Basquiat: Rage to Riches

Manhattan in the 1970s was marked by urban decay, grit, crime, and graffiti. But for some, New York City brought personal and artistic freedom (with low rents), resulting in the birth of a "new visual language." Filmmaker David Shulman’s PBS-aired American Masters documentary traces the improbable, rapid rise and fall of Jean-Michel Basquiat. He came from a mixed Puerto Rican and Haitian background, was always drawing, and dropped out of school early. Fueled by abundant talent and charisma, and hoping for fame and fortune, Basquiat hit the streets, spray painting walls, bridges, and storefronts with the tag "SAMO." It wasn't long before the city was asking who SAMO was, and a natural talent for self-promotion soon led him to reveal his identity. Basquiat was always restless, trying new forms long before he could afford a studio of his own. The film describes his prolific rate of production (often fueled by drugs), backed with intuitive insights into the city's current scene. Myths were floated that a gallery owner kept Basquiat chained in a basement to keep him working, and a racist "myth of the primitive" led many to underestimate the hard work and vision behind his art. Music and poetry were always an influence on Basquiat, and a long-held dream led to an eventual collaboration with Andy Warhol, a partnership that abruptly ended when a review suggested that Basquiat was "Warhol's mascot." Basquiat often insisted on being paid in drugs or cash for his work, and he died of a drug overdose at the age of 27. Today, his works sell for millions at auction. Featuring testimony from family, friends, and lovers, this portrait of a major contemporary artist is recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)