Exploring Pollock

Saturday, May 3, 2014
Jackson Pollock's first large-scale painting, Mural (1943), in many ways represents the birth of the Pollock legend. Rumors about this seminal work abound-it was painted in one alcohol-fueled night, it didn't originally fit the intended space, among others. Its creation has been recounted in dozens of books and dramatized in the Oscar-winning film Pollock (2000, 122 minutes, 35mm).
Yet there was never a doubt that the creation of the painting was pivotal, not only for Pollock but for Abstract Expressionism, which would follow his radical conception of art-"no limits, just edges." Tom Learner, head of science at the Getty Conservation Institute, discussed Pollock and Mural with award-winning actor and filmmaker Ed Harris who spent close to a decade working on the film. Jeff Beal composer of the film's musical score and art historian and Pollock expert Pepe Karmel joined them.
About the Panel:
Ed Harris made his feature film directing debut on Pollock, receiving an Academy Award nomination as Best Actor for his performance in the title role. His co-star, Marcia Gay Harden, won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar under his direction. Harris' film credits include Appaloosa, History of Violence, The Hours, Pain and Gain, Gone Baby Gone, The Truman Show, Apollo 13, The Way Back, Copying Beethoven, The Right Stuff, The Abyss, The Rock, The Human Stain, A Beautiful Mind, Stepmom, The Firm, A Flash of Green, Places in the Heart, Alamo Bay, Sweet Dreams, Jacknife, State of Grace, The Third Miracle and Touching Home. Most currently, he stars opposite Annette Bening in The Face of Love, which opened in March 2014.
Jeff Beal came to Los Angeles in 1993, after his "Concerto for Jazz Bass" was recorded by John Patitucci on Chick Corea's new label. His big break came when Ed Harris called on him to score his directorial debut Pollock (2000). Beal's unique blend of Americana, minimalism, and chamber orchestra caught the ear of many in Hollywood where he is now a well-regarded and award-winning composer of music for film, television, recordings, and the concert hall.
Pepe Karmel is an associate professor of art history at New York University. His areas of expertise and research include Picasso, Pollock, Cubism, Minimalism, Contemporary Art, Critical Theory, and Art and Perception. He was co-curator for the 1998 exhibition Jackson Pollock at the Museum of Modern Art and was one of the Pollock experts consulted by Ed Harris in preparation for the film.
Tom Learner is head of Science and leads the Institute's Modern and Contemporary Art Initiative. Recently he has been collaborating with the Getty Museum on the ongoing study and conservation of Jackson Pollock's landmark painting "Mural."

[@joemacaluso4627]

POLLACK IS A GREAT FILM,AND I’VE SEEN IT 8 TIMES.GREAT JOB IN ALL AREAS ED! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍🏼

[@johnappleby405]

Amazing that this remarkable film ever got made a real Labour of love and probably one of the best movies ever made about an artist.

[@davidparks6089]

I really liked that movie and have always been a fan of Ed Harris.

[@jaycordray3642]

I've never been a fan of Pollack, but this movie is great. Ed Harris is phenomenal and the score by Jeff Beal is amazing. Recommended for fans of the artist; HIGHLY recommended for people who are not fans. Harris's portrayal is of the consummate "tortured artist" and it is marvelous.

[@Timothycpollock]

It’s Pollock.

[@j.j.guerrieri5257]

I always expect Ed Harris to suddenly lash out and start screaming

[@armrugatewood9110]

I saw the film several years ago. I’ve always been a fan of Ed Harris and his portrayal of Pollack is amazing!! I didn’t know that Harris directed the movie and was so involved in its development. It shows.

[@MarkSeibold]

This was published to KZbin almost three years ago. I'm surprised to see only three comments so far. As soon as I saw the Charlie Rose interview in February 2001 with Ed Harris, about the upcoming movie release, I couldn't wait to see it. A girlfriend and I went, as she got early release theater tickets, as she worked for the media. I've later rewatched it again maybe twice since 2001, and I worked with Marcia Gay Harden later in 2006 on the movie Into the Wild. I think Pollock is one of the greatest films about an artist and art, ever made. I believe that all artists should see it.

[@jmpsthrufyre]

Mark Seibold I think Ed was a brilliant choice.

[@zygmunttybor4675]

Mark Seibold I agree it is a great movie thank you for your comment.

[@DreamingCatStudio]

Agreedl! I regularly rewatch the KZbin segment where Harris as Pollock paints the work for Gugenheim’s foyer. The music, the movement, the work! So few movies show artists creating. I love it. Oh yeah and I cry every time.

[@MichaelFlynn0]

Kudos Mr Harris. You really got him.

[@DreamingCatStudio]

The mural scene and its music is awesome!

[@princeinterview-xz2hz]

POLLOCK AND GEORGE GERSHWIN GENIUSES

[@glenncambray9783]

Americas's greatest genius? Is it Frank Lloyd Wright?

[@rajsingharora26]

The Most Criminally Underrated Film that deserved to Win an Oscar for Direction & acting , for Ed harris....Who won that year ????

[@PeterAnger]

What Pollock really did was break wide open a totally different way of working with paint and brought a bunch of other like minded painters like Jim Dine along, who said "I don't want to make a painting about something, I want to make a painting that's about the paint." The other thing about the modern art era as a new break out period, is that you need to know something about art, it's not objective logical art, or something even understandable, but it has beauty, and that is what all art is about, sharing beauty, both good and bad, even horrible. The question you have ask yourself is, is it a beautiful idea, or a idea that is beautiful and represented. A lot of people just don't get that. Yet. But the work weather the works are liked or not, will stand the test of time. And that too is a big part of what art is all about. Pollocks work is also the cornerstone of the light painting I've been doing for the last thirty five years. I get what he did. The white paint dripping ah hah moment in the movie is pure majic, but observation of it's significance is what Pollock was able to realize.

[@jmpsthrufyre]

I love all the haters saying anyone could paint like that. Except nobody had, or has.

[@theworldfamousali6100]

Facts

[@Robert-yb2et]

「ポロック」の中のエドハリスは素晴らしい演技でした。しかも監督も兼ねて彼の強い思い入れを感じました。

[@clarkb5137]

Reading the naifeh/smith book right now. its great

[@crushsatan]

The museum would be closed once a week so "someone who really mattered" could see it. Hilarious.

[@joemacaluso4627]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@seahog007]

I love the "fractal" part! Ed Harris is so cute! LOL Thanks for sharing this!

[@indigobliss108]

Who is the DP ? 🎞️☕️.

[@meyeseyes3578]

Thanks!

[@TheLiveMusicGroup]

duck off

[@jaggedstudios3315]

To all the "Naysayers" of Pollock and artists of his generation - you'll never get what he and others are striving for with their creativity. Instead of creating work that will show up in cheap motels over and over, and be grouped in with painters that all paint the same, he chose, as great artists do, to push the envelope. Yes, he and others like him started out painting in the classic styles, but in reality, how far can you take that ? Mozart broke the boundaries of Baroque by creating the Classical style; Beethoven with Romanticism; Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Webern - all the major artists of the 20th century broke the molds to produce some of the greatest works ever written. You may not like what Pollock or other artists of his age created, but it is great art, nevertheless. And if you are an aspiring artist, you'll never be great if you don't appreciate what these artists have done and how they changed the face of the art world. Instead, you'll end up as just another artist who paints outdoor scenes, flowers, and the occasional old farmhouse. If that's the route you decide to take, I'm sure you'll be selling your stuff cheap at the next hotel/motel art fair after Covid lets up.....

[@Johnconno]

Is Kirk Douglas in it? It's Pollock not Pollack. Stick that in your Lavender Mist.

[@Das-uo9bl]

No.

[@Das-uo9bl]

@@Johnconno I beg to differ.

[@Johnconno]

@@Das-uo9bl Differ away. Hell! Jackson broke the goddamn ice!

[@standauphin1592]

ed harris is an artist playing an artist, the other guys are people playing people.

[@standauphin1592]

the composer thinks a five year old could do this 27:50

[@jamesanonymous2343]

I don't think of pollock as an artist, I think of him as a house painter that has gone berserk !

[@MrChristian331]

lol 👌

[@user-hy9nh4yk3p]

Mmmmmmm .... Nah. Fare thee well.

[@Dunf74]

Jeff Beal talks way too much

[@socalbeeguy8041]

Get over yourselves. Jackson Pollock basically created ugly wallpaper. He had serious doubts about his "art", and it's no wonder. This is the musical equivalent of smashing violins with trombones. The Emperor wears no clothes and Pollock can't paint to save your egos' lives. Someone had to say it.

[@deniscassiere]

did you ever smash a violin with a trombone?

[@jmpsthrufyre]

oh look, another emperor quote, how original.

[@jimiverson4831]

Do you actually think you made some sort of revelation with your tired cliches? It's all been said before. We get it, you don't like it, but if you think your(rather unoriginal) opinions means jack-shit to those who understand and appreciate Pollock's art, it is truly your ego that is in danger.

[@kylestratton3546]

I bet you watch Rick and Morty

[@kayem3824]

Wrapping paper.

[@brianabbott3280]

Ed Hairless has always been my favorite actor!

[@jamesanonymous2343]

Who Cares ???? drip, drip, drip !

[@ovik2k389]

Pollock, face it, is a gimmick. Anybody could paint like that. Anybody. Pollock just did it first and based on that, he's in the Art Pantheon. There is no talent displayed in his famous paintings. It's all a gimmick

[@joebyron9]

Not really because anyone who paints like Pollock is simply stealing his style, so while you can argue "oh i can do a painting like this" you can, but you didn't 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@zygmunttybor4675]

Ovik2k To be an artist you have to be in different state of consciousness and you are not in the different consciousness so you cannot comprehend...: -)

[@kayem3824]

@@joebyron9 When people say "anyone can paint like that" it means that it doesn't seem difficult, both in terms of execution and intellectual content to do. They wouldn't say that about many works.

[@MultiEvil85]

@@kayem3824 Yes but in reality they can't!

[@MultiEvil85]

GTFO