The Films of Richard Myers: an Intro

Richard Myers has been northeast Ohio’s most prominent and internationally honored filmmaker since the 1960s, but few in the region know his work. This will change on Sunday, September 22, at 3:00pm when the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque welcomes Myers and presents a program entitled, The Films of Richard Myers: an Intro.

“This show will be a great introduction to the work and world of Dick Myers,” said Cinematheque Director John Ewing, “and I don’t think he’s ever done anything like it before. In addition to presenting excerpts from six of his movies, he will sell and sign books, exhibit large-scale frame blow-ups, and host a reception.”

Before the Russo brothers, Jim Jarmusch, and Robert Banks, Richard Myers (b. 1937 in Massillon) created 16mm shorts and feature films from his home base in Kent. Myers' films (eight features and 14 shorts in over 40 years) have been acclaimed by such critics as Roger Ebert and Pauline Kael. They have won top prizes at the Ann Arbor and Chicago Film Festivals, and have been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney, the National Film Theater in London, and the Venice International Film Festival, among others. Myers has been awarded two Guggenheim Fellowships, an American Film Institute Grant, and an NEA Independent Artist's Grant for filmmaking, to say nothing of numerous grants (and a two-year Major Fellowship) from the Ohio Arts Council. He taught film production at Kent State University from 1964 to 1991 and is now Emeritus Professor, School of Art. The Archive of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in L.A. is currently restoring many of his movies for its permanent collection.

On September 22, Myers will introduce moviegoers to his surreal, visually stunning, dream- and memory-based work via a newly assembled program of hand-picked excerpts from several of his shorts and features (including the acclaimed Akran and 37-73). He will also talk about his films and take questions from the audience. After the screening, Myers will sell and sign copies of a handsome new hardcover book, The Films of Richard Myers, which presents an overview of his remarkable career in words and over 200 pictures—mostly film stills. (The book sells for $40.)

Admission to this program is $9; Cinematheque members and those with CIA I.D. $7; age 25 & under $6. The Cinematheque is located inside the Cleveland Institute of Art at 11141 East Boulevard in University Circle. Free parking for filmgoers is available in the adjacent CIA lot. For further information, call John Ewing or Tim Harry at 216.421.7450, email cinema@cia.edu, or visit www.cia.edu/cinematheque.