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I just experienced one of the most inspirational nights in many a moon at the St. Louis International Film Festival, viewing the Documentary Shorts of Artist Lives, and most especially the film by Kirkwood (St. Louis) Missouri native Virginia Lee Hunter titled “Tumbling From The Mountaintop of Truth: The Art of Anselm Spring” .
Her ability to frame the creative and sometimes raw spirit ofAnselm Spring,the prolific artist/accomplished photographer, on film and capture the essence found within beautiful messes and eccentric genius, is genius in itself. Her craft and his story are truly inspiring and justifying for the misfit path of creative discovery my life has taken this past year and will continue on. Watch for this film in the near future as it makes it’s way (fingers crossed) to Sundance & Berlin amongst other notable independent film festival & documentary platforms! (Sadly no trailers or clips of “Tumbling….” available on line yet.)
Virginia Lee Hunter is an accomplished photographer and documentarian, tackling subjects with her gifted eye behind the lens from Green Peace and environmental pollution to south city fish frys . Whether human interest, corporate profiles or diving into the sub-culture of society, Virginia has a keen sense of focus not only on the image but on the message. Such as she did with a rare inside peek into the gritty and strangely beautiful world of the American carnival in her 2007 released photo book titled Carny: Americana On The Midway . Amazon.com link , also inspiring a documentary film of the same title shot by Alison Murray.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/35Or3gsmfS4]
The night came full circle for this Rucksack Foodie, having the privilege to gather at the table with cajun seared tuna and pints of Hoegaarden with a community of creative minds, artful hands, and wandering souls following the viewing; enjoying our own personal Q&A with the film maker. Many thanks to Bry and Petra for tonights chapter!
