Art-For-Art’s-Sake Theatre: 500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art

Time once again for our usual midweek feature.*

If you enjoy the great works of art in Western civilization, you will also enjoy this captivating three-minute journey through more than half a millennium of female portraits, and how the beauty of the human face has evolved in its depiction over the years. You are challenged to see how many of the ninety paintings you might recognize, and to test your memory against the list found here.

The soundtrack is Bach's “Sarabande from Suite for Solo Cello No 1 in G Major” performed by Yo-Yo Ma. The video is produced by Philip Scott Johnson. H/T to Goodnet.

* Formerly "our usual midday Wednesday feature."
 

Art-For-Art’s-Sake Theatre: Simon’s Cat “The Box”

Time once again for our usual midday Wednesday feature.

In this episode, the first of this series to be shown in this venue, a curious cat investigates an empty cardboard box. Find out more at the Simon’s Cat website.
 

Walt Disney Animation Studios “Paperman” (with Optional 3-D)

As a final note for an occasion dedicated to lovers everywhere (or those who long to be), we present this animated short film from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Directed by Jon Kahrs, Paperman premiered at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. It was also nominated at last year's Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film.

We present it here in optional 3-D. To make the choice, simply click on the full screen option in the lower right hand corner (thus minimizing the effect of that stupid rainbow thing), and look for the settings button.
 

Art-For-Art’s-Sake Theatre: Star Wars Episode IV in Sixty Seconds

Time once again (after what is admittedly a bit of a hiatus) for our usual midday Wednesday feature.

I was interning at a public television station in West Virginia in January 1977, when this movie first came out. I must have seen it six or seven times while I was there. Once or twice it was for no other reason than to escape from ... well, whatever it was out there that caused me to escape. Someone captured that into a line-drawing animation, that shouldn't take more than a minute of your time.
 

Art-For-Art’s-Sake Theatre: “Paperman”

Time once again for our usual midday Wednesday feature.

We introduce a groundbreaking technique that seamlessly merges computer-generated and hand-drawn animation techniques. First-time director John Kahrs takes the art of animation in a bold new direction with this Oscar-nominated short. Using a minimalist black-and-white style, the short follows the story of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City, whose destiny takes an unexpected turn after a chance meeting with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. Convinced the girl of his dreams is gone forever, he gets a second chance when he spots her in a skyscraper window across the avenue from his office. With only his heart, imagination and a stack of papers to get her attention, his efforts are no match for what the fates have in store for him. Created by a small, innovative team working at Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Paperman” pushes the animation medium in an exciting new direction.