Friday, October 9th, 2009 Independent Lens, New Online View Comments
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    Community Cinema

    A free monthly screening series, Community Cinema features films from the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Independent Lens.

    In over 50 cities nationwide, screenings are followed by lively panel discussions that bring together citizens, organizations and public television stations to encourage dialogue and action around important and timely social issues. Last season, over 40,000 people attended 500 events nationwide.

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