For Immediate Release
March 2, 2023

CLARK ART INSTITUTE HOSTS VISIONARY ARCHITECTURE ON FILM SERIES  

Williamstown, Massachusetts—A five-part Visionary Architecture on Film series debuts at the Clark Art Institute on select Thursdays this spring. Presented in connection with the Clark’s exhibition Portals: The Visionary Architecture of Paul Goesch, this film series explores themes related to Goesch’s life and work in early twentieth-century Germany. The Clark screens The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari on Thursday, March 23, The Golem: How He Came into the World on Thursday, April 13, Metropolis on Thursday, April 20, Things to Come on Thursday, May 4, and Blade Runner on Thursday, May 18. All screenings are free and open to the public and take place at 6 pm in the Clark’s auditorium.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari 
March 23 
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920; 51 minutes) may be the quintessential film of German Expressionism. A hypnotist uses a sleep-walking man to commit murder—and the absurdity of the plot is rivaled only by the film’s bizarre and elaborate set designs. Beyond its visual delights, Dr. Caligari critiques both the absurdity of bureaucracy and the interwar German government.

The Golem: How He Came into the World 
April 13 
Set in medieval Prague, The Golem: How He Came into the World (1920; 1 hour, 26 minutes) tells the story of the Jewish folkloric figure made of clay who comes to life to prevent the Jews’ expulsion from the city. The astonishing, quasi-medieval sets for that city are the work of Expressionist architect Hans Poelzig and resonate closely with Paul Goesch’s drawings in the Clark’s exhibition. Live musical accompaniment is provided by percussionist Matthew Gold and cellist Paul de Jong.

Metropolis 
April 20 
In a futuristic city marked by extreme inequality, the wealthy live lavishly in skyscrapers while workers toil underground, operating machines that keep society running. One of the first science fiction films, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927; 1 hour, 54 minutes) both reflected and accelerated the emergence of Art Deco design in the U.S. and Europe. With its themes of mechanization, societal stratification, and fascism, the film tours the issues that animated interwar Germany.

Things to Come 
May 4 
H.G. Wells wrote Things to Come (1936; 2 hours) in response to Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1927). The film spans 1936–2036 as the citizens of Everytown, England envision the future of their city and debate the role technology should play. It is set in a subterranean cave, the antithesis to the skyscraper of Metropolis, and includes abstract sequences designed by Bauhaus artist Lászlo Moholy-Nagy.

Blade Runner 
May 18 
Once the wealthy have left for other planets, Los Angeles becomes a home to the outcasts who remain on Earth. In Blade Runner (1982; 1 hour, 50 minutes), the city as we know it is only barely recognizable amidst dense high rises and pouring acid rain. Architecture plays many roles in this futuristic noir film, starring Harrison Ford; some buildings are villainous while others offer a glimmer of hope.

All Visionary Architecture on Film screenings are free; no registration is required. This series is organized by Ella Comberg, MA ’24 in the Williams Graduate Program in the History of Art. 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 some 300,000 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. Admission is free January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also 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.

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