Tyler School of Art opened the doors to its new home in January, and already the Main Campus location is having a positive impact on how students interact with one another across disciplines.

“I have already observed a big change in the courses that the Tyler students select now that they are closer and can more easily fit them into their schedules,” said Tyler School of Art Professor Odili Donald Odita.

These interactions are occurring daily, and now are being formalized through events such as an upcoming showing and interdisciplinary panel discussion of the award-winning 1996 film, Basquiat. Sponsored by Temple’s American Studies Program in cooperation with One Film/One Book Philadelphia, the viewing and discussion of the work by artist-director Julian Schnabel offers the perfect venue for building partnerships among students and faculty from the arts, the humanities and the social sciences.

“This is something that could never have happened last year,” said Odita.

Miles Orvell, professor of English and American studies, agrees. “By bringing together Tyler students and faculty with students and faculty from the College of Liberal Arts to discuss the myth of the artist, this event marks the first of many opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.”

Schnabel’s film features Hollywood stars such as Jeffrey Wright in his breakthrough role as Jean-Michel Basquiat, as well as David Bowie, Benicio Del Toro, Denis Hopper, Gary Oldman and Parker Posey.

“In dramatizing the meteoric ascent of the artist, Basquiat recreates the explosive and glamorous art world of the 1980s in New York and raises questions about the nature of art and genius, the role of the artist in society and the existence of art outside institutional boundaries,” said Orvell.

Born of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent, Basquiat began as a street artist in Greenwich Village and rose quickly to superstar status amid the Manhattan art scene, befriending Andy Warhol along the way. But despite the appearance of success, he lived a tortured existence that led to heroin addiction and the premature end of a remarkable talent.

“The film encourages us to think about the public mythology surrounding the artist, the position of the African American artist and the psychology of the art market,” said Odita, a Nigerian-born painter.

In addition to Orvell and Odita, Bryant Simon of history and American studies, and Dustin Kidd of sociology will bring their unique perspectives to the discussion entitled “The Myth of the Artist: Race, Art and Genius.”

When: Feb. 26, 2:30–5:30 p.m. (if you’ve already seen the film, feel free to join the discussion at 4:30 p.m.)

Where: Ritter Hall Annex, Kiva Auditorium