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To coincide with the launch of his ambitious new project – “All The Black People in Citizen Kane” – artist Craig Damrauer joins the pod to reflect on his life journey and the lessons he has learned: from growing up in Denver as the son of scientists to becoming a baker, a kitchen manager, a food scientist, an adman and eventually focusing on his artistic passions.
One of the most important, innovative, brave, honest, genuine and humble artists working in America today, he graduated with an MFA from the University of Arizona and has had his work shown at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, MCA Denver, the Masur Museum, Los Angeles Contemporary Editions, Pulse Art Fair, and Paul Smith’s GLOBE Gallery. Craig is also a writer and has had a number of books published including the magnificent New Math. He has contributed to The New York Times, The Atlantic, GOOD and Medium.

ABOUT “All the Black People in Citizen Kane”
In the 20th Century’s most iconic movie, there are 23 black actors. Two have speaking roles (‘Yes, sir’ and ‘Come right in, Mr. Kane’), there are two bands, three loiterers, one wheelchair pusher, three servants and one driver. The actors were un-credited and occupy 2.9 minutes of screen time.
Taking inspiration from James Baldwin, the piece consists of 171,744 frames, each hand-erased with the exception of the black actors’ appearances onscreen. Almost 4 years in production, it is an attempt, by erasing, to make clear that which is nearly invisible. The work can be seen at the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center from August 6th – October 1st as part of the exhibition, “A Building With A View”: Experiments in Anarchitecture.

Craig’s Website is here: http://www.assortedbitsofwisdom.com
The superb New Math work is here: https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/more-new-math

Release date: July 30th 2016
Runtime: 33m
Recorded: Brooklyn