As part of MusEvenings!, the free weekly program at the University of Oregon Museum of Art, a film will be shown highlighting Northwest artist C.S. Price.
“The film was put together by Kathleen Vitale, one of the museums docents and volunteers,” Kaci Manning from the UOMA said.
The film, titled “C.S. Price: Modernist Painter in Search of Spirit” was inspired by the museum’s 1998 exhibition, “C.S. Price: Landscape, Image and Spirit.”
“I had never heard of him when the exhibit was here,” Vitale said. “As a docent I try to learn something about each exhibit, and I was just stunned by his work.”
Although the name was unknown, Price’s work moved Vitale.
“He had a feeling for animals,” she said. “I have never been interested in pictures of horses and cow, but he made them come alive.
Price was a cowboy for the first 30 years of his life and a painter for the last 30 years.
“He lived very frugally without a car or phone,” Vitale said. “He was very focused on his work. I think this says something to us today.”
Vitale, who had made videos of previous museum exhibits, did all of the filming when the exhibit was in Eugene. She then sought out Karl Durland who wrote and performed the background music for the film.
“I was looking for someone who played the fiddle, because C.S. Price played the fiddle,” Vitale said. “It was only two minutes before I realized this guy (Durland) was really talented.”
Vicki Ambrose also contributed to the film as a narrator, as well as Roger Saydack who was an adviser to the film.
“A lot of people don’t know about Price’s work,” Vitale said. “I want people to wonder why we don’t hear of him.”
The 21-minute film will be shown Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. at the University Museum of Art. The screening is being offered along with the museum’s current exhibitions of Northwest art, “Heritage of Pacific Northwest Art: The Virginia Haseltine Collection,” and “Community Favorites from the David McCosh Collection.” Both are on display until Sept. 3.
The museum is accessible to people with disabilities and open from noon to 8 p.m.
For more information contact 346-3027.