[4K] 1986 PBS American Playhouse Presents: Sunday in the Park with George at the Booth Theatre

white a blank page or canvas the challenge bring order to the whole through design composition [Music] balance [Music] light and harmony [Music] [Applause] [Music] no now i want you to look out at the water i feel foolish why i hate this thing then why wear it i wear it everyone is wearing them everyone you know they are stand still please i read they're even wearing them in america they are fighting the indians in america and you cannot read i can read a little why did we have to get up so early polite oh what's the matter i hate this tree [Music] i thought you were drawing me i am i am just stand still i wish we could go sailing i wouldn't go this early in the day though could you drop your head a little please god if you wish to be a good model you must learn to concentrate hold the pose look down at the water thank you where is that tree yes my dodge is everywhere what is it madame the tree the tree where is our tree what tree the tree we always sit near someone has moved it no one has moved it madamet is right over there come along push me i'm not pushing i am helping you are pushing and i do not need any help yes madam this is not our tree yes madam i do not envy the nurse she can read they were talking about you at laku pole [Music] saying strange things they have so little to speak of they must speak of me were you at the zoo george drawing the monkey games not the monkey cage they said they saw you the monkey's dot not the cage this is true why draw monkeys nurse what is that what madam that off in the distance they are making way for the exposition what exposition the international exposition they're going to build a tower another exposition they say it is going to be the tallest structure in the world oh foreigners i am sick of foreigners more boats or trees [Music] george [Music] why is it you always get to sit in the shade well i have to stand in the sun george hello george [Music] there is someone in this dress [Music] a trickle of sweat [Music] the back of the head [Music] he always does this now the foot is dead sunday in the park with george one horse the collar is damp beginning to pinch the bustle [Music] don't move please artists are bizarre fixed cold that's you george or bismuth [Music] [Music] there are worse things than staring at the water as you're posing for a picture being painted by your lover in the middle of the sun [Music] so [Music] the petticoat's wet which adds to the weight the sun is blinding all right concentrate eyes open please sunday in the park with george look at the water not at me concentrate [Music] [Applause] [Music] if you [Music] terrible [Music] you are is you're really good [Music] beard [Music] i love your size george but most [Music] i love your [Music] i think i am crazy [Music] right under the tit no don't give in just lift the arm a bit lift the arm please sunday in the park with george muscle high please not even a nod as if i were trees the ground could open he would still say please never go with you george woken up with you the others i knew george before we get through i'll get to you too [Music] there are worse things that staring at the border right you're positive for a picture after sleeping on the ferry river [Music] don't move the mouse [Laughter] [Music] getting tired this one is too strong today almost i'd finished be in the studio i know they are out early today it is sunday madame that is what i mean nurse young boys out swimming so early on a sunday well it is awfully warm send me my parasol i am madame oh no oh look look look who's over there so so when he is around you know who was likely to follow you have moved your arm george i think they are spying on you i really do are you going to keep your head still you are here awfully early today yeah so are you and working on a sunday yeah it is a beautiful day it is too [Music] hot do you think where is my sand i have to go back now nurse my fans you did not bring it today madame yes i brought it perhaps we will see each other later perhaps there it is over that is my fan and i can use it can i not it was just lying there what is all that commotion last boys [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh my gosh it has no presence no passion no life it's neither pastoral nor lyrical you don't suppose that it's satirical oh just density without intensity [Music] boys with their clothes off i must take a factory now it's so mechanical methodical it might be in some dreary socialistic periodical cool so drag so cold and so controlled no luck his touch [Music] of course he's young [Music] now [Music] [Applause] there is that famous artist what is his name what is his name i can never remember their name storm out very early today hello a lovely day i couldn't bear sketching today to sunday have you seen the painting yet yes i was just going to say boys bathing what a curious subject we must speak i loved the dog i am pleased there was an independent exhibition we must speak really enjoy the weather yes good day that's dress [Laughter] i hate them jules is a fine i do not care i hate them we are waiting at your service thank you [Music] concentrate like you said you did very well did i really yes i'll meet you back at the studio you are not coming not now dot we'll go to the follies tonight bonjour lovely morning ladies yes i have my pattern crayons today oh that would be day why not today too warm yes it is warm but it won't take long i go about it it's george mother yes i guess we will all be back so [Music] [Applause] [Music] george taught me all about concentration the art of being still he said i guess i did not learn it soon enough george likes to be alone sometimes he will work all night long painting we thought about that i need sleep i love to dream george doesn't need as much sleep as everyone else and he never tells me his dreams george has many secrets [Music] design [Music] composition tone form symmetry balance more red and a little more red [Music] my red my blue my beard [Music] my light yellow and white just blue and yellow and white [Music] joined with orange nothing seems to fit me right unless i wear the more comfortable i feel more rouge george is very special maybe i'm just not special enough for him if my legs were longer if my bust was smaller if my hands were graceful if my waist was thinner if my hips were flatter [Music] gentlemen [Music] nails [Music] yeah i wouldn't like it much [Music] married men and stupid boys and too much smoke and all that noise and all that color and light aren't you profit today miss your parasol so properly cocked your bustle so perfectly upright no doubt your chin rests at just the proper angle from your chest and you sir your hat's so black so black to you perhaps so red to me and then the others worked at night for a sunday bright white light how do you fathom george red red red red red orange red red orange orange a blue pick a red picker orange from the blue green green blue green circle on the violet diagonal yellow yellow karma [Music] blue [Laughter] [Music] hot in here [Music] [Music] you're [Music] [Music] and he burns you with his eyes look at her looking and you're studying like the light wherever with that mirror what does she see the round face the tiny pout the soft mouth the creamy skin pink lipsticks [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] it's going well can i wear my red dress or blue red aren't you going to clean up why the follies george i have to finish the hat [Music] damn [Music] the follies will shiela stay silent go without me or sulk in the corner will she be in the bed when the hat and the grass and the parasol have finally found their way to green do i care too blue yes soft what should i do well red [Music] so [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] thank you the water looks different on sunday it is the same water that you bolt on all week it looks different from the park you prefer watching the boats to the people promenading people all dressed up in their sunday best pretending sunday's just another day i wear what i always wear and i don't have to worry worry hey leave me alone dress like this no one comes in here look who's over there dot who is she with it looks like louie the baker but how did dog get to be with louie she knows how to make joe rise there is that woman who is she with looks like the baker moving up i suppose the artist is more handsome you could not eat paintings my dear not when there's bread in the oven [Music] they say he's working on an enormous canvas i heard somewhere he's painting little specks you heard it from me a large canvas of specs really look at him drawing a slovenly boatman i think he's trying to play with life a monkey cage they say hypocrites that's what they are muttering and murmuring about this one and that one i'll take my old dog for company any day a dog knows this place respects your privacy makes no demands right they say that george has another woman i'm not surprised that george only lives with i'm not surprised i say he prowls through the streets in his top hat after midnight oh since they're staring up at the lamps i'm not surprised artists are so crazy those girls are noisy yes madame that man is famous yes madam that man is filthy your son seems to find him interesting that man's deluded artists are so crazy [Music] [Applause] what do you do with those drawings anyway that's george there is a move on to include his work in the next group show never i agree [Music] i agree he draws anyone old boatman peculiar man like his father i said i said so first [Music] lesson [Music] number eight pro nouns pronouns what is a pronoun a pronoun is the word used in the place of a noun do you recall what a noun is certainly i recall [Music] example charles has a book marie wants charles book not marie again marie wants his book fill in the blanks charles ran with marie's ball charles ran with h e r ball get the ball back marie children should not go unattended she is very young to be alone i do not like what i see today nurse what do you see lack of discipline oh not the right direction at all full rowing you call that recreation almost finished get away from that that was hardly necessary how do you know what's necessary huh who are you with your fancy pad and your crayons you call that work yes bug your goddamn holier than now shitty little man in your fancy clothes you're born with pens and pencils not pricks you don't know are you going to do now that you have no one to draw don't talk to him i am drawing his dog his dog honestly i have already sketched you ladies what you have i do not believe you a few sundays ago but we never sat for you i studied you from afar no where were you i want to see someday when well he did not so much as ask no respect for a person's privacy i would not sit for him anyway probably that's why he did not ask [Music] good afternoon hello lesson number eight yes i am pronouns my writing is improving i even keep notes in the back of the book good for you how is your painting coming along slowly do you find you're getting more work done now that you have fewer distractions in the studio it has been quiet there god i made your favorite good day cream puffs [Music] if the head was smaller if the tail were longer if we face the water if the paws were hidden if the neck was darker if the back was curved [Music] or grass would you like some more grass roof roof thanks the week has been a roof when you're stuck for life on a garbage skull only 40 feet long from stern to growl and a crackpot in the bow wow roof oh planks are roof and the wind is rough and the master's drunk and mean and gruff growth with the fish and scum and planks and ballasts the nose gets numb and the paws get calloused and with splinters in your ass you look forward to the grass on sunday [Music] the day [Music] oh the grass needs to be thicker perhaps a few weeds and some ants if you would i love fresh ants [Music] roaming around on sundays poking among the roots under rocks most of the ground on sundays studying all the shoes under socks everything's worth it sunday the day off [Music] it's a pastries piece of chickens here's a handkerchief that somebody was sick in there's a thistle lots of shallots lots of dripping from the loonie with the palette [Music] [Music] the day off [Music] stuck all week on the lady's lap nothing to do but yawning nap can you blame me if i yap there's only so much attention a dog can take [Music] [Music] worth it the day off something fuzzy safe and freeze something pink that someone tore off in a hurry what's the muddle in the middle what's the puddle where the poodle did the pedal [Music] [Applause] taking the day on sunday now that the dreamy week is dead getting away on sunday brightens the dreary week ahead [Music] there's a daisy [Music] and the drone still someday with someone's daughty mother is better than sunday with your own [Music] mothers may drone mothers make whine tending to his though is perfectly fine it pays for the nurse that is tending to mine on sunday my day off this is just ridiculous oh why shouldn't we fish no one will notice us anyway look where soldiers alone but did i tell you well they'll never talk to us if we fish it's beautiful day for fishing what do you think [Music] [Laughter] i like the one in the light hat oh no [Applause] not now ladies i wanna play call they louise we are not working today let's go throw stones at the docks do not throw stones at the ducks why not you know by not then you know this is a day off so go find your mother and throw some stones at her by don't you hunt relax ah she looks for me he is bursting to go near the fountain i could let him manage [Music] i believe that artist is drawing his serious friend [Music] missile would never think to draw us the only people he looks down upon i should have been an artist i was never intended for work artists i believe they work very hard work we work we serve their food they carved their meat they tantalled their house we polish their silver their food we serve [Music] we scrape their plates dusty knee connects hundreds to the shelf work is what you do for others libtion art is what you do for yourself working on sunday again you should give yourself a day off all right you must need time to replenish or does your well never run dry trying my servants certainly george you could find more colorful subjects who should i be sketching how about that pretty friend of yours now why did i see her arm in arm with the baker today she is a pretty subject yes your life needs spice george go to some parties that is where you will meet prospective buyers have some fun the work is bound to reflect if you don't like my work do your jewels i did once you find it too tight people are talking about your work you have your admirers i am using a different brush stroke always changing why keep changing because i do not paint for your approval and i suppose that is why i like you good to see you george jules i would like you to come to the studio sometime see the new work for my approval no for your opinion very well [Music] you and me ow we're the loonies did you know that that you didn't know that [Music] cause we tell them the who are truth drawing who the hell you think you're drawing me you don't know me go on drawing since you're drawing only what you want to see anyway one eye no illusion that you get with two one for what is true one for what suits you derive your wrong conclusion all you artists do i see what is true sitting there looking everybody up and down studying every move like you see something different like your eyes no more you and me where society's fault [Applause] [Music] getting away on someday [Music] hello george where did you go george i know you're near george i caught your eyes george i want your [Music] everybody loves louie louie's simple and kind everybody loves louie louie louie who we're going to fly and louie the baker [Music] is not what i had in my mind louie's but an artist louie's cakes are an art louie isn't the smartest he'll always popular everybody loves louie know he begs from my heart [Music] [Applause] and then in bed george i mean he needs me [Music] hello george louie's always so pleasant louie's always so fair louis makes you feel present louise generous that's the thing about louie louie always is there louise thoughts are not hard to follow louise art is not hard to swallow not that louis perfection that's what makes him ideal hardly anything worth objection we drink stupid louie blitz [Music] we lose things and then we choose things and there are georges [Music] true [Music] everybody loves louise we included george not afraid to be thinks cool [Music] gets along with him that's the trouble nothing's wrong with him louie has to make his way george know me beg him [Music] [Applause] [Laughter] paris looks nothing like the paintings i know i don't see any passion to you none french so placid um i don't think they have much style either plus all the carrying on back home delicious pastries though excellent [Applause] looking at those boats over there makes me think about our return voyage i long to be back home you do how soon could we leave well you're that anxious to leave oh my peaches would just arrived i know well i don't like it here either we'll go right back to that hotel in our book passage for the end of the week we'll go to the galleries this afternoon and be on our way home i am so relieved i will miss these pastries though we'll take a baker with us too wonderful you really should try using that pole it won't make any difference oh oh what's wrong just sit there [Music] may we be of some service madame she has a fish he knows allow me oh wait tug so there's no sign of a fish here oh me my name is celeste oh this is my friend celeste well do you have a name i beg your pardon napoleon some people feel i should change it no and your friend yes he is my friend he's very quiet yes actually he is he lost his hearing during combat exercises oh what a shame he can't speak either how dreadful we have become very close though so i see [Music] [Music] [Laughter] and after a week spent mostly indoors with nothing but soldiers ladies i and my friend trust we will not offend which we never intend by suggesting we spend this magnificent sunday with you and your friend the one on the right's an awful four he's been we may get a meal and we might get more and be fine for sunday it's said to be fine for sunday it's certainly fine for some day [Music] madam was you and me pal [Music] second bottle ah she looks for me bonnet flapping yapping roof chicken pastry yes she looks for me good let her look for me to tell me why she left me as i always knew she would i had thought she understood they have never understood and no reason that they should but if anybody [Music] could finishing the hat how you have to finish the hat how you watch the rest of the world from a window while you finish the hat mapping out the sky what you feel like planning the sky what you feel when voices that come through the window go until they distance and die until there's nothing but sky and how you're always turning back too late from the grass of the stick of the dog and the light how the kind of woman willing to wait not the kind [Music] studying the hunter [Music] stepping back to look at the face leaves a little space in the way like a window but to see it's the only way to see [Music] always standing by mapping out the sky [Music] finishing a hat starting on a finishing a hat look i made a hat [Music] where there never was a hat [Music] excuse a master we are lost let me try daddy we unable to find pisces off island why don't you just walk into the water till your lungs fill up and you die [Laughter] these people isn't that the baker yes it is [Music] where is that tree nurse [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] oh you're almost finished if i don't change my mind again and you two more months you cannot change your mind nor do i want to is it going to be exhibited i'm not sure jules is coming over to look at it any minute in fact oh i hope you don't mind my coming what is it that you want dad george i would like my painting your painting the one of me powdering i didn't know that it was yours you said once i could have it in my sleep i want something to remember you by you don't have enough now i want the painting too i understand that you and louie are getting married yes he must love you very much to take you in that condition he does i didn't think you would go through with it i did not think that was what you really wanted i don't think i can have what i really want louie is what i think i need yes louie will take you to the follies correct george i didn't back here jewels i will go don't leave please there you are i brought yvonne along may i take a peek i'll wait in the other room oh i hope we are not interrupting you it is so large how can you get any perspective and this lies extraordinary excuse me talk of painting bores me it is difficult to escape it when you are with an artist i do not know how you can walk up all those steps in your condition i remember when i had louise i could never be on my feet for long periods of time certainly could never navigate steps did someone carry you around why are you so cool to me maybe i don't like you whatever have i done to make you feel that way whatever have i done perhaps it is the way you speak what are you really doing here you know why we are here so jules can look at george's work i do not understand why george invites you he knows you do not like his painting that is not entirely true jules has great respect for george and he has encouraged him since they were in school that is not what i hear jules is jealous of george now well jealousy is a form of flattery is it not i have been jealous of you on occasion when i have seen george drawing you in the park jules has seldom sketched me you are his wife too flat too angular modeling is hard work you wouldn't like it anyway it is worth it don't you think sometimes has your life changed much now that you are with the baker i suppose he enjoys caring for me you are very lucky i suppose jules cares but there are times when he just does not know that louise and i are there george always seems so oblivious to everyone jules says that is what is wrong with his painting too obsessive you have to have a life don't you agree george i do not know what to say what is this what is the dominant color the flower on the hat is is this a school exam george what is that color violet see red and blue your eye made the violet so so your eye is perceiving both red and blue and violet only 11 colors no black divided not mixed on the palette mixed by the eye can't you see the shimmering science jewels fixed laws for color like music you are a painter not a scientist you cannot even see these faces i am not i am not painting faces josh i have counted your work in the past and out you are embarrassing me people are talking about why why should i paint like you or anybody else i am trying to get through to something new something that is my own and i'm trying to understand and i want you to understand look at the canvas jules really look at it george let us get to the point you have invited me here because you want me to try to get this included in the next group show it will be finished soon i want it to be seen jules i'm sorry to interrupt but you know we must be going we have another engagement yes thank you george yes thank you thank you thank you for coming i will give the matter some thought he does not like you he does not understand or appreciate you he can only see you as everyone else does afraid to take you apart and put you back together again for himself but we will not let anyone deter us will we excuse me speaking with about the pancakes i do not believe that he even looked at the painting george i have something to tell you yes now about your painting i may be going away to america alone of course not with louie he has work when after the baby arrives you will not like it there how do you know i have read about america why are you telling me this first you ask for a painting that is not yours and then you tell me this i have work to do yes george run to your work hide behind your painting i have come to tell you i am leaving because i thought you might care to know foolish of me because you care about nothing i care about many things things not people people too i cannot divide my feelings up as neatly as you and i am not hiding behind my chest because i'm living in yourself i care for this painting you will be in this painting because i understand that i left that i am leaving yes george there is you could tell me not to go tell me that you're hurt tell me you're relieved tell me that you're bored anything but don't assume i know tell me what you hear [Music] what i feel you know exactly how i feel why do you insist you must hear the words when you know i cannot give you words [Music] not the ones you need there's nothing to say i cannot be what you want what do you want i needed you and you left there was no room for will not accept who i am i am what i do which you knew which you always knew which i thought you were no you are complete george you are your own we do not belong together you are complete george you are alone i am unfinished i am diminished [Music] we do not belong together and we should have belonged together what made it so right together is what made it all wrong no one hears you george then we agree but others will do george no one is you and no one can be but no one is me george no one is me we do not belong [Music] you have a mission a mission to see now i have one to george and we should [Music] [Music] i remember when you were a little boy you would rise up early on a sunday morning and go for a swim i do not know how to swim the boys would come by the house to get you i've always been petrified of the water and your father would walk you all to the banks of the sun father was never faithful to us and he would give you boys careful instruction telling you just how far to swim out he certainly never instructed now look across there in the distance all those beautiful trees cut down for a foolish tower [Music] i don't think there were ever trees over there how i loved the view from here changing i'm quite certain that was an open field it keeps changing i used to play there as a child i see towers where there were trees going all the stillness the solitude [Music] disappearing all the time when things were beautiful [Music] all things are beautiful mother all trees all towers beautiful that tower beautiful sea a perfect tree pretty beautiful mother pretty is what changes [Music] is what is um [Music] is [Music] is [Music] you make it beautiful oh georgie how i long for the old view [Music] [Applause] i'm glad to be free of him uh friends can be confining he never understood my moods she only thought of herself it felt as if i had this burden at my side she never really cared they had very different tastes she had no choice she didn't seem rather pushy and he was so he is not odd no i didn't really mean odd you better not let me get my hands on you you little toad what we ever gonna get home you are blocking my light marie and i came to watch marie you know i do not like anyone staring over my shoulder yes i know george we are about to leave for america i have come to ask for the painting of me powdering again i would like to take it with me i have repainted it what another model you knew i wanted it perhaps if you had remained still perhaps if you would look up from your pad what is wrong with you george can you not even look at your own child she is not my child louis is her father louie is not her father no he is her father now louie will be a loving and attentive father i cannot because i cannot look up from my pad but i'm sorry i worry about you george could you turn slightly toward me please no future in dreaming drop the head a little please i worry about you and that woman too i have another woman in my life now they're all the same woman variations on the theme you always drifted as a child shadows are too heavy we're always in some other place seeing something no one else could see we tried to get through to you george really we did connect george connect are you certain you wish to do this of course we just have to find a quiet spot i've wanted to do it outside for a long time your friends would kill you is he in the park i am not certain oh well perhaps some other day would be better some other day always some other day perhaps you don't really wish to i do i do i love tall grass holy grass you wouldn't toy but my affections would you no you're certainly not i see a quiet spot over there over there but there are people in that grove [Applause] [Music] [Applause] bonjour do you suppose there is a violation being perpetrated by that man what there is something in the air today being alone is nothing new to me oh look look who is watching [Laughter] is such a bore i would almost rather be in the shop do you like your work i hate mine do not care if she never speaks to me again she won't [Music] friends oh friends have you seen louise but i thought frida was going to care for her today but it's sunday what of it it's a day off oh but i have lost my little girl let's go say hello to celeste but i do not wish to speak with him it'll be fun louise where have you been young lady with freedom there you see friday and with father your father is in the studio no he's not he's with frida i saw them there over there tonguing [Music] remember george order [Music] design [Music] tension [Music] balance [Music] harmony [Music] [Music] yellow red water the green purple yellow red grass let us [Music] pausing on a sunday [Music] as we pass through the arrangements of shadows [Music] [Applause] [Music] all [Music] through the trees [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so so [Applause] it's hot up here [Music] it's hot and it's monotonous i want my glasses [Music] this is not my good profile nobody can even see my profile i hate this dress the soldiers have forgotten us the beltman schvitz says i am completely out of proportion these helmets weigh a lot on us this tree is blocking my view i can't see anything why are they complaining it could have been raining i hate these people a lot up here it's hot up here [Music] darling don't clutch mother's hand quite so tightly [Music] thank you it's hot up here at least you have a parasol look who's talking sitting in the shade i trust my cigar is not bothering you unfortunately it never goes out you have excellent concentration it's good to be together again see i [Music] do you like tall grass [Music] i like the one in the light hat hello george i do not wish to be remembered like this george three inches off the ground and then this monkey and these people george they'll argue till they fade whisper things and grunt but thank you for the shade and putting me in front yes thank you george [Music] and for the hat it's hot up here it's hot on this monotonous i want my glasses this is not a good profile it's hot up here [Music] [Applause] and you know that you're immortal and you'll always be remembered even [Music] [Music] [Music] and it's [Music] third one it is hard to believe yes it seems like only yesterday we were posing for him we never posed for him we certainly did we are in a painting [Music] i hardly knew the man i would spend my sundays here and i would see him sketching so i was surprised when he stopped showing up of course i didn't notice right away but one day i realized something was different like a flash of light right through me the way that man would stare at you when he sketched i knew he was no longer i'm going to be a painter when i grow up if you live honestly keep your mouth shut it is my mouth and i'll do as i please quiet george was a gentleman soft-spoken and a far superior artist to monsieur he had beautiful eyes yeah [Music] beautiful eyes well eyes that captured beauty yeah he chose his subjects bell i was in charleston when i heard at first i was surprised by the news almost relieved in fact perhaps i knew this is how it would end perhaps we both knew a parent wants to die first but george was always off and running and i was never able to keep up with him no one knew he was ill until the very last days i offered to care for him but he would let no one near not even her george had great promise as a painter it really is a shame his career was ended so abruptly he had an unusual flair for colour and light and his work was not as mechanical as some have suggested i liked george he was dedicated to his work seldom did anything but work and i am proud to have counted him among my friends george stopped me once in the park it was the only time i had ever spoken to him outside the company of jewels he stared at my jacket for a few moments then muttered something about beautiful colors and just walked on i rather fancied george well most of the women did they all wanted him and hated him at the same time they wanted to be painted splashed on some fancy salon wall but they hated him too hated him because he only spoke when he absolutely had to most of all they hated him because they knew he would always be around [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] ladies and gentlemen in 1983 i was commissioned by this museum to create an art piece commemorating george sarat's painting a sunday afternoon on the island of la grande jacques my latest chromoloom stands before you now the seventh in a continuing series because i have a special association to this painting the museum director robert greenberg suggested i assemble a short presentation to precede the activation of my latest invention i have brought my grandmother along to give me a hand my grandmother marie i was born in paris france 98 years ago my grandson george i was born in lodi new jersey 32 years ago my mother was married to louis a baker they left france when i was an infant to travel to charleston south carolina born december 2nd 1859. it was through his mother that the future artist was introduced to the lower class parisian parks sarat received a classical training at the bozart like his father he was not an easy man to know he lived in an age when science was gaining influence over romantic principles he worked very hard his first painting at the age of 24 bathing at an air was rejected by the salon but was shown by the group of independent artists they hung it over the refreshment stand wasn't that awful on ascension day 1884 he began to work on his second major painting a sunday afternoon on the island of la grande jean he was to work two years on this painting he always knew where he was going before he picked up a paintbrush he denied conventional perspective and conventional space he was unconventional in his lifestyle as well so was i you know i was a florida or a girl for a short time when i left charleston and before i was great the film is running they hung it over the refreshments there having studied scientific findings on color he developed a new style of painting he found by painting tiny particles color next to color that at a certain distance the eye would fuse the specks optically giving them greater intensity than any mixed pigments he wanted to paint with color he wanted to paint with colored lights beams of colored light he hoped it was shown at the eighth and last impressionist exhibition monet renoir and sicily withdrew their submissions because of his painting they placed it in a small room off to the side of the main hall too dark for the painting to truly be seen the painting was ridiculed by most but there were also a handful of believers in his work he went on to paint six more major paintings before his sudden death at the age of 31 he never sold a painting in his lifetime on this occasion i present my latest chromoloom number seven which pays homage to legrand jacques and to my grandmother marie the score for this presentation has been composed by naomi eisen [Laughter] george begins to activate don't read that grandmother [Music] robert greenberg uh yes just a minute george it's the regulator george my apologies ladies and gentlemen for precise synchronization of all the visual elements i have installed a new state-of-the-art japanese micro computer which controls the voltage regulator i think that the surge from the musical equipment has created an electrical short and uh unfortunately no electricity no art uh if you just give us a moment we can bypass the regulator and then we'll be back in business all right one second don't pull it over don't do anything i'm very sorry ladies and gentlemen we seem to be having a little electrical difficulty there's no juice you must realize this is the first time we've had a collaboration like this at the museum and it's offered some extraordinary challenges to us here now i do hope to see all of you at the reception and dinner following this presentation it will be right down the hall in the main gallery where the painting hangs and we have a very special treat for you as i am sure you have noticed in order to raise additional funds we have chosen to sell the air rights to the museum and some of the 27 flights of condominiums which stand above us now will be open for your inspection after dinner you may even wish to become one of our permanent neighbors in any case ready to go oh well you hear me now proceed proceed take it out grandma continue when i was young mother loved telling me tales of her life in france and of her work as an artist's model her mother showed her this great painting and pointed to this woman [Music] and said that it was she and she pointed to a couple in the back they were holding an infant child and she said that was me shortly before my great-grandmother's death she spoke of her association with the artist of this painting she told marie that sarat was her real father i was shocked my parents never believed this story after all there was no proof my mother gave me this small red george i wanted to bring the book and show it in the back are notes about his great grandfather the artist actually this book is really just a grammar book in the handwriting of a child and though there are notes in the back which mentions george they could be referring to anyone but they do not i do not know that there is any validity to this story he has to have everything spelled out for you the facts are sketchy and the tales are many i would now like to invite you into my sunday island of light it will be on exhibition here in the upstairs gallery until november 30th [Music] [Music] [Music] well i can't say that i understand what that light machine has to do with this painting darling it's a theme and variation oh theme and variation uh times change so quickly the lord knows that's the challenge of our work you never know what movement is going to hit next which artist to embrace i thought it went very well except for that electrical screw-up what did you guys think terrific i mean i don't understand completely i'm not surprised but he combines all these different trends i'm not surprised can't divide our today into categories what matters is the means lots i'm not surprised that is the state of the art my dear that is the state of the art it's not enough knowing good from rotten you're telling me when something new pops up every day you're telling me it's only new though for now yesterday's forgotten and tomorrow is already passed there's no surprise that is the state of the art my friend that is the state of the art he's an original was i like the images some come on you had your moment now it's george's turn it's george's turn i wasn't talking turns i'm talking about but is it really new it's all collaborated [Music] [Music] suddenly you passed it and then when it's recorded [Music] here's george now [Applause] all right george as long as it's your night george you know what's in the room george another chroma loom george it's time to get to work george look all these lovely people in front of our painting george i'd like you to meet one of our board members this is harriet paulie oh what a pleasure and this is my friend billy webster how are you nice to meet you well i'll just leave you three two chat uh harriet was so impressed by your presentation this is the third piece of yours i've seen they're getting so large uh what uh heading does your work fall under most people think of it as sculpture sculpture i like to think of myself as an inventor as well as a sculptor it's so unconventional for sculpture say cheese george and put them at their ease george you're up on the trapeze george machines don't grow on trees george start putting it together i bet your great-grandfather would be very proud oh yes he would have loved this evening how do you know i just know i'm like that hi i'm harriet pauling billy webster how do you do this is elaine george's former wife hello elaine is such a darling i always think of her as my granddaughter i'm so happy these children have remained close though isn't that nice yes you know harriet has just gone through a rather messy divorce what a fascinating family you have many people say that you know we're going to friends next month to visit the island where the painting was painted and george is going to bring the lomachrome from a loom i've been invited by the government to do a presentation of the machine on the island yours has never been defended art isn't easy even when you're hot are these inventions of yours one of a kind art is easy yes financing it is nice vision's just a vision if it's only in your head [Music] no one gets to see it it's as good as dead it has to come to light i put the names of my contributors on the side of each machine some very impressive people well we must speak further my family has a foundation and we're always looking for new projects putting it together family is all you have by peace only way to make a work of art every moment makes a contribution every little detail plays a part nothing's divisions no solution everything depends on execution putting it together that's what counts actually the board of the foundation is meeting next week putting it together you'll come to london small amounts adding up to make the work of art first of all you need a good foundation otherwise it's risky from the start it's a little cocktail conversation but without the proper preparation of just divisions no solution everything depends on execution the art of making art is putting it together bit by bit well we have been hearing about you for quite some time we really haven't met charles redmond county museum of texas it's a pleasure to meet you george the work is just tremendous i hate to bring up business during a social occasion but i wanted you to know we are in the process of giving out some very sizable commissions you're not going to steal him away are you right by link making the connections drink by drink fixing perfecting the design i didn't just dab a politician always knowing where to draw the line running up the funds but in addition running for prominent commission otherwise your perfect composition isn't going to get much exhibition art isn't easy every minor detail is a major decision have to keep things in scale have to hold every time i start to feel defensive my remember lasers are expensive what's a little cocktail conversation it's going to get you your foundation to a prominent commission an exhibition in addition art isn't easy trying to make [Music] [Music] art isn't easy any george you have to meet mr randolph hello lee randolph i'm in charge of public relations here at the museum we are george hi marie naomi eisen delighted you know you two made quite a stir around here tonight hey see george that technical foul up didn't hurt our reception yeah there's a lot of opportunity for some fine press here not five not looking at the image shot by shot keeping it a distance doesn't pay still if you remember your objective not give all your privacy away a little bit of hype can be effective as long as you can keep it in perspective after all without some recognition no one's going to give you a commission which will cause a crack in the foundation you'll have wasted all that fun i am really sorry george i spoke to naomi in great detail about how much electricity your synthesizer would use it is okay laser was beautiful george yeah it was wasn't it now get yourself a drink and mingle george there's one more thing i wanted to talk to you about i was going to wait i'll wait i'm i'm quitting quitting i'm going back to nasa there's just too much pressure in this line of work don't do anything rash you just gotta take it easy you gotta sleep on this and then we'll talk about it tomorrow okay george heart isn't easy hey it's the brain even if [Music] oh we saw you talking to uh redmond from texas did you get one of the commissions oh we talked about it you guys uh her my stuff is a little too inaccessible i love your work alex i'll put in a good word he knows my work hey it is all politics alex maybe if you just lightened up once in a while texas would be fun art isn't easy overnight you're a trend you're the right combination then the trends at an end you suddenly lost your sensation so you should support the competition try to set aside your own ambition even while you jockey for positions then you never really stand alone if you want your work to reach fruition what you need to link with your tradition and of course a prominent commission plus a little form of recognition so that you can go unexpectedly hold back your work can go on exhibition [Music] there's the man of the olympia hello i read your piece on neo expressionism just what the world needs another piece on neo expressionism well i enjoyed it good for you i had no idea you might be related to 19th century france oh that is a cloudy ancestral line at best well i'm dying to meet your grandmother it was fun seeing the two of you on stage with your invention it added a certain humanity to the proceedings humanity george chromo number seven be nice to yours hoping it will be a series of three four at the most you have to pay a price george we have been there before you know you never suffer from a shortage of opinions do you blur you never minded my opinions when they were in your favor they'd like to give it to you from the beginning you know that you were really on to something with these lights now they're just becoming more and more about less and less i disagree now don't get me wrong you're a talented guy if you weren't i wouldn't waste our time with my opinions but you're capable of far more not that you couldn't succeed with chromolyme after promolume but there are new discoveries to be made george in new george they claim to the blue george you know else you're through george and even if it's true george you do what you can do bit by bit putting it together piece by piece working at the vision night and day all it takes is time and perseverance with a little luck along the way putting in a personal appearance gathering supporters and adherence but he combines all these different tracks at the right configuration starting with a suitable foundation he's an original was learning a prominent commission and an exhibition in addition your little dab of politicians [Music] is [Music] ladies and gentlemen dinner is served only lee can i talk to you for a minute please okay excuse us could you please tell me what is that square form up there that is a baby carriage who told you that i'm sorry to but ian i'm blair daniels i've been waiting for the opportunity to tell you how much i enjoyed seeing you on stage well thank you but my dear that is not a baby carriage that is louise waffle stove waffle stove but i've read all there is to read about this work there's never been any mention of a waffle stove well i have a book too my mother's it is a family legacy as is this painting and my mother often spoke of louise waffle so louie yes you mentioned him in your presentation family you know it's all you really have you said that before i say it often excuse us you know miss daniels there are only two worthwhile things to leave behind when you depart this world of ours children and art isn't that correct i never quite thought of it that way do you know elaine no i don't believe we've met blair daniels i've heard a lot about you oh yes elaine and george were married once i was so excited i thought they might have a child george and i are the only ones left i'm afraid i want george to have a child continue the line you can understand that can't you elaine of course are you married miss daniels awfully nice to have met you goodbye laying on it fix my chisel and look george i think marie is a little too tired for the party she seems to be slipping a bit i better take her back to the hotel no i'll take her back you stay no it's a good excuse to leave early george don't be silly you're the toast of the party you should feel wonderful well i don't feel wonderful poor george well it was a wonderful experience for marie i don't remember seeing her so happy was very good of you to include her yes she is something isn't she yes she is hmm [Music] you would have liked him [Music] mama you would [Music] mama he makes things mama they're good just as you said from the start children are not children are not [Music] he should be happy mama he's blue what do i do you should have seen it it was a sight mama i [Music] i mean understand what it was but mama the things that he does they twinkle and shimmer and buzz [Music] you would have liked them [Music] it him [Music] henry henry [Music] it's george grandmother of course it is i thought you were your father for a moment did i tell you who that was of course that is your mother that is correct isn't she beautiful there she is there she is there she is there she is mama is everywhere he must have loved her so much is she really in all those places marie this is our family this is a lot [Music] yes you would [Music] mama was funny mama was fun mama spent money when she had none mama said honey be blue it's not so much do what you like as it is that you like what you do mama said darling don't make such a drama a little less thinking a little more feelings the child is so sweet and the girls are so rapturous isn't it lovely how artists can capture us yes it is [Music] you would have liked him honey i'm wrong you would have loved mama enjoyed things mama was smart see how she shimmer i mean from the heart i know honey you don't agree but this is our family tree just wait till we're there and you see listen [Music] children are not goodbye mama [Music] connect george connect [Music] are you sure this is the best place for the chrome one george this is the largest clearing on lagrange where's it still it has been built that should be delivered tomorrow morning a couple of hours before the chrome alum i wanted it here today but they don't make deliveries on sunday fresh water for the cooling system we should be able to draw it from the sun that's for the electricity you see this tree no could be the one in the painting it could at least something is uh recognizable electricity uh yeah the wind generators over here you have been efficient as always thank you i'll miss working with you dennis i could recommend several capable people to help you with the texas commission i turned it down you what dennis why are you quitting i told you you know what you told me why are you really leaving george i love the chrome alums but i've helped you build the last five i just need to do something different i wish you would have told me that in the first place what do you think i turned down the texas commission for i don't want to do the same thing over and over again either well there are other things you could do i know i just want to do something that i care about see you brought the red book with you since maria's died i thought i would at least bring something for us along marie really wanted to make this trip i know listen i hope you don't mind i took a look at the book it's very interesting it's just the grammar book dennis not that part the notes in the back shall we wait for it to get dark i'm not certain about the ambient light no you go dennis i'd like to be alone actually you sure yeah i'll see you back at the hotel hey george i look forward to seeing what you come up with next you're not the only one dennis [Music] [Music] [Music] charles has a book charles shows them his crayons marie has the ball of charles good for marie charles misses his ball [Music] george misses marie george misses a lot george is alone george looks around he sees the park it is depressing george looks ahead george sees the dark george feels afraid where are the people out strolling on sunday george looks within george's adrift george goes by guessing george looks behind he had a gift when did it fade you wanted people out strolling on sunday sorry marie see george remember how george used to be stretching his vision in every direction see george attempting to see a connection when all he can see is maybe a tree the family tree sorry marie [Music] george is afraid george sees the park george sees it dying george too may fade leaving no mark just passing through just like the people out strolling on sunday george looks around george is alone no use denying is a ground and george has outgrown what he can do george would have liked to see people out strolling on sunday [Music] i must not recognize you without your beard you have my book your book yes it's a little difficult to understand well i was teaching myself my writing got much better i worked very hard i made certain that marie learned right away marie it is good to see you not that i ever forgot you george you gave me so much what did i give you oh many things you taught me about concentration at first i thought that meant just being still but i was to understand it meant much more you meant to tell me to be where i was not some place in the past or the future i worry too much about tomorrow i thought the world could be perfect i was wrong what else well enough about me what about you are you working on something new no i'm not working on anything new that is not like you george i have nothing to say you have many things well nothing that's not been said said values i do not know where to go not at all i want to make things that count things [Music] if you could know where you're going you gone just keep moving on i told you my world was shaken [Music] look at what you want not at where you are not at what you'll be look at all the things you've done for me opened up my [Music] i want to explore the light i want to know how to get through through something new something of my own [Music] let others make that decision they usually do you keep moving on look at what you've done something in the light something in the sky in the grass up behind the [Music] of your head the way you catch the light and the feeling [Applause] [Music] moving [Music] on together [Music] [Applause] [Music] just keep moving on [Music] anything you do that it come from you then it will be new give us more to see [Music] you never cared what anyone thought that upset me at the time because i wanted you to care what i thought i'm sure that i did i am sure that you did too god why did you write these words they are your words george the ones you muttered so often when you worked order george is that you yes well tell me is this place as you expected it what the park of course somewhat go on well the greens are a little darker and the sky is a little grayer and there are mud tones in the water well yes i suppose but the air seems rich and full of light good design [Music] tension [Music] composition [Music] [Music] balance [Music] light [Music] god i cannot read this word harmony [Music] so much love in his words [Music] forever with his cause looks he can look forever what does he see [Music] so carefully [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] is [Music] made a flex of life [Music] through the trees [Music] oh [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] white a blank page or canvas his favorite so many possibilities [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] hmm [Music] you

Channel: Rob Hedrick

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Id: MdysnXgWO8o

Length: 145min 9sec (8709 seconds)

Published: Fri Dec 03 2021