"...a first-rate, profound documentary....

It's impossible to let this masterful film fade away."

- Rory L. Aronsky, FilmThreat

Humble Beauty: Skid Row Artists 

Available: January 6, 2013   

1/60   

Producers: 

Letitia Schwartz  

Presenter:

KRCB and APT are pleased to announce the availability of Humble Beauty: Skid Row Artists beginning January 6, 2013.   

It is clear how powerful the feelings of hope and inspiration are in life and to audiences.  When elicited by the creations, words and lives of people we might least expect them from, that potency is magnified. The portraits and art of a group of homeless and formerly homeless men and women from Los Angeles' skid row captured in Humble Beauty most definitely inspire.  

As one film reviewer puts it: "It's been so long since I've felt so much for a documentary...." - Rory L. Aronsky (FilmThreat)         

For four years, the filmmakers of Humble Beauty chronicled spontaneous moments from the artists' lives, taping intimate interviews and charting the evolution of their art. Some of these painters, sketchers and collage-makers found their art supplies in garbage cans and dumpsters, or they drew on old paper bags. Others joined art workshops where they received paint, canvases, frames, easels and supportive guidance from fellow artists and social workers to create stunning, often therapeutic, works of art. Several of these workshop members even now exhibit and sell their work in downtown Los Angeles galleries!

Humble Beauty's portrayals include how art gives one woman a reason to get up in the morning and also expound upon the mysteries of the universe with profundity. A directionless hustler turns into a respected painter and an employed community leader. A shy immigrant from Mexico creates colorful primitives drawn from his childhood, but also suffers a major setback when his immigration status prevents him from accepting a scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley. Another artist made his life on the streets of Skid Row after running away from an Indian Reservation in 1941.

Illustrating art's transformative effects while celebrating the ascension of the human spirit despite seemingly impossible odds, it is no wonder that Humble Beauty has been receiving such rave reviews as:      

"...incredibly interesting...insightful....the subject matter explored is inherently compelling..."

"The story of these gifted individuals forms an aura of hope that provides light where there is darkness, joy where there is sadness, sense where there is insanity, and dignity where all possibility of same is slowly eroded away...."

"We hear their individual stories.... Their names read like an overview of modern society - Latino and Native, African American and Caucasian. Their motives are as unique as they are unified, the notion that creativity bridging the gap between normalcy and a life on the fringes staying front and center. Many of the canvases they offer are striking in their outsider originality. ...the very heart and soul of these people makes Humble Beauty worth visiting...."    

- PopMatters. Reviewed by Bill Gibron

Humble Beauty: Skid Row Artists is produced by Letitia Schwartz & Judith Vogelsang. The documentary is presented by KRCB and distributed to public television stations by American Public Television (APT) Exchange.  It is funded by

Joanne Storkan, Honest Engine Films; The Audrey and Sydney Irmas Charitable Foundation; Marty Mericka; The Charitable Foundation of Prudential California Realty; Susan Sharin and many other individuals. A complete list of funders is available at www.aptonline.org and local underwriting is permissible.  

Please contact me if you have questions. I'll be in touch with you about your carriage plans over the next months. Or, when you know them, please zap them over to me.  A fact sheet follows.  

Very truly yours,

Regina

Regina Eisenberg

R Eisenberg Presents

Program Summary:  

Parts/Length:

1/60

RIGHTS:

Broadcast Rights:  

Unlimited/3 Years     

(1/6/13-1/5/16)          

VOD: Yes        

Non-Commercial Cable: Granted.           

NOLA Code:

Feed:

Sunday, January 6, 2013, 1230-1330ET /SD05

Bike Tape Format:   

BetaSP   

Audio Visual:

Stereo, Closed Captioned

Aspect Ratio:

Standard Def 4:3 format

TV Rating:

TV-PG

View It At:

https://vimeo.com/52441064

(Password required, PBS programmers contact regina@stationrelations.com)  

Producers:  

KRCB  

Broadcast Distributor:

American Public Television (APT Exchange)  

Underwriters:

Local Underwriting:

Local underwriting is permissible.  

Scheduling Hooks:

January is Art Month in Los Angeles.  

   (Check for your city's Art Month; each city's is different). 

May is Mental Health month.

October is National Arts and Humanities Month

October is Homelessness Awareness Month

November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month.    

Raves for Humble Beauty:

"...incredibly interesting...insightful....the subject matter explored is inherently compelling..."

"The story of these gifted individuals forms an aura of hope that provides light where there is darkness, joy where there is sadness, sense where there is insanity, and dignity where all possibility of same is slowly eroded away...."

"We hear their individual stories.... Their names read like an overview of modern society - Latino and Native, African American and Caucasian. Their motives are as unique as they are unified, the notion that creativity bridging the gap between normalcy and a life on the fringes staying front and center. Many of the canvases they offer are striking in their outsider originality. ...the very heart and soul of these people makes Humble Beauty worth visiting...."

- Bill Gibron, 6/19/2009.  PopMatters.  

 -----------

"...a first-rate, profound documentary...."

"...seamless, unobtrusive filmmaking... well-written, detailed narration...encourages viewers to widen their world view and see the different pieces of Skid Row..."

"It's been so long since I've felt so much for a documentary...."

"It's impossible to let this masterful film fade away...."

 - Reviewed by Rory L. Aronsky, FilmThreat

   (5 out of 5 STARS)

Websites:

www.humblebeauty.com  

www.stationrelations.com 

CONTACTS:

Station Relations & DVD Screener:

Regina Eisenberg

R Eisenberg Presents

regina@stationrelations.com 

510.550.1706

Publicity & Promotion, Viewer Questions & Comments: