DVD rental recommend: “Wagstaff and Mapplethorpe”
Cover image of DVD
If you have a Netflix account, this should go to the top of your list. Watched it last night. Excellent.
A documentary of the New York scene in the 1970’s, great interviews with many of the art leaders of that time, but the star is the massive collection of B/W photography that Wagstaff collected during his peak time, (and then his strange choice to sell it all, and switch to collecting silver). Mapplethorpe sort of gets a bad rap; comes off as an opportunist in a way. But interesting how Mapplethorpe seemed to be Wagstaff’s key into allowing himself away from advertising, and into a full-fledged life in the art world.
If you have interest in B/W photography, and the art world, this is a must-see rental.
Also available to watch instantly, if that’s your thing.
I watched ‘William Eggleston in the Real World’ a few weeks ago. The main takeaway was that he isn’t in the the same real world as the rest of us.
Based on your recommendation I rented this in iTunes yesterday. I LOVE THIS FILM. While Mapplethorpe does get a “bad rap” he did prove to be an artist and an excellent photographer in his own right. Ashame AIDS took these lives along with 1,000’s others.
Very nice blog.
Tom