Best known for his evocative box-constructions, in which he assembled small objects and ephemera, the American Surrealist Joseph Cornell (1903–1972) was also a devoted fan of the cinema. He thrived on almost daily visits to movie theaters, amassed archives of films and film stills, created an influential body of experimental films, and produced works of art honoring his favorite female stars. Organized to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth, this program reflects Cornell’s interest in cinema and is organized in three parts: the recent discovery of a film made by the artist; the recreation of a 1949 film program organized by the artist; and a tribute to his own love of motion pictures. In movies adored by Cornell and made by him, we see dreamscapes, lyrical views of New York, and longings for unattainable women.
Organized by Jodi Hauptman, Associate Curator, Department of Drawings, and Anne Morra, Assistant Curator, Department of Film and Media.