Art21 to Release New Film: “Drake Carr’s Favorite Thing”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 11, 2024
New York, New York – Art21 is proud to announce the premiere of “Drake Carr’s Favorite Thing” on Wednesday, April 24, at 12:00 PM ET. The third 2024 release of Art21’s digital film series, New York Close Up, “Drake Carr’s Favorite Thing,” captures artist Drake Carr as he celebrates his final days as a bartender at Happyfun Hideaway and transitions to becoming a full-time artist.
Amidst the disco balls of a queer dive bar or on the white walls of a commercial art gallery, artist Drake Carr exhibits his glamorous and heartfelt portraits of friends, peers, and fictional characters inspired by a deep affection for ‘80s fashion illustration and the D.I.Y. aesthetics of queer erotica.
“It’s fun for me to witness these things just get absorbed into the place,” says Drake Carr in the film. “People are not treating it like art on a wall. It’s able to get a little dirty.”
“It was a joy to have the opportunity to underscore the ‘New York’ in our series title, not just as the place Drake lives and works, but also as a spirit that he captures in his art,” says Andrea Chung, Director and Art21 Associate Producer. “Drake absorbs the life of the city happening all around him, and finds inspiration in the art and fashion of the city’s past and present.”
Tune in to the premiere of “Drake Carr’s Favorite Thing” on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 12:00 PM ET at Art21.org and on Art21’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/art21org. To learn more, email Art21 Senior Manager of Communications, Hannah DeGarmo, at [email protected].
New York Close Up (NYCU) is devoted to capturing early career artists living and working in New York City. NYCU films have been accepted and honored by over 100 film festivals, including the BlackStar and DOC NYC film festivals, as well as the Academy Awards-qualifying, Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. NYCU films have also been honored with 2 Webby Award nominations and 8 Vimeo Staff Picks. Most recently, NYCU films have been accepted at the 2022 Frameline, Fullframe Documentary Film Festival, Miami Film Festival, and Rooftop Films.
New York Close Up is made possible with support from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Every Page Foundation, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the Henry Nias Foundation, and individual contributors.
Art21 is the world’s leading source to learn directly from the artists of our time. A nonprofit organization, the mission of Art21 is to educate and expand access to contemporary art, producing documentary films, resources, and public programs. Learn more at Art21.org.
