WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — On Thursday, May 2, the Clark Art Institute screens the second entry in its film series exploring lyrical depictions of cities in films that resonate with the "Paper Cities exhibition."

 

The Clark shows the short film double bill "Manhatta" and "Rien que les heures" at 6 pm in its auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.

 

According to a press release:

 

A "city symphony" directed by painter Charles Sheeler and photographer Paul Strand, Manhatta is considered the first American avant-garde film. Inspired by Walt Whitman's poem "Mannahatta," the film portrays life in New York City in sixty-five shots from extreme camera angles that capture the dynamic new metropolis. Rien que les heures was Alberto Cavalcanti's first film as a director. It documents the life of Paris from dawn until dusk, including the beautiful and the ragged, the rich and the poor. (Manhatta run time: 10 minutes, Rien que les heures run time: 45 minutes)

 

On view in the Eugene V. Thaw Gallery for Works on Paper, located in the Manton Research Center, Paper Cities examines representations of cities in works on paper created from the late fifteenth to the early twentieth century. The exhibition asks the following questions: Which cities or sections of cities are these artists presenting? Are they emphasizing specific architectural or social elements, and if so, what motivates these choices? What roles do the cities play in advancing the narratives of the overall artworks?

 

Free. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 549 0524.