Dream a Little Dream: Artists in Film – Getty

The myth of the artist has been a popular theme for filmmakers since the dawn of cinema. On January 14–15, the Getty Museum will present Dream a Little Dream: Artists in Film, a series of films that exemplify the relationship between filmmaker, audience and artist.

The series includes films that approach artists from a number of angles, from the myth of the “tortured artist,” to the joy of artistic social circles in cities like Paris. Each film provides insight into how an artist works, lives and views the art that he or she creates.

“These rare and spectacular films unite fine art and filmmaking,” said Laurel Kishi, performing arts manager at the J. Paul Getty Museum. “Each film offers a separate ‘slice of life’ about a particular artist and their lifestyle, from Caravaggio to Picasso.”

Dream a Little Dream: Artists in Film complements the exhibition Images of the Artist, which is currently on-view through February 12, 2012.

Film Schedule:

Blood of a Poet and Testament of Orpheus

Date: Saturday, January 14, 2012

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Jean Cocteau (1889–1963), one of the most versatile artists of the 20th century, explores the joys and hardships of being an artist in this double feature of the first and third films of his Orphic Trilogy. (France, 1930 and 1960)

The Moderns

Date: Saturday, January 14, 2012

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Alan Rudolph’s homage to 1920s Paris delights in having real- life personalities—Pablo Picasso, Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway—interact with his fictional characters in the smoky cafes and esteemed salons of this radically creative place and time. (USA, 1988)

The Draughtsman’s Contract

Date: Sunday, January 15, 2012

Time: 12:00 noon

Peter Greenaway, who was trained as a painter, made this period film that joyfully blends an intellectual exploration of cultural and social history with his own singular artistic style. (Great Britain, 1982)

Caravaggio

Date: Sunday, January 15, 2012

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Derek Jarman was a painter who made beautiful films that are intensely personal and moving. In his major film debut, Jarman realizes a 17th-century artist who, like Jarman, didn’t shy from controversy. (Great Britain, 1986)

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Screenings of Dream a Little Dream: Artists in Film will be held January 14–15 at the Harold M. Williams Auditorium at the Getty Center.

The events are free, but reservations are required.

For reservations, visit their official site or call (310) 440-7300.

The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution devoted to the visual arts that includes the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Conservation Institute, and the Getty Foundation. The J. Paul Getty Trust and Getty programs serve a varied audience from two locations: the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu.

The J. Paul Getty Museum collects in seven distinct areas, including Greek and Roman antiquities, European paintings, drawings, manuscripts, sculpture and decorative arts, and photographs gathered internationally. The Museum’s mission is to make the collection meaningful and attractive to a broad audience by presenting and interpreting the works of art through educational programs, special exhibitions, publications, conservation, and research.

Visiting the Getty Center:

The Getty Center is open Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed Monday and major holidays. Admission to the Getty Center is always free. Parking is $15 per car, but reduced to $10 after 5pm on Saturdays and for evening events throughout the week. No reservation is required for parking or general admission. Reservations are required for event seating and groups of 15 or more. Please call (310) 440-7300 (English or Spanish) for reservations and information. The TTY line for callers who are deaf or hearing impaired is (310) 440- 7305.

The Getty Center is at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, California

Additional information is available at the official website.

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