Art Movie: Beauty is Embarrassing (2012)

“It’s been a long, wild ride for me, you know, it’s like choose one thing and do it well, my son. Now, go. And it’s like, fuck that, you know I wanna try everything I can. You know, I wanna take this painting idea and see if I can do a puppet version of it. I want to take the cartooning and turn it into a set. I want to take the set and turn it back into a painting.”

Beauty is Embarrassing

Wayne White is talented in so many ways: painter, cartoonist, set maker, sculptor, puppeteer, art director, illustrator. Oh yeah, he also plays in a band.

This movie takes us into his idealized world of art and his search for laughter. To him, comedy and making spectators enjoy themselves are sacrosanct.

Fanfuckingtastic

From a childhood in Tennessee (buying art in Kmart) to braless hippie chicks in college (art and culture!), he discovered art as a lifestyle. Culture shock followed courtesy of a move to NYC. Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and graffiti inspired him. Working on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse gave him a job, an experience, a place to hone his craft. It also necessitated a move to Los Angeles, where he continues his life and career.

“The American Dream is FU money.”

Wayne White

This is a fantastic movie, delving deeply into his art and personality, inspiring and well worth watching.