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Roadsworth: Crossing the Line - DVD/Roadsworth : franchir la ligne - DVD
Description
ART IS ALWAYS A RISK…
Over a period of three years, the stencil artist Peter Gibson, aka
Roadsworth, made his mark on Montreal in the early hours of the morning by
launching a self-described “attack on the streets.” Armed with spray paint and
handmade stencils, he began to play with the language of the streets,
overlaying city asphalt markings with his own images: a crosswalk became a
giant boot print, vines choked up traffic dividers, and electrical plugs
filled parking spots. Each piece begged the question, Who owns public space?
Roadsworth’s clandestine campaign eventually resulted in his arrest and
prosecution by the city. He faced 85 counts of public mischief, fines of up to
$250,000 and a criminal record. As citizens and artistic groups rallied around
Roadsworth and his international reputation grew, the city became galvanized
over a debate between art and authority.
Roadsworth: Crossing the Line details the
artist’s prosecution at home and his travels abroad to a seaside town in
France, London and Amsterdam, as he imprints himself legitimately (and
illegitimately) on foreign streets. The film reflects Roadsworth’s personal
struggle to defend his work, define himself as an artist and address difficult
questions about art and freedom of expression.
As Roadsworth takes his place as a sanctioned public artist, he strives
to find new sources of inspiration, remaining committed to producing art that
holds an element of wonder for the world when it wakes. In both his public
pieces and private commissions, Roadsworth continues to take the kind of risks
that make his work instinctual, immediate and enigmatic.
With Roadsworth: Crossing the Line, filmmaker
Alan Kohl provides a portrait of a man who provokes debate about the
significance of art in urban spaces.
2009, 73 min 37 s
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