Jack Whitten: An Artist's Life | Art21 "Extended Play"
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- Опубликовано: 20 мар 2018
- Episode #255: Renowned abstract painter Jack Whitten discusses the personal philosophies that drove his work over the course of nearly six decades, chronicling his development as an artist and his relentless innovation in painting. "I can build anything I want to build," said the artist. "It's all about the materiality of the paint." Filmed at work on what would become his final painting, Whitten spent his life pushing abstraction into new territories. He passed away shortly after this interview.
His earliest work combined figuration and abstraction; but, in the late 1960s, Whitten switched from oil to acrylic to focus on the material nature of paint rather than the image it conveyed. He built a tool called the "developer" and used it to create paintings that existed as a single line-"one gesture, three seconds." These "slab" paintings led Whitten to his next artistic development: a new kind of tesserae (a material used in the construction of mosaics) made by cutting cubes of color from large slabs of acrylic paint.
Whitten's experiences growing up in the South during the height of segregation, as well as his participation in the civil rights movement, informed his lifetime of work. His "Black Monoliths," a series of abstracted tributes, memorialize important Black figures such as James Baldwin and Barbara Jordan. "I find that with each one, I have to locate the essence of that person," said the artist. "That person becomes a symbol and I build that into the paint." Now a symbol himself, Whitten was one of the most influential abstract artists of his generation.
The painting filmed in progress, "Quantum Wall, VIII (For Arshile Gorky, My First Love In Painting)," is on view as part of a special presentation in memory of the artist at Hauser & Wirth New York through March 31, 2018.
While Jack Whitten’s early work combined figuration and abstraction, he became known for his conceptual advancements, focusing on the materiality of paint. Constantly inventing in the studio, Whitten created a tool he called the “developer,” a twelve-foot-long wooden rake used to move large amounts of acrylic paint in a single gesture. He also created a signature kind of tesserae: small cubes cut from slabs of acrylic paint and adhered to the canvas, angled to catch and reflect light. For over four decades, Whitten utilized the tesserae to develop his "Black Monoliths", a series of abstracted tributes to Black artists, musicians, and public figures such as Ralph Ellison, Chuck Berry, and W.E.B. Du Bois. One of the most influential abstract and conceptual painters of his generation, Whitten lived in New York City, where he passed away in January 2018.
Learn more about the artist at:
art21.org/artist/jack-whitten/
CREDITS | Producer: Ian Forster. Interview: Ian Forster. Editor: Rosie Walunas. Camera: John Marton & Andrew Whitlatch. Colorist: Don Wyllie. Artwork Courtesy: Jack Whitten, Hauser & Wirth. Archival Material Courtesy: © The Arshile Gorky Foundation, Estate of Norman Lewis, © Peter Sumner Walton Bellamy, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Hauser & Wirth, Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, Nationaal Archief, © Gary Schoichet, & The Times-Picayune. Special Thanks: The Whitten Family.
"Extended Play" is presented by Alta Art. Additional support provided by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the Art21 Contemporary Council; and by individual contributors.
TRANSLATIONS
Translated subtitles are generously contributed by our volunteer translation community. Visit our translation team at Amara for the full list of contributors:
amara.org/en/videos/luiYlzPCH...
#JackWhitten #Art21 #Art21ExtendedPlay 
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"Nothing big, just one of the boys" ...love him, such inspiring work and process!
It's wonderful how many black artists are being given
Major.
Shows the art world is now
opening up to diversity.
The quality and the aesthetics of these marvellous works testify to their importance.
Thank you Ivan for your
Adventurous spirit.
Love him. Seems like he wasn't just a great artist, but also a great, humble man.
exactly
"Notes From The Woodshed" such a great read...Thank You J.W. ✊🏾
What a beautifully articulate human. So sad that the public often discovers artists only after their passing, but I guess its better than to not discover at all.
So sad to have only just discovered him. Amazing man
Huh?? Are you kidding...he's been around.
me too and awesome paint-free art
I just saw what the comment was below and was about to say…..the exact same thing! He is a great man. I could listen to him all day.
Saw his last work at Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles, last weekend, included in a small show of his work. I'm sorry he's off the planet. He understood us, the bizarre earthlings, in a rational and thorough way. And he articulated his comprehensions through paint. I heard him speak at MCASD at La Jolla. He was passionate, generous. And he was proud that Obama became President. I'm happy to have been there. Thank you Jack Whitten.
I CERTAINLY AGREE WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE AND BEFORE THAT KNOWN THIS SPIRIT MAN, JACK WHITTEN
A true art master for the ages: inspiration for every creative person, regardless of medium. A beautiful documentary.
Also thank the art of Art 21.
RIP to a true master
Wish he were still around; I would have loved to have met him.
Thank you for bringing such wonderful artists to my attention! So grateful.
So happy to hear that you've been enjoying the artists featured in our films. Thanks for sharing!
Mr. Whitten, thank you for this story/life share. You sir are not just one of the boys. I am so sorry that we as human beings treat each other with such sorrow/inhumanity. God Bless you sir. I can only imagine the beauty, peace and tranquility you have now in heaven. Thank you
Just cited this in my english essay shoutout Jack Whitten and what he provided to abstract art
thank you very much for sharing
What an amazing artist and communicator.
I could listen to him talk all day
What a lovely human being and artist. Just discover him, glad I did.
Me too
Love this series-these are remarkable artists and I love that they share their lives and workin their own voices. Thank you!
What an interesting artistic approach. Love it. Very thoughtful and innovative. Love them. And what a lovely man. Very admirable.
Life is Wonder or Despair- artists point out Wonder. Whitten is wonderful!
Thank you so much for introducing me to this man. What a great creator! I heart NY
Great artist and beautiful soul. Thanks for the documentary.
I discovered him by accident at this moment.... and found out he died in the same video. Damn. I love this stuff. I'll check out some more!
Legend!!! He will be in all of the young artist's heads when they create!! :)
So glad to have seen this video. I love to listen to people of any color, speak humble words with truth and wisdom. Love great art made by great artist.
an incredible artist and individual, this is a great video. truly inspirational.
Thank you for this.
What an absolutely marvelous and sweet human being. Need more people like this in the world! Great artworks.
His portraits are incredible
I love the work.x
Sir, you are an inspiration!
5:06 "The Developer" tool. He was wayyyy ahead of his time.
A random person that likes this will recieve 1 million dollars in the future!
@@FragmentCrossing 💯
Popped up on my feed today. Had never heard of him. Great video. Thanks!
love your work.....my last name is whitten.....I went to art school for 2 years in st louis.....you are such an inspiration........
Thank you, master!!
RIP and Thanks for your Legacy, Dear Master
it was so beautiful what he does ;-( love this video
Beautiful..
Beautiful 🥺
such an inspiration !! R.I.P.
TOO GOOOOD, ONE OF THE BEST
“Nothing big just one of the boys”
A random person that likes this will recieve 1 million dollars in the future!
nice quote
watching this is really calming
What a great guy!
he is a true master, real artist!!!
Gracias! Buen argumento.!
What a great guy!
Amazing keep it up Fam!
Great video.
Amazing
Masterful
What a legend, I hope to be this good one day, with such clarity of who he is as a Artist 🙏🏾
Super cool video
Beautiful inspirational soul ❤️
Holy Shit Jack's work is amazing
agreed
What an inspiration
so cool
A Beautiful soul.
Adorável pessoa e grande artista
Beautiful! 🙏🏻💖💕
RIP, Master...
It's sad, to see that an American artist isn't given more exposure to his greatness. Recent history is recognizing more perspectives than the myopic European history viewpoint. Art critique, theory and sales should try harder to value of who and what we have sown.
Well, I just learned of Jack Whitten, and he's already gone :( Sure do love his artwork... :)
I just watched a young person doing drawings and has over 6 million subs. An influencer.
Here we have a passionate seasoned artist, who probably earns far less than his worth.
what is the name of that last (piano) song starting around 8:22 ?
Amazing artist overall!
nice to meet you. Have a good day. 💕
beautifull 🌻
This is like avant-garde craftwork...
What a badass
Cool
Wow rest in peace.
Rip big homie
He chose art over medicine. Good call, Mr. Whitten. RIP.
idk its was that much of a good call
@@luks386 what do you mean by that? He was a brilliant artist
I just want to go down as one of the boys
Maybe this is a dumb question, but does he distinguish his mosaics from his paintings? Or are they all just “paintings”
Are the chips ceramic or dried paint?
they're dried paint, "slabs of acrylic."
I believe it's dried paint that has been cut up.
The dried slabs of acrylic he is using as he mentioned, "tesserae" or units. The working methods in the film, adhering the pieces to a substrate are very similar to contemporary artists working in mosaic with glass or stone.
Interesting
wow
Does anyone know the adhesive he is using at 1:00?
wascally1 probably an impasto gel. Drys clear. So many products to check out chroma.inc
I dont understand english. But he is beautiful. I wonder what kind of stones are those...
good
Why I felt a LOT when I saw the paintings .
🔝🔝🔝❤❤❤
My first professor a 2 semesters @ CU
Ah, Shit, that was beautiful.
RIP Jack Whitten
This my art professor 🤣🤣🤣
if you can sell what you made you are an artist even if I don't like it
Not always....o e could surely sell something just to make money. But of course to be a professional artist, you need to sel, your work
It's OK to express how you didn't like the art but back it up with an insight. It's more useful this way. Otherwise no one cares that Joe Schmo just "doesn't like it". You might as well just do something else.
You're right it's only a hoppy because living is on art not possible people don't buy art work , me also want to be an artist but things which I create, no one wants to buy so now I thinking that , I can through them out , no value an artist ,that's v sad ,even so Allah himself is an artist but that's the tyranny
Do art for yourself. Do it cuz it makes you happy. If you only want to make art to sell, then it probably won't make you happy which will lead to you being less creative and frustrated.
Yeah, still I create to make myself happy
megalh kallitexnara
question: IF IM USING THIS FOR A ART ASSIGNMENT CAUSE MY TEACHER ASSIGNED IT TO ME WHY IS HE CUSSIN
I doubt it really bothers you and I'm sure u cuss just as much.
More pretentious Modern Art garbage
A sweet humble man, raised dirt poor in the most racist part of America - does he strike you as a very pretentious person?
And still your craft is burger making at McDonald's. Or wait here's an artful idea. While you have all that time Make McDonalds art out of all the nasty ingredients ketchup and mustard. Pretentious right. Oh while looked in that corporation's hell. You are a fckng moron. You have to be a human to understand the principles of an artist. you're just not one of them. And no I am not saying he is the best and you must follow him. But he is damn good. Passionate. And str8 up humanistic. He used his fckng resources.
Not my cup of tea.
Not at all surprising.
Why don't you go have a cup of tea?
Mary Cahill no one cares wot ur negative ass thinks
to the negative responders to marys comment: I dare you to like every piece of art you see! everyone has a right to their opinion...try to understand that it's ok to be different. why can't we all get along even though we have different opinions?
Total nonsense