For Immediate Release
November 29, 2022

CLARK ART INSTITUTE DEBUTS FILM AND DRAWING SERIES
 

Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute debuts a four-part Film and Drawing series this winter, inspired by the exhibition, Promenades on Paper: Eighteenth-Century Drawings from the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The Clark presents a selection of short films on early animation on Thursday, December 15; Fantasia on Thursday, January 26; a selection of short films on experimental animation of the 1960s and ’70s on Thursday, February 2; and Persepolis on Thursday, February 16. All screenings are free and begin at 7 pm in the Clark’s auditorium.

Early Animation 
Thursday, December 15, 7 pm
The first program in the series features a selection of short films focused on early animation ranging from Winsor McCay and his dinosaur Gertie to the surrealist animations of Len Lye. For the full list of short films, visit clarkart.edu/events.
Run time: approx. 90 minutes

Fantasia
Thursday, January 26, 7 pm
This film illustrates animation’s connection to the embodied, lyrical quality of drawing. When released by Disney in 1940, the studio's third feature film was a technological marvel, introducing stereophonic sound to the masses. A musical fantasy extraordinaire and a study in contradictions—refined, yet gauche; experimental, yet corporate—Fantasia lives up to its name.
Run time: 2 hours

Experimental Animation of the 1960s and ’70s (showing of short films)
Thursday, February 2, 7 pm
A selection of short films covering experimental animation from the 1960s and ’70s is a visual treat ... and a trip! In the midst of the Cold War, animation artists explored alternative realities. It became a way for artists to venture outside of the ideological boundaries of international politics. Some of these realities reached back to fairytales, like the animations of the Soviet Union’s Yuri Norstein. Other artists, like the Canadian-Scottish animator Norman McLaren, pursued abstraction, looking for basic first principles that might be shared across the animation frame. For the full list of short films, visit clarkart.edu/events.
Run time: approx. 90 minutes

Persepolis
Thursday, February 16, 7 pm
The Clark screens the English-language version of Persepolis, the adaptation of Marjane Satrapi’s sensitive and sharp autobiographical novel. It traces Satrapi’s growth from young child to rebellious teen. The film takes place in Iran, during the tense political climate of the 1970s and ’80s. Animation becomes thoughtful realism as Persepolis portrays life as it is lived, filtered through the lens of human experience. The film was awarded the Prix du Jury at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
Run time: 1 hour 36 minutes

All Film and Drawing screenings are free; no registration is required. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.

ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303. 

Use of facemasks is optional for all visitors. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.

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