School of Art and Design Hosts "Aggie" Film Panel

Lights, camera, Aggie. Aggie is produced and directed by Agnes Gund’s daughter, Catherine Gund, who will appear as part of a follow-up, panel discussion exploring art and social justice issues related to the film. The panel discussion will take place online on Nov. 17, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. PDT.

Panelists will include Cathrine Gund, Adnan Khan, Eva Struble, Mark Taylor, Niyi Coker and moderator Annie Buckley. Members of the public are encouraged to view Aggie prior to attending the panel discussion here and can register for the panel discussion here.

Buckley is an artist and director of the School of Art and Design at SDSU, and founding director of Prison Arts Collective. Buckley is looking forward to seeing students, faculty and community members come together to discuss the integration of the arts and social justice.

“I hope that [the film discussion] will shed light on how we move forward as a community in these unprecedented times,” Buckley says.

Aggie dives into topics of art, race and justice through Agnes Gund’s life story. Emmy-nominated director Catherine Gund captures her mother’s journey as an art collector and philanthropist to give viewers the chance to understand art’s power to transform consciousness and inspire social change.

Agnes Gund is widely known for selling one of the most sought-after Roy Lichtenstein paintings, “Masterpiece,” from her private collection for $165 million to support criminal justice reform, including ending mass incarceration.

“The innovative integration of philanthropy and activism that Agnes Gund initiated with the sale of a Lichtenstein painting to start the Art for Justice fund provides an inspiration, not only to those with significant means, but to all of us to think creatively about how we can use what we have to benefit to the whole,” Buckley says.

Agnes is recognized internationally for heavily supporting artists - particularly women and people of color - and for being robustly committed to social justice issues.

Buckley says she would “...like for viewers to gain an understanding of the impact of the justice system on individual lives and communities, and specifically the ways that people who are currently or formerly incarcerated can find transformation through the arts and give back to their communities.”

View a recording of the panel discussion.

Watch the trailer for Aggie here. 

More information about the film can be found on Aggie’s website, here.

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.