I'M SO BEHIND.....

   I finally looked at this page today. As I've been doing a LOT of video constructions lately. But I still haven't updated this page with all those wonderful entries. I've been doing videos on Ronnie Landfield, A short video I made in Joseph Marioni's studio many years back when I had been actively working on the video series. And a few videos on the Guy on the Bike... Loren Munk aka James Kalm. Including one I made the day of his opening at Freight and Volume Gallery in NYC on icy cold February evening.

More are definitely on the way.

   The next set of films I shall be editing are on the historian, critic, and curator. The legendary Karen Wilkin, in her NYC home. The story behind visiting her is a funny one. I had been in the process of doing my first run of interviews around NYC that week. I had made appointments with Painter Pat Steir and Karen on the same day. I figured it wouldn't be all that difficult since Karen lives close to Joseph Marioni and I could easily walk back to his place, where I had been staying during this trip. I didn't take into account how HEAVY my camera bags were at the time and how they would hurt by the end of that day from sitting on my shoulders. I definitely didn't think about getting a bag with rollers on it, nor did I have the funds to buy one at that time. SO I dug in and made the first trip to Pat's by way of the subway. Thankfully all I needed that day was the Blue line of the A, C, and E, trains. Just a short trip down to 25th street station and a bit of walking to the other side of Chelsea. I had never been in a building like the one her studio is in. Everything was big sized so each occupant could easily move things in and out. I got up to her floor and like just about everything of that trip, I immediately got lost. I saw a number that matched hers, and knocked. A fella answered and told me it was the room next door. He has a photo studio. Typical of photo studios, everything was white and clean as a whistle. Made me jealous. 

   I went next door and her assistant let me in and greeted me so nicely. Brought me into the studio of GIANT paintings of her "waterfalls", She has been developing her way of pouring paint down the surface of the canvas which gives way to veils of color and lots of movement. She had been working on paintings I think I may have seen later at her Gallery. My mind was truly blown taking in these statements of movement and energy. UNFORTUNATELY, her assistant told me the bad news that I wouldn't be able to interview her that day. The particulars shall stay between us. I did however speak to her and she told me what had happened. It was definitely a crazy day for her. 

   I couldn't stay long enough for us to meet and hang for a bit. I politely said good-bye and grabbed my bags and put them on my shoulders again and began the trip of getting out of that building. Once I had made it back to the street, I walked down to the end of the street and said FUCK IT, I'm gonna take a cab up to Karen's. After a few minutes of waiting, I made the decision to just struggle and get my butt to the subway station. Once back up to the 35th street station I made my way over to Karen's place, and was so happy to finally be visiting someone that had many major ties to many of my favorite painters. Once inside Karen's place, she was so happy to see me and we immediately began chatting like a couple people that had known each other for a year. I decided as I wanted to film everyone with the light in their homes, for her I had decided to do everything with my 1.4F stop lens which let's in so much light. I had actually been able to use it for about half of our interview before it got too dark. I now wish I had more of the ME that is today to talk with her as I'm so much better at just chatting with people these days. I think my questions were pretty decent and they led to more talking between us.

   You can see the few that are up there now, and wait till I've got a new video uploaded. Should be in the next couple days. For now, click the link and come and enjoy these great interviews.

Have a great day!

Jeffrey Collins

 

 

New structure for the new year. New films coming more often.

Beginning the new year with new goals for my films. I have been wanting to put more clips out in the public to share what I believe are great interviews with great stories. I have decided that for the year, I will release two new videos per week as I go through the varied interviewees and their stories. I'm beginning with two clips from Ronnie Landfield. You always get great stories from Ronnie and these are a great introduction to that.





As always, please feel free to share these around, as all your help is greatly appreciated. Don't forget to subscribe to the youtube page which will allow you to know immediately when new films are available.

Thanks.
Jeffrey Collins
Director.

Shot with a Canon 5D2 with a Zoom H4n for recording audio. I love the way the H4n records, it really gives you more of a sense of how the sounds in his studio are.

Painter Ronnie Landfield in his NYC Studio 2012

It wasn't too long after I got to film Ronnie Landfield and his wife Jenny in his Tribeca studio moving paintings around, that the storm of the century for NYC hit and ended his time there. I'm glad I got to spend some wonderful time there, either filming, or just hanging out. Ronnie is always a great person to talk with. We have lots of differences in the way we see art, but that's what makes the conversations all that much richer. I've been looking forward to visiting his new studio for years now and who knows when i'll be able to get up there to film.



If you know someone who likes to sponsor art projects, especially of the documentation sort, please get them in touch as it takes more than I've got to make these films for you. History needs films like this.

Thanks for watching!
Jeffrey Collins
Artist/Filmmaker

Who's Afraid of Red Yellow and Blue...The Documentary.

I have been working on this documentary for over a year now. Getting ready to make my second November filming trip to NYC. November 2011 was the first NYC filming trip I made. During that visit, I got to interview Peter Reginato, Karen Wilkin, John Zinsser, and Klaus Kertess. I got to meet Pat Steir (we had to make a raincheck for another day), and Ronnie Landfield (whom I interviewed on the next trip to NYC in April of 2012).

I feel amazing to have gotten this far with the film and am happy to share with you a recent trailer I made to show to some prospective funders. I know that in the future I'll be making a second version of the trailer, but this is with what I have right now.



I hope you enjoy it. As I was working on the trailer, I finally came up with the name for the documentary. If you know me, you know I was thinking of calling it Painters Painting Two....or maybe Too. Kinda cheesy, but hey I couldn't come up with much better. After working on the trailer a bit I was just thinking about it while waiting for sleep. Suddenly I thought of the title 'Birth Of Venus' or maybe Re-Birth...but that sounded more like a sculpture film. I thought the idea of naming it after a famous painting could be a possible good idea. Almost immediately the name flashed in my mind.

WHO'S AFRAID OF RED YELLOW AND BLUE

One of the many great titles for paintings that one of my absolute favorite painters Barnett Newman gave to his work. But it also rang true with what I felt I was trying to accomplish with this film. To give a sense that even 60 years later, people are still (to use the analogy) afraid or abstract modern art. And I hope with this film that it will give people a much needed eye into the world of these people, which will inevitably give people more insight than before into the world of Non-representational painting and sculpture. As I do have Peter Reginato, an amazing sculptor in the film and am in the process of interviewing Forrest 'Frosty' Myers for the film too. I didn't want to give the film an overtly painting type title.

I am about to make another trip for filming next month and have had much help from some amazing people to allow me to make this film. I have a donation button below if you would like to help out. It will allow you to put in any amount of funds you would be willing to donate. And if you are really willing, I am working on a referral plan where if you guide people to the site and they too donate (while giving your name in the comment box). Depending on how much you are able to bring in, I can offer some amazing footage of any or ALL of the participants being sent to you on DVD's after the release of the film. You can learn more about it here.

Thanks for all your help. Remember, you helped make this happen. With all your donations, and all your praise and just getting in touch to let me know you are happy about what I'm working on.

Cheers.
Jeffrey Collins
Director (and all the other stuff too!)

Ronnie Landfield Package

I am putting the Ronnie Landfield book contribution package here. This wonderful book was signed by Ronnie Landfield in order to help raise supporting funds for the documentary film. This book was made for the exhibition "Paintings from Five Decades" from the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio. Published in 2007. 48 pages of amazing paintings and fantastic writings on a grand artist of the 21st century.

You WILL also receive the DVD, and the digital download of the finished film.

Shipping is free for North America. If you are outside of North America please get in touch, as shipping will be an extra $15. And I'll have to add that in and send you the invoice.

Thanks for your support. Please click the Paypal button at the bottom to complete the transaction.

Another trip to New York City.

Spent another week (extended this time) in New York City. Thanks to the wonderful Peter Reginato, and Joseph Marioni for putting me up during my trip. You guys rock. Went to Painter Ronnie Landfield's again and this time got to film he and his wife Jenny moving paintings around. Ronnie even let me film him making a wonderful painting, which he had finished and stretched and framed by the time I saw him again about 6 days later. Can't wait to get a pic of it so I can show it off. I went on Saturday the 21st to Rodney Dickson's Brooklyn studio to interview him for the film. This was the first time I have had an artists take so much interest in how the interview was done. He even came up with his own questions, and later after we had finished, was telling me about even more we could do for the next time. I really can't wait for the next time now. I got to try a new to me technique of recording audio for Rodney's interview. Not sure right now if it came out as well as I had hoped, but thankfully I kept the audio from my recorder too, so if there is a problem I can always go back to the 24bit 96Khz recordings from the interview and work with those. I like quality. But there is just something about raw looking video that peaks my interest.

If you don't know about Rodney's work. I highly suggest you check it out. He just had a show in NYC at the Gasser and Grunert gallery on W. 19th St across from Zwirner. 

So much more to come.

Thanks to Peter Reginato, Joseph Marioni, Dee Solin, Rodney Dickson, James Panero, Ronnie Landfield and Jenny Landfield, David Reed, and Mrs. Vogel....my sympathies for your loss.

New additions to the film campaign.

I have received two new additions to my art documentary film campaign. One by Marc Ross...whom my first documentary was on, and the other by Ronnie Landfield...whom is in the new documentary. Both of these works on paper are exquisite and beautiful. Full of atmosphere and transcendence. Clicking on the image itself will allow it to open up in a much better format for internet viewing.


Marc Ross: Simplified #10 1997-2008 Acrylic and watercolor on paper. 15" X 18"

Ronnie Landfield: Sea of Japan series, June 1996
11" x 8 1/8" ink and colored chalk on paper.

New Screen Captures from interviews.

I wanted to share some screen captures I just made from the recent interviews I did in April 2012. I had such a wonderful time learning from these great artists and am looking forward to heading back soon and learning more. Thanks to all who have contributed to the film. If you are interested in contributing to the production of the film, please do so here.

Artist John Zinsser

Artist Michael Brennan

Artist Peter Reginato

Artist Ronnie Landfield

Artist Ruth Ann Fredenthal

Looking forward to what the future brings for this documentary. Cheers to all involved.

Jeffrey

Ronnie Landfield being an art mover of Rosenquist.

Sharing this fantastic clip of Painter Ronnie Landfield talking about his early days and how he helped set up a few shows for fellow artists, including James Rosenquist's second show at the Green Gallery.



Thanks to all who contributed in helping get me to NYC for this recent filming trip. It is all greatly appreciated. Already looking forward to the next trip.