EC-CHAP Film Series: “Basquiat” (R). 1996. 

SUGGESTED DONATION $5.00
 

Bisquiat (1996) was directed by Julian Schnabel starring Jeffrey Wright, Michael Wincott, Benicio Del Toro, David Bowie, Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, William Dafoe and Gary Oldman.

Jeffrey Wright is superb in this biopic as Jean-Michel Basquiat, the artist who rose from homelessness to fame and fortune, only to die of a drug overdose at age 27. Writer-director Julian Schnabel, who is also an artist, vividly re-creates the 1980s New York art scene from firsthand experience. - Rotten Tomatoes

Basquiat, born in New York to middle-class parents, was an important artist in the generation that exhibited in Manhattan's SoHo district around 1980. His anonymous work was known earlier: He was a graffiti artist whose neatly printed legends, signed “SAMO,” were found all over New York. On April 29, 1979, at a party opening the Canal Zone (a New York art space), Basquiat identified himself as SAMO, and within a short time his paintings were finding collectors.

His work seemed to accumulate on the surfaces he found around him. He painted on boards, walls, canvases, on the dress of his girlfriend, and even on her paintings. His work assembles areas of bold color with more detailed areas of text, figures, designs and scribbles--blueprints for a world in his mind. He fell into success with astonishing ease. His first sales came after he approached Andy Warhol and a famous collector (played by Dennis Hopper) at a restaurant table, and they bought his decorated postcards. He died Aug. 12, 1988. - Roger Ebert

Join us for another award wining classic! This film is a part of the EC-CHAP Film Series hosted by the Eastern Connecticut Center for History, Art, and Performance (EC-CHAP), a 501.3.c non-profit membership-based cultural organization. To learn more and how you can become a member, visit www.ec-chap.org.

Suggested donation $5.00. Cabaret and group seating. Doors 7:00pm / Show 7:30pm. Soft drinks and snacks available. We are pleased to offer our exclusive "BYOB&F" model - Bring Your Own Beverage & Food (Wine & Beer Only - I.D. Required).

 Call 518-791-9474 for information and table reservations.