For Immediate Release
April 2, 2024
CLARK ART INSTITUTE SCREENS
MANHATTA AND RIEN QUE LES HEURES
Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Thursday, May 2, the Clark Art Institute screens the second entry in its film series exploring lyrical depictions of cities in films that resonate with the Paper Cities exhibition. The Clark shows the short film double bill Manhatta and Rien que les heures at 6 pm in its auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.
A “city symphony” directed by painter Charles Sheeler and photographer Paul Strand, Manhatta is considered the first American avant-garde film. Inspired by Walt Whitman’s poem “Mannahatta,” the film portrays life in New York City in sixty-five shots from extreme camera angles that capture the dynamic new metropolis. Rien que les heures was Alberto Cavalcanti’s first film as a director. It documents the life of Paris from dawn until dusk, including the beautiful and the ragged, the rich and the poor. (Manhatta run time: 10 minutes, Rien que les heures run time: 45 minutes)
On view in the Eugene V. Thaw Gallery for Works on Paper, located in the Manton Research Center, Paper Cities examines representations of cities in works on paper created from the late fifteenth to the early twentieth century. The exhibition asks the following questions: Which cities or sections of cities are these artists presenting? Are they emphasizing specific architectural or social elements, and if so, what motivates these choices? What roles do the cities play in advancing the narratives of the overall artworks?
Free. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 549 0524. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.
The next screening in the Paper Cities Film Series will be À propos de Nice; Douro, Faina Fluvial; and Regen/Rain on May 16 at 6 pm in the Clark’s auditorium.
Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 549 0524. 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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