The Alchemy of Art; David Mack

Director of Photography: Damon Crump

Director and Editor:Greg Jurls

Producers: Sherri and Greg Jurls

Sound: David Feagan

Design: Michael Steele

Genre: Documentary

Release: January 2006

Running Time: 120mn

Distribution: Hero Video Productions

When I learned that a video was being made of David Mack, I could not wait to get my hands on it. Finally, it arrived. I took it home and set it aside until I knew I had enough time to sit down and fully savor it. I wanted the full experience, not interrupted samples here and there.

Three days later, with an entire afternoon before me, I plugged in the DVD, made myself comfortable, and remote in hand, was ready for my David Mack experience. I patiently watched through the first chapter and thought, ok, now’s the good stuff… then through the second chapter… ok, NOW it’s going to pick up… third chapter… I’m looking on the back cover of the DVD, in case I missed a clue to where the excitement is… fourth chapter… a sinking feeling is forming in my chest… and so on through the entire main feature. I half heartedly went through the “extra” features, by this time aching with disappointment.

Did my anticipation ruin the experience? Were my expectations too high? After all, the day I discovered the colored Kabuki, David Mack took rank among one of my selected few absent mentor, one of those artists whose books I will sit with and literally devour, studying every line, every stroke of color, read every word. I met David Mack at Heroes in Charlotte, NC in 2005. He turned out to be charming, handsome, down to earth and very accessible. When he speaks to you, he speaks to you. I was impressed with the personal attention he would give to anyone approaching him -unlike a few others present who must have forgotten how they became successful in the first place.

Is this documentary really bad? No, it’s not. It is packed full of personal information. Mack speaks of his early childhood, the games and exploration he was able to do, and the extraordinary influence and guidance his mother played in his and his brother’s life. We get to see the formation and circumstances through his life that formed the artist that he is today. He speaks intimately of his experiences. One has to wonder, looking at the color Kabuki how an artist evolves to that point, and this is truly revealing and valuable information.

My disappointment came from this. Though we do see Mack interacting with other artists, in school settings, and walking around here and there, 90+% of the DVD is in talking head format. Mack’s art should be experienced, not just talked about! That is the crux of my frustration. Had I entertained making a documentary of such an artist, I would have set up cameras from every angle of his studio and let them run for days –weeks. Then do an accelerated editing montage and actually SEE the artist at this craft, SEE the ART become ALIVE right there on the screen. Be a part of the creation process.

THAT, is what I wanted to see. David Mack… the artist… making art.

Overall opinion? Great on the information, very disappointing on the performing art.

B-

Best regards,

Christine Pointeau