On February 1, beloved Houston artist Bert Long died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 72. He was known for his great talent and outsized personality, and news of his passing sparked warm remembrances of the Fifth Ward native by his fans and fellow artists. Ironically, A Valentine for Bert, a screening of filmmaker John Guess Jr.'s documentary Bert, was already in the works.
''He's such an engaging personality,'' Guess tells us. ''I was essentially trying to get this guy's essence.'' Filmed over the course of six months in 2010, the film explores Long's life and art. He went from being a professional chef to one of Texas's few Rome Prize winners and one of the most widely exhibited artists in the state. The documentary features interviews from Long, as well as such local art luminaries as Valerie Cassel Oliver, senior curator at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; Peter Marzio, the late director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Rick Lowe and Floyd Newsum of Project Row Houses; sculptor James Surls; and painter John Alexander, who narrates the hour-long film.
Thu., Feb. 14, 7 p.m., 2013
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A Valentine for Bert
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