Mudflat

Story

Synopsis

Years ago, artists would walk around the muck at the edge of the San Francisco Bay in Emeryville, and build loads of sculptures out there on the flats, created from driftwood and found objects that drivers would enjoy as they motored south on the old Highway 17 (known in numerous radio ads as 'Highway 17, The Nimitz'). Grabbing material off someone else’s work was considered fair game and part of the fun, and contributed a kinetic dynamic to the ongoing display. Now the place is a park, and the sculptures are gone, but you can see what it used to be like in this neat and funny documentary by Ric Reynolds, augmented by Erich Seibert’s wonderful musique-concrète/time-lapse sequences. The flashback circus sequence includes Scott Beach and Bill Irwin. Sculptors interviewed include Walt Zucker, Tony Puccio, Robert Sommer, Ron & Mary Bradden, and Bob Kaminsky.

Director

Richard A. Reynolds

Language

English

Release date

24 August 1980

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Scott Beach

• 

  Bill Irwin

• Walt Zucker

  Himself

• Tony Puccio

  Himself

• Robert Sommer

  Himself

• Ron Bradden

  Himself

• Mary Bradden

  Herself

• Bob Kaminsky

  Himself