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• Krannert Art Museum and School of Art and Design to show Art21 episodes

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Used with permission from Krannert Art Museum

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Address: 500 E. Peabody Drive Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 333-1861
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Where did Jeff Koons get the idea for his infamous giant chrome balloon animals? How did Cao Fei create a documentary filmed entirely in the virtual world of Second Life? And why on earth did Allan McCollum make an enormous cartoon-like replica of George W. Bush’s head?

If any of these questions interest you, you should head to the Art and Design Building to check out the upcoming screenings of PBS’s Art21 series, where you may be able to find some answers (in addition to free drinks and dessert).

Every Monday evening in October, the Krannert Art Museum and School of Art and Design will be showing episodes from the fifth season of the award-winning television program. Art21 goes behind the scenes to explore the perspectives and processes of contemporary artists from across the globe.

“Contemporary art is about social and contemporary issues,” said Michael Parsons, a professor in Art and Design and the series’ coordinator at the University. “It’s about real world and contemporary events. It’s imaginative, and it tends to be both fun and serious.”

The show’s fifth season showcases contemporary art with visiting artists from every continent except Antarctica. The series delves into works like William Kentridge’s politically-themed animations. Photographs by Cindy Sherman document her uncanny ability to transform herself into pop culture icons, exposing not only their working processes but also what their work says about important global issues.

Parsons hopes the events will help art students (especially future art educators) to further their interest in contemporary art and how it can be used as a didactic tool in schools. However, he expects a lively discussion from all attendees as they get a glimpse into the minds behind such thought-provoking works.

“Contemporary art isn’t easy to interpret — there are lots of different opinions,” Parsons said. “It’s not pushing a point of view, but raising

more questions.”