About the Film
Join us for an evening of art and film!
Kimball Art Center’s, Aldy Milliken will share images from Karl Haendel’s current exhibit “Less Bad” and introduce Haendel’s exploration of masculinity which challenges stereotypical definitions by emphasizing vulnerability, intimacy, and friendship. These themes are also explored from different angles in the short film selections that make up the second half of the evening.
The film “Wild Hogs and Saffron,” is an unexpectedly vulnerable dialogue between Iranian American filmmaker Andy Sarjahani and his childhood friend from Arkansas, Bubba, as they navigate a polarized world. Followed by “Planetwalker,” the story of Dr. John Francis whose 17-year vow of silence and journey around the world on foot has inspired a new kind of environmental activism based around walking, listening and kindness – for the planet and humanity. These films are being presented as part of Mountainfilm on Tour.
Audience members are invited to stay after the film for a community conversation and to attend Karl Haendel’s talk about his work on Nov 14th at 6:30pm (details here).
About the Mountainfilm on Tour – Park City film selections:
Planetwalker – directors Dominic Gill & Nadia Gill
In 1971, John Francis witnessed an oil tanker collision in the San Francisco Bay. The sight of oiled birds on the shoreline caused him to give up motorized transport and speaking, convinced that listening was the way forward. He spent the next 17 silent years earning the name Planetwalker. Over the many miles, his idea of environmentalism was changed by the people he met, talked to and broke bread with. At 77 years old, Francis now both talks and rides in cars. Planetwalker recounts much of his interior journey and explores the weblike and sometimes deeply personal consequences of his decades of pilgrimage. (USA, 2024, 31 min.) 2024 Mountainfilm selection
Wild Hogs and Saffron – director Andy Sarjahani
Iranian-American filmmaker Andy Sarjahani and his unlikely childhood friend Bubba Samuels go on a wild hog hunt in their native Ozarks where unexpected conversations unfold that have a lasting impact on their friendship. Growing up, Sarjahani rejected his father’s Iranian culture to fit in. Now, by sharing that culture, he uses connection to dismantle hateful stereotypes about the people of both Iran and Arkansas. (USA, 2023, 19 min.) 2024 Mountainfilm selection
About Karl Haendel’s exhibit “Less Bad”
on display at the Kimball Art Center through December 1, 2024
Less Bad explores various themes, from intimate experiences like fatherhood, love, friendship, and loss to broader issues such as tenderness, masculinity, introspection, and vulnerability. Karl Haendel’s exploration of masculinity is particularly significant and personal, challenging stereotypical definitions by emphasizing vulnerability, intimacy, and friendship. This site-specific exhibition created by the artist is organized in collaboration with Executive Director Aldy Milliken and Dr. Andrea Gyorody, director of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University.
Artist Karl Haendel’s commitment to traditional drawing techniques in an era of digital dominance is both a technical choice and a conceptual statement. His process, marked by a deliberate pace, invites viewers to engage deeply with each piece, fostering a slower, more contemplative approach to art appreciation.
Less Bad refers to the artist’s use of self-deprecating humor as a versatile comedic approach that involves poking fun at oneself instead of others, all the while delivering a message about trying to be a better human. The work invites viewers to slow down, look closely, and engage deeply at the crossroads of art, society, and personal experience.
