Art21 Access ’12

The 567 Center for Renewal, in partnership with Art21 as part of its Access ’12 initiative, presents a sneak preview in advance of the premiere of the sixth season of Art in the Twenty-First Century, the only prime time national television series focused exclusively on contemporary art.

Art21 Access ’12 is an international screening initiative created to increase knowledge of contemporary art, ignite dialogue, and inspire creative thinking through hundreds of public screenings and events that tailor the ideas presented in series to the interests and concerns of local audiences. The season premieres on PBS April 13th with a new episode each Friday during the April and May at 9 pm (check local listings). Through in-depth profiles and interviews, the four-part series reveals the inspiration, vision and techniques behind the creative works of some of today’s most thought-provoking artists.

“Art21 Access ’12 provides an opportunity for organizations around the country and the world to experience a central goal of Art21—dialogue inspired by contemporary art and the ideas it expresses,” said Susan Sollins, Executive Producer of Art21. “We hope that participating organizations find ways to best utilize the Art21 materials for their respective communities and that audiences will take full advantage of the events in their area and discover the life-changing potential of viewing creative role models at work. Our goal is that these events spark new conversations, and expose all kinds of viewers to the important work of the artists profiled in the series.”

Art21 Access ’12 events are presented in partnership with the Arts Business Council, Emerging Leaders of New York Arts, National Guild for Community Arts Education, and the YMCA. An updated list of Art21 Access ’12 events and venues worldwide can be found at art21.org/access.

“We’re looking forward to bringing this inspirational and informative series about contemporary art to a public setting in Macon,” said Melissa Macker, executive director of The 567. “By offering this event, we hope to spark conversation in the community about contemporary art both among artists and among those who know very little about contemporary art.”

Art21 Access ’12 events are being hosted by museums, schools, libraries, art spaces, community centers, and universities worldwide. Each event features an exclusive advance screening of one or two episodes from Season Six of the documentary, as well as an educational component, such as talks by local, regional, and national artists; lectures; panel discussions; interactive art-making projects and question-and-answer sessions.

The following episodes will be screened from April 11 to April 19:

Episode 1: Change (April 11)
This episode features artists who bear witness, through their work, to transformation—cultural, material, and aesthetic—and actively engage communities as collaborators and subjects. Ai Weiwei, El Anatsui, and Catherine Opie are featured.

Episode 2: Boundaries (April 12)
This episode presents artists who synthesize disparate aesthetic traditions, present taboo subject matter, discover innovative uses of media, and explore the shape-shifting potential of the human figure. David Altmejd, assume vivid astro focus, Lynda Benglis, and Tabaimo are featured.

Episode 3: History (April 18)
In this episode, artists play with historical events, explore and expose commonly held assumptions about historic ‘truth’, and create narratives based on personal experiences. Marina Abramovi?, Glenn Ligon, and Mary Reid Kelley are featured.

Episode 4: Balance (April 19)
Through sculpture, paintings, and installations, the artists in this hour grapple with equilibrium and disequilibrium as they create highly structured works that challenge conventional notions of perception and representation. Rackstraw Downes, Robert Mangold, and Sarah Sze are featured.