Praise for Manfred Kirchheimer's ART IS ... THE PERMANENT REVOLUTION
" Savvy, offers up compelling portraits of practicing artists along with a generous visual sampling of both classic and contemporary works. Vive la revolution!"
- Andrew Schenker, Time Out New York
"Manfred Kirchheimer gives us a crash course in some of the world's best propaganda art, and shows us why outrage is so important. The major excitement of the film comes from seeing such an array of terrific artwork [by] artists who have used it through the ages to nail the sleazy and guilty who were, among other activities, foisting war upon us while getting richer in the process. They have left us a remarkable and indispensable history."
- James van Maanen, Trust Movies
"A forcefully illustrated look at the historical and philosophical interplay between the artisanal process and political art." - Michelle Orange, Village Voice
"The film delves deeper as we behold awe-struck the breathtaking works themselves - the harrowing “Disasters of War” by Goya; the dissonant post-World War I Expressionism of Otto Dix; the mourning women depicted by Käthe Kollwitz. And we learn of sacrifices. . . . There is no mistaking Mr. Kirchheimer’s conviction or his love for the creators here, past and present." - Andy Webster, The New York Times
"Manfred Kirchheimer’s absorbing Art Is…The Permanent Revolution explores among the most riveting works in all visual art. Quietly compelling." - David Noh, Film Journal
"As Kirchheimer punctuates these interviews with political cartoons from some of Europe's most hallowed names, an art historical underbelly of graphite, acid, and guar gum begins to emerge suggesting painters and draftsmen have been revolutionaries of an often overlooked ilk." - Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
"Intimate… In this mini-lesson, we start to understand the social importance of printmakers." - Michael Lee, Film Forward
"Etcher Sigmund Abeles, lithographer Ann Chernow, woodcut artist Paul Marcus and master printer James Reed, engaged in various complex stages of fabricating artwork, utterly fascinate… There is something tremendously satisfying in watching these laborious, hands-on processes." - Ronnie Scheib, Variety
"Art Is…The Permanent Revolution ventures into the studios of Paul Marcus, Sigmund Abeles, and Ann Chernow...to listen to their thoughts as they make political prints. At the same time, Kirchheimer accord[s] honor to political printmakers...for their humane values and the personal risks they’ve taken." - Stuart Klawans, The Nation
"The film documents the work of the great European graphic commentators, Goya, Daumier, Grosz, Kollwitz and more, while surveying four contemporary printmakers in the service of conscience. Through their insights polemically humanist art is illustriously brought to the foreground. This film is an important event for anyone for whom art is more than pretty pictures. It reminds us that art in the service of humanity is both a sacred trust and a dangerous weapon." - Stephen Heller, Imprint
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