PBS12 and Schler Productions Celebrate Women in the Arts with original documentary, The Eye is the First Circle: the documentary, Premiering March 30 on PBS12

Film also to be screened at the Denver Art Museum and by livestream on March 29

Denver (March 16, 2022) – PBS12 will premiere the original film, The Eye is the First Circle: the documentary, created by Schler Productions in partnership with PBS12 on Wednesday, March 30 at 9 p.m. with a repeat on April 8 at 7 p.m., part of PBS12’s celebration of Women’s History Month. The film was inspired by the Denver Art Museum’s (DAM) 2016 groundbreaking exhibition, Women of Abstract Expressionism and author Mary Gabriel’s New York Times bestselling book, Ninth Street Women.

Like the DAM exhibition, the documentary recognizes the group of diverse and marginalized women artists in the mid 20th century who, until recently, have been absent from the narrative of art history but whose work catapulted the movement, Abstract Expressionism, that changed modern art. The exhibit helped launch an international dialogue that established 21st century recognition toward women worldwide.

“Traditionally shunned by the art world, so many women artists are at last becoming increasingly recognized for the significant role they have played throughout art history, women like Grace Hartigan, Helen Frankenthaler, Elaine de Kooning, Alice Neel and Debra Remington are receiving the attention they deserve,” said Beverly Jacobson-Schler, Producer of Schler Productions, LLC.

“Women have been overshadowed throughout history in art, in business, in professional circles,” said Kristen Blessman, President and General Manager of PBS12. “Women cannot continue to stand in the shadows. Most recently, COVID opened the lid on an age-old problem – women’s importance, value, and vulnerability – in the workforce. It’s a costly problem for everyone and asking ourselves what’s left out when women aren’t part of the story has critical timeliness – especially in Colorado.”

The screening event for The Eye is the First Circle is at the Denver Art Museum’s Sharp Auditorium on Tuesday, March 29 at 9 p.m., preceded by a reception hosted by the PBS12 and the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, “Brushed Aside Through History” which will include a live panel discussion on the importance of women’s inclusion in every aspect of work and society. Tickets for the screening event are available at denverartmuseum.org. The film will be streamed during the screening live on YouTube via the Denver Art Museum.

Upon its broadcast premiere on March 30, The Eye is the First Circle: the documentary will also be available on-demand on video.PBS12.org and on the PBS12 YouTube channel. Details, descriptions, additional airdates, and times are available at PBS12.org.