Artist Chuck Close made a name for himself for his work depicting human faces, even though he cannot recognize them.
Close, one of the most famous living American artists, suffers from the neurological disorder prosopagnosia, which is sometimes called "face blindness." Close cannot remember faces of people around him, no matter how many times he sees them, said Tania Said, curator of education at Ball State University's Museum of Art. This is just one of the many unique aspects of Close's life.
On Sunday, as part of the museum's Reel Time series, the museum will present "Chuck Close, An Astounding Portrait," a 2007 biographical film about Close by late filmmaker Marion Cajori. Said explained the film tells the story of Close's life and also details his artistic methods.
"[The film] takes into account not just what he does in the area of photography but also what his impact has been on painting," she said. "We also get to see what his day to day life is like, the way he lives in New York and he interacts with friends."
An American Artist
Close, 69, gained recognition in the 1970s as part of the photorealism movement in America. Photorealism involves the process of using a photograph as the foundation for a painting. Throughout the years, Close approached his art in many innovative ways including a gridded painting system, daguerreotypes — a photography system created in the mid-1800s — and tapestries. Close works closely with a group of collaborators to produce his portraits.
On Jan. 14, the Museum of Art opened a Chuck Close exhibit in the Special Exhibition Gallery called "A Couple of Ways of Doing Something." The collection also features poems by writer Bob Holman.
Said said the documentary showing and the exhibit are not technically connected, but she wanted to show the film while the exhibit was featured so viewers could get the full experience.
"People can come and see this film and appreciate who this is and how it is that these particular works of art got to be here," she said.
Sophomore Andrew Davis, an art student and museum employee, helped set up the Close exhibit. He said Close — though not mobile — was very involved in the organization of his exhibit at Ball State through technology.
"They did a virtual tour with Chuck Close [through Skype], where they carried the computer around so he could see if everything flowed well," Davis said.
Davis, who will "definitely" be at the documentary showing, said young people in all different areas of interest should take inspiration from Chuck Close.
"No matter who you are — whether you're a photography student or a painting major, there's something to be said about Chuck Close's work," he said. "He's sort of a universal figure in the art world."
Randy Salway, exhibition designer and preparator for the museum, said the exhibition will close March 14.
An Intimate Portrait
Said wanted to showcase the film at Ball State even though it would cost money to get the rights from the film's distributor, Arthouse Films.
"We did have to pay a fee to be able to show it," she said. "It's an add-on, but I thought [it was] important enough given that Chuck Close is a living artist, and we want him to be having a voice about his art."
The film features interviews with Close's friends and colleagues who explain what it is like being part of Close's world, in which he balances superstar artist status and living with prosopagnosia. The film also reveals Close's daily struggle to create after his spinal artery collapsed in 1988, leaving him in a wheelchair.
Close is interviewed for the film and allows an inside view into his private world as well as insights about his famous work. At 117 minutes, the length of the film is not something to be concerned with, Said explained.
"It is a long film, but I think it really will give a thoughtful portrait of the artist, but also what his life is like," she said.
The film will be shown at 2 p.m. Sunday in Recital Hall at the Museum of Art. The hall holds 120 guests and refreshments are allowed.
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