On all four Friday’s in Sept., the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) is focusing on artists and the arts with new episodes of American Masters and Art in the Twenty-First Century.
The first brushstroke of art centric programming begins 8 p.m., Sept. 7 with American Masters: Everybody Knows…Elizabeth Murray. This episode paints an intimate portrait of abstract artist Elizabeth Murray. Narrated by Meryl Streep, this look at Murray’s life chronicles her journey from an impoverished childhood in Chicago to the extraordinary art world of lower Manhattan. Murray lost her battle with cancer in 2007, but, before that, she made her mark on contemporary art history.
The evening continues at 9 p.m. with American Masters: Wyeth. With unprecedented access to the artist’s family and never-before-seen archival materials, this episode of American Masters provides the most complete portrait of the controversial artist yet.
The gallery of artistic greats continues at 8 p.m., Sept. 14 with American Masters: Basquiat – Rags to Riches. One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Jean-Michel Basquiat was a rock star of the early ‘80s New York art scene. The son of a Brooklyn accountant, Basquiat lived fast, died young and created thousands of drawings and paintings. 2018 marks the 30th anniversary of his death at age 27 from a heroin overdose.
The season 9 premiere of Art in the Twenty-First Century begins at 8 p.m., Sept. 21 with two episodes. The first episode, Johannesburg examines the artistic capital of sub-Saharan Africa that has emerged with the dramatic fall of apartheid in 1994. The artists in this episode use their work to empower marginalized communities and reexamine history.
The evening continues at 9 p.m. with Berlin, which explores the city that has become a haven for artists from all over the world. Once cut in half by the Iron Curtain, today, Berlin is a free zone where experimentation, individual expression and international influences converge.
Art in the Twenty-First Century closes out the month with San Francisco Bay Area, 8 p.m., Sept. 28. The countercultural spirit of the San Francisco Bay Area is a magnet for artists drawn to its experimental atmosphere. The artists in this episode use their art as an essential expression of their world experience.
OETA provides essential educational content and services that inform, inspire and connect Oklahomans to ideas and information that enrich our quality of life. We do this by consistently engaging Oklahomans with educational and public television programming, providing educational training and curriculum, outreach initiatives and online features that collectively encourage lifelong learning. For more information about education curriculum and programs, local productions, digital television, community resources and show schedules explore OETA.tv or visit us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
