2008 Woodie Awards
Picture Perfect
Kelley Dunn
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: The Arts
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The movie Fantasia is one that has captured the minds and hearts of many. A film that many consider to be years ahead of its time, Disney's Fantasia incorporated contemporary artwork and music into an elaborate masterpiece of cinema. Despite how advanced the film was, however, one featured artist was even farther ahead with his craft.
German artist and filmmaker Oskar Fischinger took no credit for his work in the movie's opening sequence "Toccata and Fugue." When Fischinger's original designs were simplified to become more representational and less abstract, the artist declined having his name alongside them. Fischinger's work can now not only be seen in the wonderful world of Disney, but right here on SLU's campus, as the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art presents Oskar Fischinger: Movement and Spirit.
Though St. Louis generally has strong ties to German art, Movement and Spirit marks the first time that Fischinger's paintings have been shown in the city. "It gives people a chance to discover a new artist and to be able to appreciate art on many levels, maybe even some that they haven't thought about before," said David Brinker, the assistant director of MOCRA. "We're trying to expand the way people see art ... A lot of people don't know about him [who] should."
Fischinger tried to produce visual music-an endeavor that eventually resulted in his not taking credit for his work with Disney, which wanted to incorporate music into certain scenes that Fischinger wanted to remain silent. Though Fischinger wanted the art to be the only focus in the opening sequence of Fantasia, many of his films incorporate classic scores and songs.
"I know a lot of musicians that have been very excited to see how he put together his works," Brinker said. Many of these films can be seen on the newly released DVD entitled Oskar Fischinger: Ten Films, which can be partially viewed at MOCRA. It combines many of Fischinger's greatest works, including Motion Painting No. 1, Radio Dynamics and Walking from Munich to Berlin. The compilation features a variety of media, including silent and sound films, as well as black and white and color pieces.
German artist and filmmaker Oskar Fischinger took no credit for his work in the movie's opening sequence "Toccata and Fugue." When Fischinger's original designs were simplified to become more representational and less abstract, the artist declined having his name alongside them. Fischinger's work can now not only be seen in the wonderful world of Disney, but right here on SLU's campus, as the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art presents Oskar Fischinger: Movement and Spirit.
Though St. Louis generally has strong ties to German art, Movement and Spirit marks the first time that Fischinger's paintings have been shown in the city. "It gives people a chance to discover a new artist and to be able to appreciate art on many levels, maybe even some that they haven't thought about before," said David Brinker, the assistant director of MOCRA. "We're trying to expand the way people see art ... A lot of people don't know about him [who] should."
Fischinger tried to produce visual music-an endeavor that eventually resulted in his not taking credit for his work with Disney, which wanted to incorporate music into certain scenes that Fischinger wanted to remain silent. Though Fischinger wanted the art to be the only focus in the opening sequence of Fantasia, many of his films incorporate classic scores and songs.
"I know a lot of musicians that have been very excited to see how he put together his works," Brinker said. Many of these films can be seen on the newly released DVD entitled Oskar Fischinger: Ten Films, which can be partially viewed at MOCRA. It combines many of Fischinger's greatest works, including Motion Painting No. 1, Radio Dynamics and Walking from Munich to Berlin. The compilation features a variety of media, including silent and sound films, as well as black and white and color pieces.
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