Popular Art Film Series' Ninth Season Debuts In Jan.

City of Palm Desert Department of Public Art: Discover inspiring and thought provoking cinema at the 2017 Palm Desert Public Art Documentary Film Series. The popular series’ ninth season of free, art-themed documentaries begins January 19 with a screening of Stealing Klimt.

The film focuses on the long struggle of Maria Altmann to recover five Gustav Klimt paintings stolen from her family by the Nazis in 1938. The paintings included the iconic Woman in Gold, a portrait of Maria's aunt, Adele Bloch-Bauer, which became known as the "Mona Lisa of Austria". A question and answer session with Donald S. Burris, Managing Partner, Burris, Schoenberg & Walden, will follow the screening.

The documentary film series is presented by the City of Palm Desert Public Art Department and the University of California, Riverside Palm Desert Graduate Center. All films screen the third Thursday of the month, January through April, at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at UCR Palm Desert, 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive. Each screening will include a featured speaker who will answer questions about that night’s film. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended.

For more information and reservations, please call the Palm Desert Public Art Department at 760-837-1663 or register online at palmdesert.ucr.edu/programs/events.html.

Additional films include:

February 16

Pilchuck, A Dance with Fire

Since its founding by iconic figure Dale Chihuly and a few art school friends in 1971, the Pilchuck Glass School has been pushing the limits of a medium that can last centuries or shatter in an instant. Pilchuck, A Dance with Fire identifies the remarkable convergence of visionary individuals, regional culture, and fortunate timing to explain the blossoming of Pilchuck and the studio glass movement. Featured speaker: Artist Patrick Blythe

March 16

Bending Sticks: The Sculpture of Patrick Dougherty

In a career spanning four continents and three decades, internationally acclaimed environmental artist Patrick Dougherty has created over 200 majestic sculptures out of nothing more than saplings. Bending Sticks follows Dougherty and his collaborators during a year of “stickwork” revealing his creative process, inspirations, thoughts about the temporary nature of his work, and unusual personal story. Featured speaker: Katherine Hough, Chief Curator, Palm Springs Art Museum

April 20

Packed in a Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson

Edith Lake Wilkinson moved from West Virginia to New York by herself in 1888 to study at the Art Students’ League. During the next three decades Wilkinson created artwork and a life for herself. Packed in a Trunk depicts Edith’s great-niece, Jane Anderson (Emmy-winning writer & director) two year exploration as she seeks recognition for her great-aunt’s life’s work. Instead of a featured speaker, the film will be preceded by an awards ceremony for the UCR Palm Desert/Palm Springs Art Museum Artists Council Spring Exhibit People’s Choice Award.

Image via Pixabay