UW-Whitewater is hosting the Wisconsin Premiere of the film J. Fred Woell: An American Vision. The film will be shown Monday, November 5 at 6:00 pm in the Center of the Arts Room 30. This new feature film by Richard Kane celebrates the pioneering metal artist who created work with wit, satire, and meaning often on the dark side of history. Fred Woell was the first metals professor at UW-Whitewater and a visionary artist. This screening of the film is free and open to the public. Please join us for this important art film.
“Fantastic! … a really important film … an essential piece for American history.” Curator Barbara Gifford, Museum of Arts and Design
“insightful … informative … intelligent.” Susan Cummins, Art Jewelry Forum
“inspiring”. Stuart Kestenbaum, former director Haystack Mountain School of Crafts
J. Fred Woell: An American Vision captures the essence of this jeweler who made wearable art with a political message. a political artist who believed deeply in the power of the creative spirit. As a patriot, he had profound beliefs in our democratic ideals yet saw the flaws in our politics. He used art to make satirically searing commentary often on the dark side of history. An inspiring, humble and humorous artist and teacher, Woell opened the door to a new way of seeing.
Website: www.jfredwoellfilms.org
Review by Stuart Kestenbaum, former Chair of the American Craft Council:
J. Fred Woell: An American Vision is a new film by Richard Kane with Robert Shetterly (50 min., 2017) that “captures the essence of a man who believed deeply in the power of the creative spirit. As an artist, he was an innovator and a rule-breaker. As a teacher, he encouraged his students to make their own discoveries. Fred … had a deep belief in democratic ideals .… While he could see the inconsistencies and flaws of his own country, he could also evoke in us our potential to make a better world. For Fred, making that better world began with his hands in the studio. In this inspiring film, we are fortunate to witness a part of that journey.” Stuart Kestenbaum is Maine’s Poet Laureate and former Chair of the American Craft Council.
For further information contact Audra Lange at 262-472-5943 or at LangeAS14@uww.edu
