Purvis of Overtown

NEW DOCS

This straightforward and beautifully shot portrait of Purvis Young, artist and neighborhood stalwart, is also a revealing look at a community in transition. The heyday of the Overtown district of Miami, brutally cut in two by an expressway years ago, lives on in the memories painted by Young. Engaging archival footage and frank talk about the commercial appropriation of Young’s paintings tell the story of a renowned “outsider” artist. In counterpoint, residents of the Overtown neighborhood give us expressive insights into the nature of the man himself: a hero and an “insider.”  NK

Directors

Shaun Conrad, David Racugglia

Producers

Lynda Cass, Franz Zwergel, Terry Lane

Release Year

2005

Festival Year

2006

Country

United States

Run Time

66 minutes