Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006

Who Gets To Call It Art?

This underrated documentary is a romp through the art scene of the '60s — when acclaimed artists such as James Rosenquist and Frank Stella were puttering around downtown Manhattan, scraping together loose change for canvas, paint and beer. Centered on the life of Henry Geldzahler, the adventurous Metropolitan Museum curator who championed the careers of Andy Warhol and his contemporaries, the film is a fascinating look at the birth of modern American art. The disc is a trove of rare footage, insightful interviews and loads of worthwhile extras, including video of a Claes Oldenburg film starring the keen Geldzahler himself.