Produced by
Hickman, Paul
Subject of
Lewis, Samella Sanders, American, 1924 - 2022
Pajaud, William, American, 1925 - 2015
Riddle, John T. Jr., American, 1933 - 2002
Owned by
D.C. Public Library, American, founded 1896
Date
ca. 1965
Medium
acetate film
Dimensions
Duration: 28 Minutes
Length (Film): 1000 Feet
Caption
This film was a part of the Washington D.C. Public Library's circulating 16mm film collection housed at the Martin Luther King Jr. Central Library. The collection is particularly noted for the wide variety of African American and African diaspora content.
Description
A documentary film with the title The Black Artists. It consists of a single reel of color 16mm acetate film with optical sound.
The film opens with artist Samella Sanders Lewis walking on a beach as her own voiceover narration plays in the background. In subsequent scenes, three artists create pieces as they describe their creative process: Samella Lewis opines as she paints an abstract piece in oil; William Pajaud describes finding inspiration in church choirs; John Riddle designs a metal sculpture with a flame torch and other instruments, before describing the process of making finishing touches to his works. The film closes with Riddle stating that whenever he completes a work, it "serves as a steppingstone for the next idea."
Place used
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
DC Public Library Film Collection
Classification
Time-based Media - Moving Images
Movement
BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976)
Type
sound films
color films (visual works)
short subjects
16mm (photographic film size)
Topic
Art
Documentary films
Film
Process films
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2017.55.18.1a
Restrictions & Rights
Restrictions likely apply. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5943b9f21-b9a4-43cd-be13-6f5ca8d5f592

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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