Caravaggio, Frida Kahlo, Turner & Constable-- Exhibition on Screen Returns to Gaston County this summer!
The Gaston County Museum of Art & History and the Gaston County Public Library are teaming up this summer to host the Summer Art Film Series on June 8, July 6, and August 3 at the Main Branch of the Library, 1555 E. Garrison Blvd. in Gastonia. All films will be shown at 6:00pm and admission is free to the public.
2026 Film Lineup:
Monday, June 8 - Caravaggio
A powerful exploration of the brilliant and controversial Baroque master whose dramatic works forever changed the art world.
Monday, July 6 - Frida Kahlo
On her birthday, we take an intimate look at the iconic artist, her enduring legacy, and the global phenomenon of “Fridamania.”
Monday, August 3 - Turner & Constable
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of two groundbreaking rival painters who transformed landscape art forever.
All programs are FREE and intended for adult audiences.
Light refreshments generously provided by the Gaston County Museum of Art and History and sponsored by Facet Foundry, LLC.
Join us this summer for an inspiring series celebrating art, storytelling, and the creative lives that continue to shape culture today
The series kicks off on Monday, June 8 with a film focusing on the life of Caravaggio, who created some of art’s most instantly recognizable works. His signature blend of dramatic light, intense naturalism and bold, striking figures has captivated audiences for centuries and influenced the work of countless other artists who followed. But what do his masterpieces reveal about the man behind the brush? This film, produced by Seventh Art Productions and Exhibition on Screen, explores the intriguing clues that help us to finally understand the life – and death – of this remarkable man.
Frida Kahlo is the subject of the second film in the series, presented on Monday, July 6. But who was she? Everyone knows her face, but who was the woman behind the bright colors, the big brows and the floral crowns? Take a journey through the life of a true icon, discover her art, and uncover the true story of her rebellious, passionate and turbulent life.
The final film in the series – Turner & Constable - will be presented on Monday, August 3 and looks at the life two masters who were contemporaries yet rivals some 250 years ago. Both J.M.W. Turner and John Constable, two of Britain’s greatest painters, used landscape painting to reflect the changing world around them.
Turner’s blazing sunsets and sublime scenes from his travels and Constable’s idealized depictions of beloved places from home whipped the public of the time into a frenzy of enthusiasm. Constable represents the very best of the old school of realism and pastoral nostalgia; Turner, an exciting new way of depicting emotion and dreamlike impressions. Critics compared their starkly different styles to a clash of ‘fire and water’.
“We’re delighted to partner once again with the Gaston County Public Library to present another series of outstanding films about some of the world’s greatest artists,” says Alexandrea Pizza, the director of the Art & History Museum.
“Through these films, we not only begin to understand how these four extraordinary artists created such incredible works, but we also get a look at the history that shaped their lives and their work,” she says.
The series is also made possible by The Friends of the Gaston County Public Library and is sponsored by Facet Foundry Jewelry.
