Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight
Director: Wendy Keys
Year Released: 2008
Rating: 3.0
Economical - and instructive! - portrait of one of America's most important designers, who is not quite as well known as the big name 'fine artists' because he works in the realm of 'commercial art' (art used to sell things). Lucky for first-time filmmaker Keys that she picked as eloquent a subject as Glaser, because his method of philosophically breaking down the notion of what "art" is and how it is processed by the public mind grants this documentary its depth. Glaser, himself a great teacher (he praises the art of teaching in an era where it is not respected ... I hear you, buddy), argues that art is everywhere, and his belief in using a talented artist's eye to reshape buildings, posters, restaurants and yes, beer logos (Brooklyn Lager, big ups!) is every bit as "important" as a painting hanging in a gallery. To "make a living" and "change the world" as an artist? Positively heretical!
