The Art of Doing It Yourself, Mini-Documentary About the San Francisco Underground Art Scene

KQED Arts followed Chicken John Rinaldi as he hosted a massive The Book of the IS fundraising art event to save Chez Poulet, his San Francisco-based art warehouse. The Art of Doing It Yourself is the resulting mini-documentary that celebrates the San Francisco underground art scene and “reveals the Bay Area as a haven for quirky, rebellious and visionary artists”. In the film, we are also introduced to “painter Ani Thompkins, circus aerialist Miriam Telles, and fire sculptor Charles Gadeken“. The documentary airs December 16, 2011 at approximately 11 PM and is part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival.

…The Art of Doing It Yourself…tells the story of an eclectic band of do-it-yourself artists mobilizing to help one of their own, “Chicken” John Rinaldi whose warehouse, a combination artist hostel, performance space and community center, is imperiled. Along the way, we’re introduced to three artists, painter Ani Thompkins, circus aerialist Miriam Telles, and fire sculptor Charles Gadeken, who represent a San Francisco arts community that historically has focused more on artistic freedom than commercial reward.