Sunday November 30, 2008

Centre to debut new film on glass artist

Film producer, director and Centre College alum Tom Thurman will debut his short film about world-renowned glass artist Stephen Powell at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Vahlkamp Theater. The screening is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.

"There have been several films about me and my work, including a short segment on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt in 1988 and another KET film in 1993, but never anything this in depth," said Powell, an art professor at Centre.

The 30-minute segment is from an episode of the Kentucky Educational Television program "Kentucky Muse." The episode is titled "Fire and Motion" and documents Powell's creation of dramatic and colorful works of blown glass.

The film will be introduced by the film's narrator, Centre English professor Mark Lucas, and a discussion will be held afterward with Thurman, Powell and Lucas.

Thurman says he made this film about Powell for a number of reasons. "His process lends itself to visual documentation: there's a lot of action, motion, sound and kinetic activity," Thurman explained. "And there's a payoff for the viewer, as the finished product more or less comes to life in front of one's eyes. "It's also important to note that he has inspired so many others through his work as a professor, and the balancing act between teacher and artist is not an easy one to strike."

Thurman's decision to create an in-depth look at Powell's art is also a personal one: Thurman was one of Powell's students during his first year on Centre's faculty. "Against his good judgment, he gave me a passing grade for every course, and this is a way to thank him a quarter of a century after the fact," Thurman says.

"Fire and Motion" will air on KET1 on Dec. 21 at 4 a.m. and on Dec. 24 at 2 a.m. Its primetime premiere will be held on KET1 on Jan. 22 at 10 p.m.

Copyright:The Advocate-Messenger 2008