FILM, VIDEO, DVD: ALPHABETICAL LISTINGS
A B C D E F G H I J K L MN O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Film, Video, DVD: F
Faat Kine
FF-2
110 min / 2000 / CN / VHS
College through adult
Director Ousame Sambene, the father of African cinema, calls this feature-length movie his tribute to the “everyday heroism of African women.” Faat Kine is an independent, single mother and successful businesswoman in Senegal. She reflects on her life of opportunity as well as restrictions still imposed by male dominated African society. This movie celebrates the advances of people like Faat Kine and the hope for the future.
Fabergé: The Man with the Golden Hands WA-222
30 min / color / 1992 / LF / VHS
High school through adult
Peter Carl Fabergé is considered one of the greatest jewelers of all time. His works spanned the reign of the last three tsars of Russia. With historic footage and interviews, a portrait is fashioned of this unique man and his influence on the goldsmith’s craft. Many fabulous objects produced by Fabergé, including the famous “eggs,” are part of the Lillian Thomas Pratt collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
The Fable of He and She ED-91
11 min /color / 1974 / LCOA / 16mm, VHS
Preschool through adult
Sexual stereotyping is the theme of this delightful film based on a story by Marie Winn. Through bas-relief clay animation, filmmaker Eliot Noyes Jr. depicts the amusing tale of the male “Hardibars” and the female “Mushamels,” who discover that roles traditionally assigned to men or women can indeed be discarded. This is an excellent film to introduce discussions about male-female roles, as inspiration for clay activities, and for general entertainment.
Fabric of African Life: Introducing West African Textiles ED-441
29 min / 1995 / IMOA / VHS
Middle school through adult
This video discusses various African clothing, costumes, and textile arts from western Africa including Mali. Three engaging, teenage students host the program with interviews and historical and technical background. Teacher’s study guide included.
Faith Ringgold Paints Crown Heights WA-468
28 min / color / 1995 / AA / VHS / DVD
Middle school through adult
This warm and loving tribute to an ethnic enclave of New York City’s largest borough, Brooklyn, celebrates the diversity found within its borders. Urban artist Faith Ringgold discusses the multiple flavors and colors of her neighborhood as she works in her studio and installs her latest quilt painting in the library of a local elementary school. As she describes the many panels of her mural-sized quilt, Ringgold tells of America’s extraordinary destiny when it opened its arms to the world. English, French, Spanish, Scandinavian, German, Native American, Caribbean, African, and Asian cultures are all depicted on the acrylic paint-washed canvas that is the basis for the story quilt. As Yale Art Department’s Robert Farris Thompson says, “The message of the quilt is that we’re all chosen."
Faith Ringgold: The Last Story Quilt WA-398
28 min / color / 1991 / L&S / VHS / DVD
Middle school through adult
After a brief introduction by Metropolitan Museum curator Lowery Sims, the film documents Ringgold’s perseverance and determination in her quest to become an artist. Expressive and passionate, Ringgold discusses her visual influences, including Tibetan tankas, African designs, and European art and explains her decision to move from painting on traditional framed canvases to painting on quilted canvas with frames of quilted fabric.
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf ED-220
16 min / color / 1986 / AIMS / 16mm
Preschool through adult
In this strikingly beautiful film version of Leo Buscaglia’s story, Freddie the Leaf begins his life as a small, healthy sprout on top of a tall tree. At first he believes he is just like the hundreds of other leaves surrounding him, but soon he discovers that no 2 leaves are exactly the same. The young leaf and his companions enjoy dancing in the spring breezes and being cooled by summer rains. They love living. When the first frost arrives, the leaves shiver with the cold and Freddie is frightened. His wise friend Daniel helps to prepare Freddie for change-and the mystery of death. But Freddie asks, “Why are we here at all if we only have to fall and die?” Daniel responds and brings peace, understanding, and comfort to Freddie.
Suggested Classroom Activity: Have students make drawings or collages depicting some of the things that they love about life.
Fantastic World of M.C. Escher WA-546
50 min / 1994 / IM / VHS / DVD
College through adult
Dutch graphic artist Maurits Cornelius Escher’s (1898-1972) distortions of space and time, fantastic imagery, and confounding optical illusions intrigue people to this day. This video reveals who was the man and his methods behind these mysterious prints through accounts by friends and mathematicians, computer animated recreations of his work, and a look at his sources of inspiration in Italy and Spain.
Fashion and Clothing ED-454
52 min / 2000 / FFH / VHS
High school through adult
Fashion experts interpret the history of humankind-from ancients to moderns--through the intriguing context of costume/clothing. Topics include the origins of clothing and symbolism attached to clothing in terms of gender and status.
Feast of the Gods ED-290
27 min / color / 1990 / FI / VHS
High school through adult
David Bull, conservator at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., is the host for an exciting tale of discovery as he unravels the history of a mysterious painting. In 1514, the Italian master Giovanni Bellini painted The Feast of the Gods. Within 15 years, this extraordinary painting was altered twice. This program goes on location to Italy and then to the conservation laboratory at the National Gallery. There, X-rays, cross-sections, infrared photographs, and computer graphics allow us to examine the clues up close and to participate in the process of solving why a masterpiece was altered to suit the fancy of an owner.
Fellini: I'm a Born Liar ED-550
105 min / 2002 / DVD
College through adult
From the 1940s to the 1990s, film director Federico Fellini was
Italy's most distinctive stylist of cinema. He was unrivaled
in his skill to translate an extremely personal vision to artistry
on the big screen. For this intensive examination, the "Maestro"
allowed unlimited introspective interviews. Technicians and actors--including
Donald Sutherland, Terence Stamp, and Roberto Benigni--also give
very frank insights. Chock full of clips from his movies, for
the true student of cinema.
Fernando Botero: Searching for the Heroic in Art NEW!
54 min/2006/ DVD
High school through adult
Narrated by Fernando Botero himself, the artist explains the evolution of his paintings and style over time and reveals his desire to show hidden realities through volume and monumentality, and their relations in space. He also notes how specific artists and places, such as Piero della Francesco and his home town in South America, influence and define his work
Fernando Botero
54 min / 2006 / DVD
High school through adult
By integrating and reworking artistic themes from the Middle Ages,
the Quattrocento, the Latin American colonial period, and the
20th century, Botero derives his truly distinctive style of pleasure
and plenty, inflated shapes and unexpected shifts in scale. Botero
himself comments with multiple examples of his paintings and sculptures.
Film Montage: The Projection of Modernity
23 min / 2005 / DVD
Montage - an editing technique where images are cut together to
create symbolic meanings - emerged in the politically charged
atmospheres of the Soviet Union and Weimar Germany in the 1920s.
Art Historian Briony Fer discusses the 'collision of images' in
montage and how it was seen as being uniquely suited to the tempo
of modern life in the films of Sergei Eisenstein, Dziga Vertov
and Walter Ruttmann.
The Filmmaker ED-8
31 min / color / 1974 / GSS / 16mm
Middle school through adult
George Stevens, producer/director of such notable feature films as The Diary of Anne Frank, Alice Adams, and Woman of the Year, commissioned this film to document the making of his dramatic masterpiece, The Greatest Story Ever Told. The production of this epic is followed from the initial research into Biblical texts, through casting, rehearsals, filming, and final editing. Many backstage scenes as well as footage on the set complement this portrait of a man and his film.
Films and Videos by Zbig Rybczynski
3 volumes, various lengths / c. 1970-1990 / DVD
Polish born Rybczynski is an immensely creative maker of moving
image productions. His works are both experimental and highly
entertaining and enjoyed by experienced aficionados and novices
alike. He has won countless awards including an Academy Award
and Emmy. These collections are retrospectives of his best-known
works from the era in which he led the video arts in innovation.
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I. Media ZR-1
Collection of 11 short subjects including Oscar-winning, Tango.
II. Steps ZR-2
2 longer pieces: Steps (25 min) that plays with Sergei Eisenstein's
Battleship Potemkin Odessa Steps sequence. And The Fourth Dimension
(27 min).
III. The Orchestra ZR-3
His famous, extended piece The Orchestra (57 min) And Making
of
The Orchestra (25 min).
Final Marks WA-189
50 min / color / 1979 / SKY / 16mm
High school through adult
This is a compelling portrait of the work of the John Stevens Shop in Newport, Rhode Island, one of the few places in the world where inscriptions are still cut into stone by hand, with hammer and chisel. From the small 18th-century shop where the stonecutters incise slate gravestones and memorial tablets, the film moves to grander public spaces in Washington, D.C., where craftsmen carve the lettering on I.M. Pei’s East Building of the National Gallery of Art and, to Arlington Cemetery, to revisit one of their most demanding commissions: the inscriptions on the John F. Kennedy Memorial. Of particular interest to those involved in art, crafts, architecture, graphic design, typography, and calligraphy. Red Ribbon, American Film Festival.
Finding Resources on the World Wide Web ED-398
16 min / color / 1996 / CTC / VHS
Middle school through adult
The Worldwide Web can be a great information resource if a person knows how to “surf” it properly. In this program for beginning Internet users, educator Laurie Quinlan offers extremely helpful suggestions on pinpointing resources by using popular browsers, such as Netscape and Microsoft’s Explorer. Beginner Internet users will appreciate Ms. Quinlan’s pleasant manner in introducing them to the many features of the Worldwide Web, and more advanced users will benefit from her expert suggestions.
The Fine Art of Faking It ED-348
60 min / color / 1991 / FFH / VHS
Middle school through adult
Even art experts can’t always distinguish the work of great master from the work of a master forger. Here, we see scientific techniques are used to investigate the authenticity of artworks. A number of notorious forgeries are seen, including the familiar bronze Egyptian cat that once adorned the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
The Fine Art of Life VM-2
30 min / 1998 / VM / VHS / DVD
High school through adult
Actress Daphne Maxwell Reid of New Millennium Studios presents art from the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts that celebrates and enriches our lives. Watch as the camera brings dramatic details into view. Listen as art comes to life through artists' interviews and museum visitors’ comments. Featured are works by Nicolas Poussin, Romare Bearden, George Catlin, Mary Cassatt, Andy Warhol, Carl Faberge, Rene Lalique, Paul Revere, and from the countries of Africa, India, China, and Greece.
Finger Painting as Fine Art AT-54
30 min / color / 1994 / IHS / VHS
Middle school through adult
In this intriguing video, Virginia artist Mary Ann Brandt discusses how she came to use finger painting as a means of expression. Through an in-depth look at her works and a visit to her studio, Ms. Brandt explains the process of finger painting and the variety the medium allows. Some of her works are abstract, some are more familiar: gnarled trees, fields, storms and seascapes, clouds, fire, mountains. Occasionally, hooded figures appear in dreamlike procession, evoking a surreal sensibility and a subtle mysticism. Suggestions for trying finger painting are included.
Fires in the Mirror ED-345
90 min / color / 1993 / PBS / VHS
College through adult
Anna Deavere Smith is the writer and star of this critically acclaimed one-woman play that presents a compelling view of urban racial and class conflict. Using interwoven monologues, Ms. Smith assumes the personalities of nearly 30 characters-young, old, male, female, black, white-caught in the racial turmoil that erupted in the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn, New York, following the death of an African-American child and the stabbing of a 29-year-old Hasidic rabbinical student.
First Ladies WA-320
60 min / color / 1989 / KODAK / VHS
Middle school through adult
Although often overshadowed by their powerful husbands, the first ladies of America have made significant contributions to presidential history. This documentary surveys these contributions, beginning with Martha Washington, who was known as a gracious hostess, and ending with Barbara Bush, who is noted for her sense of humor and down-to-earth style. The impetus for this program is a visit to the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of First Ladies’ gowns, which includes inaugural gowns and examples of dresses from each of the presidents’ wives. Archival footage and period sources contribute to the lively discussion of one of America’s most remarkable group of women. Recommended for studies in government, history, women’s studies, and fashion.
First Look WA-179
60 min / color / 1982 / ICA / 16mm
High school through adult
First Look is a documentary about young painters who grew up during the Cuban Revolution and who continue to live and work in Cuba today. They discuss such topics as artistic freedom, increased creative opportunities despite material shortages, and women’s roles in society. The film also traces the 1981 visit of 2 Cuban artists, Eduardo Roca and Nelson Dominguez, to the United States. Excellent for programs on Cuban art and artists and comparisons of Cuban culture both past and present.
First Light: Tuscany and the Dawn of the Renaissance Series NEW!
49min ea, 4 disks/2004/ DVD
High school through adult
This elegant 4 part series focuses on the explosive changes that occurred in Tuscany between 1200 and 1350. Amazing works of art and architecture from this early Italian Renaissance serve art historians as windows onto the age of city-states, commerce, visual arts, and religion.
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#1 A New Saint, A New Art
St. Francis of Assisi went back to Christ’s original message to play a pivotal role in the genesis of the Renaissance. This poignant program explores how St. Francis inspired artists of the period to produce naturalistic depictions of him that were full of action and feeling.
#2 The City: Building Reputations
There was fierce competition between newly wealthy merchant classes in Sienna and Florence over the creation of buildings, services, and ways of governing. Art historians interpret this conflict through detailed analysis of each city-state’s stunning cathedrals and exquisite artworks. They reveal how city planning, law, regulation, justice, and Christian virtues brought order to this period before the plague.
#3 The Invention of Banking
This installment follows the remarkable rise of the great banking families, such as the Medici, whose groundbreaking innovations in finance led to the economics of international big business practiced today. Merchant bankers also supported the Catholic Church by using their extraordinary wealth to become patrons for charities and spectacular works of art and architecture.
#4 Cataclysm: The Black Death Visits Tuscany
Tuscany’s prosperity and growth came to a halting decline when the Black Death struck in 1348. The vast depletion of Tuscany’s population had tremendous social, economic and political effects. Likewise the art world underwent a significant change. Magnificent works remained incomplete, works were less realistic and more fanciful and focused more on the divine than the natural.
A First Look at Farm Animals ED-523
14 min / 1993 / VHS
Pre- through elementary
Made at a picture-perfect farm in beautiful surroundings, this
gentle video is a perfect way to learn about farm animals including
horses, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, chickens, ducks, and even cats
and dogs. Filled with easy to understand terms and interesting
facts.
First World Festival of Negro Arts ED-353
40 min / color / 1966 / WGP / VHS
Middle school through adult
In 1966, some 2,000 people from around the world gathered in Dakar, Senegal, to celebrate the renaissance of black culture in the 20th century. This film, a vivid record of the historic event, also captures the spirit of Africa’s quest for liberation at a time when the continent was freeing itself from the bonds of 19th-century colonialism.
Five African Art Facts WA-481
11 min / color / 1995 / VM / VHS
Elementary school through adult
Join Shelby, the guide, as she greets young visitors to the African art collection at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Listen as she explains the fascinating secrets of the Ga Wree-Wree Mask and how the Yoruba Eshu Staff was used. As we view examples of African art, we also discover more about the beliefs and cultural values of the people who created them. This video introduces viewers in grades 3-6 to general concepts helpful in understanding and appreciating traditional African art. A teachers’ guide for this program is provided upon request.
Five Centuries of Dutch Art
25 min each / color / 1992 / FFH / VHS
High school through adult
This series is a comprehensive study of the art of the Netherlands, showing the qualities unique to Dutch artists. Each program focuses on a thematic element and how various artists express themselves within it. Inherent in all the programs, however, is how the country itself influences the artists’ work.
- 1. Dutch Art in Its Own Environment FCDA-1
Holland, as depicted by its artists throughout the centuries, is the subject of this first program. Among the many artists and works are Rembrandt’s drawings and etchings of landscapes near Amsterdam, van Gogh’s people and places in southern Holland, and Mondrian’s stern lines of the Zeeland coast. Streets and street scenes, workplaces and working people, houses, and churches are depicted in every medium to show the country famous for its art.
2. The Charming Illusion of Reality FCDA-2
A characteristic of Dutch painting is the skill with which texture is rendered. For example, in the still lifes of the 17th century, the perfect expression of texture serves as a sober reminder of the transience of human life. This program covers the concern with textural expression-from the masterworks of Gerard Dou, to the modern “magical realists" such as Carel Willink and Raoul Hyunckes, to the contemporary concerns with texture as an end in itself.
3. Light and Shadow FCDA-3
This program examines the use of light and shadow in Dutch art and how some of the artists use special light effects as a narrative element. Rembrandt and his followers suggest an internal source of light in their works; Vermeer alternates sunlight and shadow; there is an absence of shadow in Mondrian’s works; other artists also use light to relate interior to exterior space and treat light as a material.
4. Non-Existent Reality FCDA-4
From Rembrandt’s biblical portraits to scenes of Arcadian bliss, from subconscious dreamscapes to nightmares of hellish retribution, artists have had to find models for executing their visions. In this program, the realistic environment with the artistic creations from a Lucas van Leyden triptych are compared with Drupsteen’s spectacle using state-of-the-art video techniques.
5. The Invisible Made Visible FCDA-5
Symbolism is an important aspect of Dutch art. Courage, loyalty, justice, faith, unselfish love-all are abstract concepts that are depicted visually with images that represent these concepts. Thus, a pining dog lying on his master’s tomb is loyalty; the blindfolded woman holding scales is justice; the pelican plucking her breast to feed her young is unselfish love. This program looks at a wide range of symbols, at allegory, and at larger symbolic works such as a monument commemorating the victims of World War II.
6. The Impact of Dutch Art on Its Environment FCDA-6
The influence of the Netherlands on its artists has been profound. In return, the art has influenced the land. In this last program, viewers explore the role of city planners, architects, sculptors, and landscape designers as they create an environment that makes the best of available options in our post-industrial age.
Flamenco at 5:15 PE-17
30 min / color / 1984 / DC / 16mm
High school through adult
Susana and Antonio Robledo are ageless practitioners of the timeless art of flamenco dance. They share their years of experience and their passion for music and dance with a group of promising students at the National Ballet School of Canada. An inspiring introduction to the world of flamenco dancing as well as a joyful celebration of the intense world of the dancer. Academy Award for Best Documentary Short.
Flickering Lights: Days of the Dead ED-600
22 min / 2001 / VHS
Middle school through adult
This video explores the artistic traditions of the Dias de los
Muertes, a series of ceremonies and festivals celebrated all over
Mexico in late October and early November. With a focus on Oaxaca's
festival, it details the convergence of the Zapotec fall harvest
with the Catholic All Souls' and All Saints' days brought by the
Spanish. The Synthesis of these two cultures has resulted in a
vibrant folk art tradition that finds expression in everything
from decorated altars or 'offrendas' to sugar skulls, paper maché
skeletons and elaborate punched paper decorations.
Flip Flotsam
26 min / 2003 / DVD
High school through adult
Follow the amazing life of a simple flip-flop, or "patter
patters" as the locals call them, in modern-day Kenya. Beginning
in a colorful and busy footwear factory to being used as a means
of transportation for sea animals, patter patters give new meaning
to multi-purpose footwear. Enjoy watching the unique transformation
that brings patter patters full circle in their journey through
life.
Florence, Italy: Old Bridges, New Friends
30 min each / color / 1992 / CTC / VHS
Middle school through adult
To visit Florence is to take a trip through time. In this 3-part series, students of architecture from around the world discover the rich culture of this 2,000-year-old city. As they travel the streets and examine the buildings during their 3 months of study, the magnificence of the Italian Renaissance comes alive. The power and enchantment of Florence and the spirit of its people are images that remain timeless.
- 1. Part One FLO-1
Architectural students visit the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, a lovely Renaissance square aptly titled “Dante’s World." From there they marvel at the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, which took over 140 years to build and whose domed masterpiece by Brunelleschi is the symbol of Florentine pride.
2. Part Two FLO-2
The students visit Brunelleschi’s Foundling Hospital, called the Renaissance’s first building. Next, one of the most compelling churches in Italy, Santa Croce, is seen. There sculptural figures hold vigil over the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Rossini, and Machiavelli. Other highlights are the Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the collection of paintings in the Uffizi Gallery.
3. Part Three FLO-3
In the Santo Spirito sector of Florence (the artisans’ quarter), goldsmiths, silversmiths, and jewelers congregate on one of the world’s most famous bridges, the Ponte Vecchio (old bridge). Dating back to 1335, this architectural landmark was the only bridge in Florence spared during World War II. Following the Arno River beyond the city, the students venture to the vineyards and olive groves of Troje and San Donate in the Tuscan hills.
Flossie and the Fox ED-376
10 min / color / 1991 / CF / VHS
Elementary school through adult
In this adaptation from the book of the same name, a young girl named Flossie is sent on an errand by her grandmother. A fox has been scaring a neighbor’s chickens, and they are too frightened to lay eggs. Flossie’s grandmother asks her to carry a basket of eggs through the woods to the neighbor’s house. On her way, Flossie meets the fox, with surprising results!
Suggested Classroom Activity: Compare Flossie and the Fox with the story of Little Red Riding Hood. What makes this story different?
Flowers and Gardens WA-294
30 min / color / 1983 / NVC / VHS
College and adult
More than a celebration of flower arranging, this Metropolitan Museum of Art program illustrates connections between the historical use of flowers in gardens, medicine, and folklore, and their starring roles in still-life paintings. The camera travels from the chief flower arranger for the Met to still-life examples from the museum’s collection to the beautiful Cloisters and its remarkable period gardens, which are inspired by the medieval “Unicorn Tapestries.”
Food for the Ancestors: The Mexican Celebration of the Days of the Dead ED-507
58 min / 1999 / PBS / VHS
College through adult
Each fall, Mexicans celebrate a weeklong holiday called “Days of the Dead” that is joyful, sad, and satirical at the same time. The festival honors the memories of loved ones who have died as well as the season’s harvest. This video explores the celebration in the state of Puebla: preparing and consuming special foods and potent potables, making the distinctive figurines and objects, Mask Dancing by children, the spectacular Dance of the Volodores on a 60-foot pole, and visits to Cholula Pyramid and to San Miguel, where beautiful fabrics are made on waistlooms and potters use Prehistoric techniques.
For the Whales WA-327
57 min / color / 1989 / BFF / VHS
High school through adult
“From space the planet is the territory not of humans, but of the whale.” In this program, artists and writers join forces to pay tribute to and celebrate the magnificent whale. Composer John Cage, creator of a piece of music based on whale calls, explains his fascination with the musicality of whale song. Other artists create paintings, sculptures, and poetry to enlighten their audiences about the Earth’s largest creature. Recommended for art, music, literature, and science classes.
The Forbidden City ED-38
45 min / color / 1973 / FI / 16mm
High school through adult
The setting for The Forbidden City is the Ku Kung, or the inner citadel of Beijing. Inside the fortressed walls are 78 palaces that were once the homes of Chinese emperors from 1421-1911. During those 5 centuries, the palace area was reserved exclusively for the emperors and their court; it is now open to the public. This film evokes the opulent life of the Ming and Manchu rulers and their courtiers, who resided within the Ku Kung. Highlighted are the architecture, works of art, costumes, and artifacts that surrounded the ruler in everyday life.
Forbidden City: The Great Within
51 min / 1995 / DVD
Middle school through adult
The forbidden history of China's Imperial time has been unlocked
through this captivating Discovery Channel film. It shows the
day-to-day interactions within the seclusion of the palace walls
and the fascinating history of Chinese rulers. Detailed descriptions,
objects, ancient customs, and authentically recreated events from
Chinese royal history bring the viewer back to a time that truly
embodied traditional Chinese culture, art, and practices.
Forever in Time: The Photography of Edward S. Curtis WA-512
50 min / color / 1989 / CG / VHS
High school through adult
For 30 years, Edward S. Curtis pursued his vision to document the vanishing culture of native Americans at the cost of family, finances, and health. His legacy of film footage and photographs lives on in this video of his life and work. Included are clips from Curtis’s film, In the Land of the Head Hunters, the first full-length motion picture on native American culture. His North American Indian Portfolio completes this look at a lifestyle Curtis sought to immortalize.
Four Seasons in Kyoto series
4 parts, 47 min ea / 2002 / VHS / DVD
High school through adult
This beautiful series highlights spring, summer, autumn, and winter
in Kyoto, the ancient seat of government and now center of traditional
Japanese culture. The many festivals and symbolic rituals celebrated
each season are highlighted along with the special foods, costumes,
and historic significances. A gift from the Toshiba International
Foundation.
- Spring: Season of Cherry Blossoms FSK-1
Summer: Season of Cedar and Cypress FSK-2
Autumn: Season of Flame FSK-3
Winter: Season of Snow and Bamboo FSK-4
14 Americans: Directions of the 1970s WA-121
88 min / color / 1983 / BPI / 16mm, VHS
High school through adult
This film looks at the diversity of American art of the 1970s through the work of 14 prominent artists. Among them are Vito Acconci, Alice Aycock, Chuck Close, Nancy Graves, Dennis Oppenheim, and Joel Shapiro. Much of the film focuses on the galleries, alternate spaces, and studios of Manhattan’s Soho district. The artists speak about their own work and the general artistic tendencies of the 1970s.
Frame by Frame ED-103
13 min / color / 1974 / PFP / 16mm
Elementary school through adult
An entertaining, informative look at animation techniques. Brief, well-chosen examples illustrate several methods for making an animated film, frame by frame. Techniques include kinestasis, flicker filming, cut-out animation, pixillation, drawing on film, and time-sequence filming.
Francis Bacon WA-634
28 min / 1995 / VHS
College through adult
Bacon's exhibit at the Tate Gallery in London is the environment
in which this film takes place. Bacon walks casually among all
36 paneled triptychs and comments on each one. The feeling of
this film can be eerie but that just makes his work and interview
more insightful as to how the work should be experienced.
Francis Bacon: Brutality of Fact WA-207
58 min / color / 1985 / BPI / 16mm
College through adult
Irish-born painter Francis Bacon’s devotion to the monstrous, the diseased, and the deformed has frequently been interpreted as his reaction to the plight of the world and humanity. In this film profile, we become aware of many recurrent themes in his work and hear him discuss his almost obsessive sense of tradition and history.
Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art WA-635
55 min / 2001 / DVD
High school through adult
This film highlights Gehry's architecture through the decades.
His designs deeply involve his love for art in that his buildings
are functional sculptures. Once given a commission, Gehry finds
inspiration from the place and the people. His works have attracted
many contemporary film and studio artists to start sort of a Gehry
following, something that would interest any art lover.
Frank Gehry: Architecture in Motion ED-449
45 min / 1996 / FFH / VHS
College through adult
He has the unassuming presence of an average guy and is a life-long fan of ice hockey, but Canadian Frank Gehry has entered the pantheon of legendary architects with his passionate and original designs such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilboa, Spain, the Chiat/Day Building in Venice, CA, private homes, and furniture. This video is an up-close, informative conversation with Gehry about himself and his creations spiced with comments by experts and images of his famous works.
Frank Gehry: Uncensored ED-421
31 min / 1998 / FFH / VHS
College through adult
In this interview, architect Ghery is very candid with critiques of other architecture as he is challenged with pointed questions by the interviewer. He also discusses in-detail what constitutes ugly architecture, a $2 billion project he turned down, how he gets his ideas, and what motivates him. He strolls around the astounding Guggenheim Museum Bilbao describing it and his inspirations.
Frank Lloyd Wright ED-427 NEW!
155 min, 2 cassettes/1998/ VHS
High school through adult
This Ken Burns documentary is a definitive record of the life and career of this country’s most gifted and unique architect. Indisputably a genius, Wright led the way to a new way of thinking about architecture and its relation to its surroundings. His majestic austerity and geometric forms based on nature actually changed the way we lived. The Guggenheim Museum, the Johnson Wax Building, Fallingwater, Unity Temple, and Taliesin are shown among others.
Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School NEW!
57 min /1999/ VHS
College through adult
This is the story of Prairie School architecture as seen through the designs of Wright and his associates. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement, Louis Sullivan, and the Midwest landscape, the style is portrayed in many examples and with readings of the words of Wright himself. A typical Victorian house is deconstructed and contrasted with Wright’s vision of the new American home.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Way: Apprentices to Genius WA-452
51 min / color / 1995 / NDV / VHS
Middle school through adult
From 1932 to 1956, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the great creative spirits of the 20th century, apprenticed a number of students at his home, Taliesin, in Arizona. These disciples studied under Wright and worked beside him on the construction of many of his famous buildings. He gave them organic architecture and a way to live. Four of these apprentices, now in their golden years, form a link to a visible past. The stories of their relationships with Wright have never before been documented. Using historic film footage, still photographs, and drawings and plans, the 4 apprentices share anecdotes and the inspiration created in them by Wright to provide an intimate portrait of this extraordinary American genius.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater WA-239
24 min / color / 1977 / AIMS / 16mm, VHS
Middle school through adult
Throughout his stormy personal and professional life, Frank Lloyd Wright sought to bring the beauty of nature into the great buildings he created. The Kaufmann House, called Fallingwater, built in 1936 at Bear Run, Pennsylvania, is a testament to this architect’s ability to integrate architectural exterior and interior and to adapt a building to a specific site. Narrator E.G. Marshall takes the viewer on an extensive tour of the Kaufmann home, discussing details of design and setting, as well as the lighting fixtures and furnishings, much of which were also designed by Wright.
Frank Stella at the Fogg WA-202
22 min / color / 1985 / FOGG / 16mm, VHS
High school through adult
As American artist Frank Stella walks through a retrospective exhibition of his work, he comments on his work and describes his technique, including the sculpture-like constructions that have occupied him in recent years. Stella’s incisive self-criticism and vibrant delivery make this film a revealing portrait of a leading American artist. Filmed at the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University.
Franz Marc WA-111
23 min / color / 1976 / RC / 16mm
High school through adult
Of all German Expressionist painters, Franz Marc (1880-1916) was perhaps the closest in spirit to the traditions of German Romanticism and Naturalism. Greatly influenced by the brilliant palette of the Fauves, Marc was even more inclined to separate local color from the object being depicted. His favorite subjects were animals, because he found in their forms a way to express a certain harmony between himself and the world around him. Marc’s life, his work, and its impact on 20th-century art are reviewed.
The French Impressionists NEW!
60 min/2001/ VHS
High school through adult
This high definition video by Channel 21 in NYC, reveals the personalities of the artists behind the artistic revolution known as Impressionism—the stylistic rebellion that forever changed the way the world looked at art. These artists took up the cause that art could capture personal moments of perception rather than perfection. Includes Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne, Gauguin, Cassatt, and van Gogh.
The Frescoes of Diego Rivera WA-340
35 min / color / 1986 / ARTSA / VHS
High school through adult
This documentary examines the major murals Diego Rivera (1886-1957) created in Mexico and the United States and explores the artistic, social, and political influences on Rivera’s mural work. The program discusses the fresco process and contains footage of the artist at work on his murals of American industrial workers at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Especially recommended for classes in art history and Mexican history and culture.
Frida Kahlo WA-490
62 min / color / 1983 / FI / VHS
High school through adult
Frida Kahlo lived and worked at the center of the Mexican renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s. At the age of 16, Frida was involved in a road accident that left her in constant pain and subject to a series of operations, and her paintings reflect her constant struggle with her ravaged body. She was hailed as a surrealist by the artist, André Breton, who described her as “playing alternately at being absolutely pure and absolutely pernicious.” For her husband, the cubist and muralist Diego Rivera, her painting “was the greatest proof of the renaissance of the art of Mexico.”
Frida Kahlo: Portrait of a Woman WA-554
20 min / 1990 / FFH / VHS
College through adult
A powerful painter overshadowed by her muralist-husband, Diego Rivera, Kahlo lived a life of physical and spiritual torment. This program provides personal insights into her work and her pain; it offers a portrait of the woman and the roots of her work in the meaning of her gender.
Frog and Toad Are Friends ED-197
17 min / color / 1985 / CF / VHS
Preschool through adult
Frog and Toad, 2 frolicsome characters, romp through a series of adventures in this fully animated version of the enormously popular Caldecott Medal award-winning book by Arnold Lobel. Many children are familiar with these characters and will delight in seeing them brought to life, acting out their storybook escapades through the magic of film. The tape can be shown in conjunction with Frog and Toad: Behind the Scenes, in which the filmmaker demonstrates the techniques he used to animate this story.
Frog and Toad: Behind the Scenes ED-198
9 min / color / 1985 / CF / VHS
Middle school through adult
Filmmaker John Matthews demonstrates how his offspring, the characters in Frog and Toad Are Friends, came to life. Shown are the armatures that allow controlled movement, the sculpting and casting of the figures, the timing of arm and leg movements, matching mouth movements to soundtrack, creating special water effects, and more. Occasional caustic comments from Toad add to the film’s enjoyment. This video program is recommended for classes in puppetry, filmmaking, and set design and can be shown in conjunction with the video Frog and Toad Are Friends.
Frog and Toad Together ED-315
18 min / color / 1987 / CF / VHS
Preschool through adult
Reluctant seeds, scrumptious cookies, an exercise in bravery and a pompous dream are the ingredients of 4 stories that illustrate the importance of patience, trust, willpower and, above all, friendship. Award-winning author Arnold Lobel’s loyal, ever-practical Frog and curmudgeonly Toad spring to life through exquisitely detailed dimensional animation. This film by John Matthews is a wonderful stimulus for drawing activities; children may want to create their own Frog and Toad adventures!
From a Shadowbox ED-180
19 min / color / 1985 / JC / VHS
Middle school through adult
An 11 year-old girl and her grandfather spend every summer together enjoying a unique and delicately balanced relationship. In subtle, but challenging ways, the grandfather passes on to the girl knowledge about the world and secrets to grow on. The setting is isolated, the actor and actress are non-professionals, and the intent is to entertain and enlighten through a highly original concept. This is an excellent film for art assemblage activities, as well as for creative writing.
From Groundbreaking to Grand Opening ED-218
29 min / color / 1985 / VM / 3/4"vc, VHS
High school through adult
This program summarizes the 3-year-long construction of the West Wing of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the installation of the collections given to the Museum by Frances and Sydney Lewis and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon. Former museum director Paul N. Perrot discusses the impact of the new wing and the challenges it poses to the museum for the years ahead. The program concludes with the festive dedication ceremonies held in December 1985.
From the Heart WA-232
58 min / color / 1983 / AFA / 3/4"vc, VHS
High school through adult
This program demonstrates the strength of 9 of the artists in the Gihon Art Collection, Works by Women. The artists comment on their techniques, their family background, philosophy of art, self-criticism, and success. Artists featured are Lynda Benglis, Nancy Chambers, Clyde Connell, Janet Fish, Hermine Ford, Dorothy Hood, Mary McCleary, Gael Stack, and Dee Wolff. Red Ribbon, American Film Festival.
From These Roots WA-277
28 min / color / 1974 / WGP / 16mm
High school through adult
This award-winning film is a serious yet entertaining documentary on the artistic, social, and political rebirth of African-American culture during the Roaring ’20s. Using photographs of the period, many from the Harlem studio of renowned photographer James Van Der Zee, the film vividly re-creates the Harlem Renaissance through the words, music and poetry of talented black Americans of the time. From These Roots shows how outstanding black artists and leaders actively participated in the pivotal events of that period and recaptures the exuberant world that was black entertainment. The film is particularly suited to African-American studies and history and will also be useful for students of English, sociology, and art.
Frontier Visionary: George Catlin and the Plains Indians ED-483
27 min / 2002 / CRYS / VHS
High school through adult
Experience George Catlin’s epic journey up the Missouri River, following parts of the Lewis and Clark trail, hear about his frontier adventures as told by Catlin himself, and learn about his incredible encounter of two cultures through the voices of Native Americans today. In the 1830s, Catlin was the first major U.S. artist to travel beyond the Mississippi and live with American Indians, eventually recording the “manners and customs” of 50 Plains tribes. A Smithsonian American Art Museum production.
Furniture of Eastern Virginia WA-224
30 min / color / 1980 / VM / 3/4"vc, VHS
College through adult
This program, based on the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts exhibition Furniture of Eastern Virginia: The Product of Mind and Hand, examines pieces of early furniture from Norfolk, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and the Eastern Shore. The theme of the styles reflects the Colonial craftsmen’s reliance on English design and the importance of function and available materials.
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