The Articulate Hour
Articulate connects audiences to the human stories behind art, offering a trustworthy, visually stimulating, never ordinary take on classical, contemporary, and popular art forms. From acclaimed musicians and best-selling authors to designers changing the way we live, each episode explores what great creative thinkers and doers can tell us about who we are, who we’ve been, and who we might become.
Cast: Jim Cotter
TV-PGHDCC
12 episodes
1. On Winding PathsAfter her father George died, Mira Nakashima inherited his shop and set to work continuing the artistic legacy of a master craftsman in wood. Despite only occasional glimpses of the mainstream, tap dance remains an iconic American art form. With custom-composed pieces employing a staggering range of vocal styles, Roomful of Teeth makes music that can be difficult to define.TV-PGCCMay 4, 2017
2. Thinking AllowedPerformance anxiety is common even among the most accomplished professionals. Moe Brooker is rightly regarded as one of the greats of American abstract painting. By melding art and science, Brandon Ballengée promotes awareness of endangered species.TV-PGCCApr 12, 2017
3. Envisioning the PossibleThe ceramics of Roberto Lugo pay homage to their classical past but are firmly rooted in the realities of his inner city upbringing. Zaria Forman & Nick Pedersen are using art to reframe the climate change conversation. Composer Gerald Busby could not have guessed that after surviving heartbreak, HIV and drug addiction, he would experience an artistic rebirth in his twilight years.TV-PGCCApr 18, 2017
4. Burgeon and BloomFor Sugar Tongue Slim, wordplay is a way of life; hip-hop lines his pockets, poetry feeds his soul. Fine art jeweler Bruce Metcalf refuses to use traditional metals and gems in his work. For generations, 20th century American writer H.P. Lovecraft has been terrifying readers.TV-PGCCApr 27, 2017
5. Seeing Clearly20 years on, Kevin Barnes is as much an enigma to those close to him as he is to his fans. Long before selfies, commissioned portraits provided a way to shape one's public image. Designer Walé Oyéjidé is on a mission to help all men unleash their inner fashionisto.TV-PGCCMay 4, 2017
6. Finding PlaceConducting opera may be classical music's toughest job. Fabio Luisi does it with grace. Scholarly translations are a battle between literal accuracy and literary interpretation. Elizabeth Streb may well be the most fervently anti-dance choreographer you’ve ever met.TV-PGCCMay 9, 2017
7. Unique VisionsSpoken word poet-turned-rapper Watsky pulled no punches in his first collection of essays. If life is itself a performance, what can theatre teach us about how to be ourselves? Dindga McCannon helped pioneer art quilting, a fresh approach to a traditional medium.TV-PGCCMay 16, 2017
8. Objective ExpressionsFor more than thirty years, Judith Schaechter has been applying avant-garde sensibilities to a once traditional art form; stained glass. In the past century or so, tattoos have gone from being a mark of the outsider to a more socially accepted expression of self. With a voice and stage presence as big as his personality, Eric Owens is among the most celebrated bass-baritones in the opera world.TV-PGCCMay 23, 2017
9. Self CollaborationsTango is a complex improvised form that’s danced the world over. Jesse Krimes describes his six years in federal prison as a kind of “artist residency.” Celebrated opera tenor Stephen Costello has been both blessed and betrayed by his voice.TV-PGCCMay 30, 2017
10. Willing SuspensionsBach’s Goldberg Variations continue to challenge pianists and fascinate audiences. Kevin Cornell’s illustrations tend to evoke childlike emotion, even in adults. Sculptor Michael Murphy’s installations are perceptual puzzles.TV-PGCCJun 5, 2017- 11. Further and FartherThough she's a successful visual artist, Ellen Harvey remains obsessed with failure. Bharatanatyam survived colonial oppression to embody Indian identity at home and abroad. Xenia Rubinos’ complex music is infused with simple messages about big ideas.TV-PGCCJun 13, 2017
12. Living in ColorCarsie Blanton uses an old musical form to help change the way women are perceived today. From a very young age, life has been a dance for choreographer Matthew Neenan. Amedeo Modigliani died a broken man, but his art has endured. Cuban-American artist Luis Cruz Azaceta reflects on modern society’s great tragedies.TV-PGCCJun 21, 2017
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The Articulate Hour
201710 seasons123 episodesReturning Series
Articulate connects audiences to the human stories behind art, offering a trustworthy, visually stimulating, never ordinary take on classical, contemporary, and popular art forms. From acclaimed musicians and best-selling authors to designers changing the way we live, each episode explores what great creative thinkers and doers can tell us about who we are, who we’ve been, and who we might become.
Creators and cast
- Created by
- Jim Cotter
- Cast
- Jim Cotter
- Studio
- Articulate Studios, American Public Television
Maturity rating
TV-PGCheck the rating before watching with younger viewers.
Audio languages
English
Where to watch
Stream
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