Join SVA for the premiere of the documentary film featuring prolific American artist Marshall Arisman.

Marshall Arisman and director Nada Ray began working on this film during the Covid-19 pandemic in October of 2021. In the documentary, Arisman leads the viewer through his exhibition at the SVA Chelsea Gallery. He tells the stories behind the artwork and shares his philosophy of life and the sources of inspiration for his art practice.

Throughout his sixty-year career, Arisman’s massive body of work—often described as disturbing and “out of worldly”—in painting, sculpture, illustration, video and prose revolved around the subject matter of fear and the ways of “making friends” with it through visualization.

A long-time chair and founder of the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay Department, a beloved mentor, and a teacher, Arisman was a formidable figure to generations of School of Visual Arts students from 1964 until his passing in 2022.

Arisman had been actively working with director Nada Ray on the documentary until April 2022. Unlocking the Creative Self turned out to be his last film project.

A conversation about the film and Q&A with Steven Heller, Co-Chair of SVA MFA Design, and the film Director Nada Ray follow the screening.

Introduction: Bob Giraldi, Chair SVA MPS Directing
Cast: Marshall Arisman
Director: Nada Ray
Duration: 40 minutes
Production: Nada Ray Media
With the support of the School of Visual Arts

Program:
Doors open: 6:00 PM
Screening: 7:00 PM
Q&A: 7:40-8:30 PM

This event is free and open to the public. Click here to RSVP.

**Masks are encouraged, but not required.**