October 15, 2025
CLARK ART INSTITUTE PRESENTS 3D MOVIE SCREENING OF WESTERMANN: MEMORIAL TO THE IDEA OF MAN IF HE WAS AN IDEA, FOLLOWED BY Q&A WITH PRODUCER BRIAN ASHBY
Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Saturday, November 1 at 5:30 pm, the Clark Art Institute hosts a 3D screening of Westerman: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea in the Manton Research center auditorium. A Q&A with Brian Ashby, one of the film’s producers, follows the screening
Westermann: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea is a 3D documentary film about the life and work of artist, marine, and acrobat H.C. (Cliff) Westermann. As a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Westermann’s dramatic personal history can be traced through beguiling, surreal artworks. The film reveals ways in which Westermann protected his empathic spirit—and sanity—by "sculpting" his body, artworks, friendships, his hand-hewn house, and his art-filled letters to his dearest friends and family. The documentary explores themes of resiliency, hope, and humor with a script culled from over a thousand of Westermann’s letters and one audio-interview voiced by Academy-Award nominee Ed Harris, along with interviews with artist Ed Ruscha, architect Frank Gehry, and many others. The film also includes music by Laurie Anderson (with the Kronos Quartet) and Terry Allen, and a score by Tomeka Reid.
Free. A 5 pm reception in the Manton Research Center reading room precedes the event. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 458 0524.
This program is made possible by Jonas and Betsy Dovydenas.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of nearly 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free to all from January through March and is $22 for adults, $20 for adults age 65+, $10 for adults ages 18-25, and $10 for college students with a valid student ID from April through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members and all visitors under age 18. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and the EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
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