Art21 and Nitehawk present an evening of films with artist Marcel Dzama. Dzama (subject of Art21’s upcoming Marcel Dzama: Making Movies with Amy Sedaris & Friends) creates drawings that feature a cast of humans, animals, and hybrid creatures rendered in pencil, ink, watercolor, and, at times, root-beer syrup. Dzama draws upon a mix of influences—from childhood monsters, like the Wolfman and Dracula, to the work of artists like Marcel Duchamp, Francisco Goya, William Blake, and Francis Picabia—to create unique worlds that are at once surreal and familiar, sweet and violent, and chaotic and elegant.

PROGRAM
MARCEL DZAMA: ORGANIZING CHAOS by Art21. 2018. (8 min)
In this documentary short, artist Marcel Dzama is shown at work at his Brooklyn studio, discussing the evolution of his drawings, from his time growing up in his native Winnipeg, to his move to New York in 2004, to his more recent responses to U.S. politics and media.

MARCEL DZAMA: MAKING MOVIES WITH AMY SEDARIS & FRIENDS by Art21. 2019. (5:30 min)
On set with friends like Amy Sedaris and Raymond Pettibon, artist Marcel Dzama directs his latest film and discusses the importance of collaboration in contrast to his more solitary drawing practice.

GHOSTS BEFORE BREAKFAST by Hans Richter. 1928. (9 min)
A German Dada classic, this short film utilizes stop motion and animation to explore fantasy, revolt, and the surreal.

ENTR’ACTE by René Clair. 1924. (18 min)
Originally premiered as the intermission film for the Ballets Suédois and heralded as a cinematic masterpiece, this short was written by Francis Picabia and features cameo appearances by many of Dada artists of the time in a series of zany, disconnected scenes.

SAD GHOST/GARAGE VIDEOS by Spike Jonze and Marcel Dzama. 2006 (27:18 min)
Made in collaboration with Spike Jonze and other artists, Sad Ghost/Garage Videos depicts a series of short vignettes, featuring Dzama’s childlike costumes, Dada film references, and absurdist humor.

UNE DANSE DES BOUFFONS by Marcel Dzama. 2013. (17:30 min excerpt)
Featuring Kim Gordon, this film depicts a fictionalized, ill-fated, romantic affair between Marcel Duchamp and Brazilian sculptor Maria Martins, who served as the model for Duchamp’s last major art
work Étant donnés.

PAX (& THE GODDESS OF THE SEA) by Marcel Dzama. 2008. (6 min)
A short tale of sea goddess and her comrades.