WILLIAM HAWKINS BORN KY JULY 27, 1895

A new short about artist William Hawkins is now online. Click here to view the video and more about the artist.
http://www.foundationstaart.org/news_article.aspx?article=42

The filming for this short began in 1987 as part of a larger project, The Mind's Eye—which started with the documentation of "Black Folk Art in America, 1930-1980," a traveling exhibition organized by the Corcoran Gallery of Art—and grew to include other folk/self-taught artists working at the time.

This excerpt was edited from raw material made during that filming and includes interviews with Roger Ricco, Lee Garrett, Robert Bishop, and William Hawkins.

This video was produced by The Foundation for Self-Taught American Artists.

Produced by Breakaway Films Inc.

Edited by Zach Wolf.

©2010 Abamedia, LP

Why I decided to start a blog

I have become inspired by Ted Hope and others to start a blog that will give it's readers an insight into the area of art that I'm interested in, which is primarily self taught; the films I see also the ones I like; and the non profit Foundation I helped start where we are trying to make films about self taught art and the artists that make the work. It's called The Foundation For Self Taught American Artists.

http://www.foundationstaart.org/

My film on James Castle appropriately called JAMES CASTLE: PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST is available now on DVD distributed by First Run Features in North America. You can purchase it thru the foundation website. The rest of the world can get it at www. TVFinternational.com. You can see the trailer at www.firstrunfeatures.com.

The James Castle Art Exhibit is traveling to Chicago and Berkeley in the fall of 2009 and winter of 2010.

Some of the projects I'm working on at present are:

A feature documentary about the artist Bill Traylor.

A survey film about the Black Folk Art exhibition in 1982 at the Corcoran Gallery in D.C.

A film about about George Widener. George is an incredible artist that has a form of high functioning aspberger syndrome. I'm also trying to get a film about Elijah Pierce called SERMONS IN WOOD back into circulation.

I also love soccer and I'm a big fan of Chelsea F.C. and the American and Brazilian National teams. It's such a beautiful game to watch and many games have the dramatic narrative that satisfy my theatrical bent. I will recommend many soccer related books and films in this blog.