As executive producers of The Artist Odyssey, David and Barbarella Fokos bring audiences into artists’ studio. Their new documentary “From Haarlem to Harlem” premieres Wednesday night at the Museum of Photographic Arts.
The Artist Odyssey was founded by Chris Fessenden with the intention of creating a modern day community library for the arts.
Here's how he describes in on The Artist Odyssey website: "We’re building a new library — a modern day version for the arts. We are filmmakers, photographers, and writers working to capture the voices of the world’s artists. Their stories are primary sources of creativity and inspiration, and must be preserved for current and future generations. We treasure living artists, and as we make this collection of their stories available to you, we’re not just building a storage library — it’s also a meeting place where you can discover, engage and support them, and where artists can collaborate and find inspiration, expertise, and community."
The latest entry in The Artist Odyssey collection is “From Haarlem to Harlem,” which features African American photographic artist Alanna Airitam. David and Barbarella Fokos create works of art that explore the creative process of other artists. Their film not only provides insights into Airitam’s artistic style but also into what motivates her art, the message she wants to convey, and both a social and artistic context in which to place the art. The filmmakers pack a lot into 20 minutes and they do so with a grace and elegance of style.
"From Haarlem to Harlem" screens at 6 p.m., Wednesday, at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. There will be a Q&A after the film with the filmmakers and Airitam. Tickets are available online.
You can check out more trailers from David and Barbarella Fokos at their Salt and SugarProductions Vimeo page.
And here is a video package I did on Barbarella Fokos when she published her book "Diary of a Diva: Behind the Lipstick."
