We are excited to present..

  

Selected Canadian award-winning films about art on all DVD formats

from Canadian filmmaker Alex Hamilton-Brown

I Am A Guitar (IGNACIO FLETA, THE STRADIVARIUS OF GUITAR MAKERS) Spirit Of The Arctic (INUIT MONUMENTAL ART) Pathway From Within (SCULPTURE) Spirit Of Stone (NORTH AMERICAN FIRST NATION ART) An Affirmation Of Life: Moriyama (ARCHITECTURE)
The Sculptures of ELZABETH FRASER WILLIAMSON

 

  • ARCHITECTURE: The work of preeminent architect Raymond Moriyama.
  • SCULPTURE: Two half-hour films about the process of creativity by the acclaimed Canadian sculptor Elizabeth Fraser Williamson. Works in clay, bronze, stone and concrete.
  • INUIT MONUMENTAL ART: The creation of Inuit sculpture on a monumental scale.
  • FIRST NATION ART: Unraveling the enigma of Canada’s most puzzling prehistoric petroglyph mystery.
  • IGNACIO FLETA, THE STRADIVARIUS OF GUITAR MAKERS, creates one of his masterpieces.

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 AN AFFIRMATION OF LIFE (26 minutes)Japanese Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama is recognized as one of the world’s outstanding architects. This film explores some of the influences that have brought Moriyama to the forefront of world architecture. For example, Moriyama’s Science North in Northern Ontario, has the basic design of a snowflake. 

  • Site specific .vs. homogeneous style
  • Democracy in architecture
  • Zen influence
  • Symbolism in architecture
  • The evolution of cities
  • Moriyama’s creative process

AWARD: Moriyama is the recipient of the Canadian Governor General’s Award, 2009.
From the artist:

    “Once in a while I will chance upon a stone - a stone of such dignity and self-containment that one’s immediate response is of awe and respect. Here lies a boulder, ground and crushed by glaciers; aeons old; beautiful; invincible; gaining in stoniness and character with each battle - a king among stones.”
- Elizabeth Fraser Williamson

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PATHWAY FROM WITHIN (20 minutes)At first glance, this film appears to be about how one of Canada’s foremost sculptors works in stone, concrete and clay. But it imparts much more than that; it allows the viewer an unique opportunity to share that which is most elusive in art – that moment of inspiration emanating from the wellspring of creativity.

Review: “Intuitive rhythms dominate the sculpture of Elizabeth Fraser Williamson…she never loses touch with the essential soul of the subject.” - Gerry Moses, Art Critic.

AWARDS:

  • Silver Medal, New York Film and TV Festival
  • The Christopher: Columbus Film Festival
  • Outstanding Merit Award: Chicago Film Festival

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The SCULPTURES of ELIZABETH FRASER WILLIAMSON (27 minutes)This 27 minute film shows a wide selection of Elizabeth’s work. It features her sculptures in clay, wood, concrete and stone.

Brilliantly filmed in-the-round, the sculptures are shown in exquisite detail, revealing their profound aesthetic quality and the masterful technique of this outstanding Canadian sculptor.
From the artist:

    “This massive neck bone of a bow whale has been lying up in the arctic for over a century until salt, wind, rain and sun had leached out its natural oils, leaving it with the consistency of wood and ideal for carving.”
- Anghik Ruben

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SPIRIT OF THE ARCTIC (26 minutes)The first documentary to feature three distinguished circumpolar Inuit artists carving on a monumental scale – a rarity in arctic art. It features the work of Paulatuk sculptor Abraham Anghik Ruben, Joe Nasagalawik from Tuktoyaktuk and Dolphus Cadeux from Yellowknife. The film shows the sculptors working on a five ton block of Indiana limestone, a three ton block of Carrera marble and a three metre long jawbone of an arctic whale, left behind from the old whaling days. It also reveals how the artists empower their work with emotion and allegory.

Narrated by: MAVOR MOORE

Reviews:

    “A superb film of deep insights into the world of aboriginal art…portrayal of masterly Inuit sculpture on a spectacular scale.” - Dr. Bill Zuk, Arts and Education, University of Victoria.
    “Just beautiful.” - K. Gardiner, AMTEC Festival judge.

AWARD: AMTEC Film Festival, Best documentary.

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SPIRIT OF STONE (25 minutes)The Canadian Peterborough Petroglyphs are the largest example of prehistoric rock carvings in Eastern North America. The hundreds of signs and symbols that surround the site are also the most enigmatic. The film explores how the carvings were first discovered; and how their date and meaning has eluded archaeologist for decades. Carved by Algonquian First Nation inhabitants of some uncertain past, they are estimated to be between 500 to 5000 years old.This is a film that will stimulate discussion from high school history and social studies through to university level anthropology, archeology and comparative religion.

Narrated by: ALEX TREBEK

Reviews:

    “This is a beautiful and haunting film of universal appeal…it does an outstanding job of unraveling the enigma and mystery of these early native stone carvings.” - Arts Canada

AWARD: The Christopher, Columbus Film Festival

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I AM A GUITAR (10 minutes) - Digitally remastered.The only film made about how Ignacio Fleta, the Spanish Stadivarius of guitar makers, creates one of his masterpieces from start to finish. Filmmaker, Alex Hamilton Brown journeyed to Spain, to Fleta’s small workshop in Barcelona, to record for posterity, how the master carefully crafted his beautiful instruments; Fleta guitars, that were destined to be played by the world’s greatest classical guitarists.Following Fleta’s death, his guitars have sky-rocketed in price. Recently, one was sold at Christie’s Auction House in London for $74,400.00.

AWARD: Winner of the Jury Award, Scottish Film Festival.

Click HERE for more information and to view the video sampler!
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