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Mississippi State University,– On October 9 and 16, The College of Architecture Art and Design will host a preview screening of Romance and Ecology from the brand-new fourth season of Art:21 – Art in the Twenty-First Century, the only primetime national television series to focus exclusively on contemporary art and artists. This event is part of Art21 Access '07 an international celebration of contemporary art and creativity presenting more than 300 events in all 50 states, 25 countries, and on all seven continents. Through this extraordinary series, audiences all over the world will have the opportunity to experience the breadth and depth of 17 renowned contemporary artists living in the United States today.


This Art21 Access ’07 event is presented in partnership with Americans for the Arts during National Arts and Humanities Month.

“Art21 offers viewers an intimate view of the processes of an artist in the studio, a private arena that is almost never accessible to the public,” said Susan Sollins, Executive Producer and Curator of Art21. “The series also allows the viewer to learn directly from the artist; there is no overlay of opinion or interpretation from an outsider. We hope that audiences will take away from the series and the events a confidence that they can look at art on their own, and an understanding of the complex skills and knowledge that artists bring to their work.”

Romance poses questions about the value of pleasure in art and features artists whose works are extended meditations on mortality, love, reality, and make-believe. Artists featured in Romance are Pierre Huyghe, Judy Pfaff, Lari Pittman, and Laurie Simmons.

Ecology features artists who address the impact of human activity on the world and question scientific authority and the impact of technology on society. Artists featured in Ecology are Robert Adams, Mark Dion, Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, and Ursula von Rydingsvard.

About the Art:21–Art in the Twenty-First Century Series
Visually captivating and intriguing, contemporary art is admired and appreciated by many in museums and galleries. Yet few are given access to the creative processes behind the work – the inspirations and ideas that translate into compelling finished objects. This fall, Art21 will provide that opportunity when its award-winning, biennial series Art:21–Art in the Twenty-First Century returns to PBS for its fourth season.

Season 4 of Art:21–Art in the Twenty-First Century will premiere [Sunday, October 28 at 10:00 p.m. (ET) on PBS, with three remaining one-hour episodes airing over the next three consecutive Sundays: November 4, 11 and 18 (check local listings) Through in-depth profiles and interviews, the four-part series reveals the inspiration, vision, and techniques behind the creative work of some of today’s most accomplished contemporary artists.

Art21 travels across the country and abroad to film 17 contemporary artists, from painters and sculptors to photographers and filmmakers, in their own spaces and in their own words. The result is a rare opportunity for television viewers to experience first-hand the complex artistic process – from inception to finished product – behind some of today’s most thought-provoking art.

As in the previous three seasons of Art:21–Art in the Twenty-First Century, each hour-long episode of Season 4 is loosely structured around a theme that unifies the individual artists – as diverse as their mediums may be. Season 4 episodes of Art:21–Art in the Twenty-First Century features the themes of Ecology, Paradox, Protest, and Romance. A companion book, Art:21–Art in the Twenty-First Century 4, will be published by Harry N. Abrams this fall to accompany the new season.

Contact: Critz Campbell- Assistant Professor: Department of Art – ccampbell@caad.msstate.edu Phone: 662.275.1064
Or Kate Bingaman –Burt- Assistant Professor: Department of Art - kbingaman@caad.msstate.edu