Good afternoon- the week ahead looks like this.  

BBC TV:

Fri 25th May 21:15–22:15 BBC Two (except Northern Ireland (Analogue), Wales (Analogue))A Picture of London

A film evoking the city as seen by painters, photographers, film-makers and writers.

Channel 4:

Nothing to report

Sky Arts 1

Sat 26th May 2:00PM Naked States ( 85 min )

A provocative look at the work of artist Spencer Tunick. He travelled across the US to ask people of all shapes and sizes to pose naked before his camera, all for the sake of art.

Sun 27th May 1:00PM Manufactured Landscapes ( 90 min ) Photography

Documentary on the work of photographer Edward Burtynsky as he travels the world, observing changes in the landscape caused by industry and manufacturing from an artistic perspective.

2:30PM Chop Suey ( 100 min ) Photography

Photographer Bruce Weber's moving exploration of his favourite people, including show singer Frances Faye, explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger and his latest muse, wrestler Peter Johnson.

10:00PMThe South Bank Show ( 60 min )

New. Melvyn Bragg's landmark arts show returns, as the National Theatre's artistic director Nicholas Hytner offers an exclusive look into his past successes and current projects. (1 of 6)

Tues 29th May 5:00AM Dead Art: Brooklyn, NY ( 30 min ) Sculpture

Before the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art was built, Green-Wood Cemetery was the place to go for sculpture, including some created by John Moffet. Dee Snider explores the art.

8:00AM Close Up: Portraits ( 60 min ) Photography

New. Director Albert Maysles' fascinating look into the creative minds, philosophies and techniques of some of the most famous photographers working today

2:00PM Face Booth ( 50 min )  Photography

Cameras follow artist Alistair Morrison as he invites celebrities including Judi Dench, Jude Law and Penelope Cruz to be snapped in photo booths as part of his pioneering art project.

Thurs 30th May 2:00PM Everything Is Art ( 60 min )

Top designers such as John Maeda pose intriguing questions about the nature of art and design, looking at retailer Muji and an astonishing staircase created by Thomas Heatherwick.

SKY ARTS 2

Nothing to report

BBC Radio

Nothing to report

Good afternoon- the week ahead looks like this.  Also you will notice a new programme category aptly named: *for fun*.  These will be programmes that aren't terribly educational -they probably won't teach you about art techniques or styles, but they may spin a good art world yarn.  This week's, for instance, are mostly about great art heists.

BBC TV:

Nothing to report this week


Channel 4:
As above

Sky Arts 1

Sat 19th May 3:30AM Guest Of Cindy Sherman ( 90 min )

He was a humble public access host. She was an internationally renowned artist. This is the ultimate story of an outsider who suddenly found himself on the inside.

7:00AM Art And The City ( 30 min )

New Orleans: David makes an action painting with Terrence Sanders in New Orleans, visits the city's galleries, and learns how local artists express the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Sun 20th May 9:30AM Peter Beard:Scrapbooks From... ( 60 min ) Photography

... Africa & Beyond. Documentary on the life of the jet-setting photographer. Beard, a friend of Andy Warhol, once survived being trampled by one of his subjects, an African elephant

10:30AM Jeff Koons: Beyond Heaven ( 60 min )

Pop artist Jeff Koons gives a tour of his Manhattan studio, rebutting charges that his art is derivative and self-serving and offering fresh insight into his multimillion-pound work.

2:30PM Graffiti: From Tags To Riches ( 30 min )

Artists like Banksy were once considered vandals, but now their work is sold for huge sums of money. Goldie narrates this documentary examining where vandalism ends and art begins.

7:00PM Artland USA ( 60 min ) Third episode of a SERIES

The art-loving duo continue their journey across the States, taking in the delights between Houston and Dallas, Texas, including a toilet seat museum and Rothko Chapel. (Part 3 of 12)

8:00PM Celebrity Exposed ( 30 min ) Photography

Celebrity photographer Richard Young reflects on his iconic images of the 1970s and his unique relationship with Princess Diana. With David Bailey and Tracey Emin. (2 of 4)

Mon 21st May 1:40AM The Cool School ( 90 min )

Jeff Bridges narrates the fairy tale of the Ferus Gallery in LA, which rivalled New York by nurturing artists like Ed Ruscha and Craig Kauffman, later hosting Warhol's first solo show

8:50AM Antony Gormley's One & Other ( 30 min )

Clive Anderson presents highlights from Antony Gormley's pioneering art project, as more 'plinthers' take their place on Trafalgar Square's famous Fourth Plinth.

1:00PM Art Race ( 30 min ) *for fun*

Armed with just $1, artists Ben Sargent and Kenny Harris must trade their work for lifts, beds and food to travel across America in 40 days. Will their art get them from coast to coast? 

7:00PM Picasso & Braque Go To The Movies ( 60 min )

Martin Scorsese narrates an eye-opening look at how the early filmmakers influenced Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. With thoughts from Chuck Close, Julian Schnabel and Eric Fischl.

Tues 22nd May 7:00PM Close Up: Portraits ( 60 min ) Photography

New. Director Albert Maysles' fascinating look into the creative minds, philosophies and techniques of some of the most famous photographers working today.

Weds 23rd May 7:00PM Art Of The Heist ( 60 min ) *for fun*

Missing Mona Lisa: In 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre. The police were baffled and arrested a young Pablo Picasso. Did he commit the crime? Narrated by Kenneth Cranham

7:00AM Art Of The Heist ( 60 min ) *for fun*

The Search For The Scream: In 2004, Edvard Munch's The Scream was stolen from a Norwegian museum, in broad daylight. Follow the leads in this case which remains unsolved


Sky Arts 2

Sat 19th May 5:00PM Art Of Faith ( 60 min )
Judaism: John McCarthy travels the globe in search of Judaism's most breathtaking art and architecture, from the Masada Synagogue in Israel, to New York's stunning Central Synagogue.

Weds 23rd May 10:15AM Sutra ( 75 min )

Choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and artist Antony Gormley collaborate in a mesmerising performance exploring the Shaolin tradition through the clever manipulation of man-size boxes

BBC Radio (you can get all these online)

Fri 18th May 15:32 – 15:50 BBC World Service The Strand

The best of the world's arts, film, music and literature brought to you every day

19:15 – 19:45 BBC Radio 4 Front Row

Arts news, interviews and reviews with Mark Lawson

Sun 20th May 07:15 – 07:30 BBC Radio 4 Extra Jackie Wullschlager - Chagall Episode 2

2/5 Young Marc Chagall travels to St Petersburg to study art - illegally.

Weds 23rd May 19:00 – 19:30 BBC Radio Wales Radio Wales Arts Show

Nicola Heywood Thomas presents a weekly review of Wales's thriving arts scene

Good afternoon readers!


Firstly you are all owed an apology for the lack of posts since 28th March.  For this we can thank a mixture of Easter Hols, sickness leave and PC systems crashing!


As a result of the above I am also changing my post day from a Wednesday to a Friday as it's the quietest day of the week and therefore the one least prone to distractions and system crashes (hopefully!).


Please note, however, there will not be a post next week! Check out the BBC, Channel 4, and Sky websites for listings.


On with the blog, however...!


BBC TV
Nothing to report this week


Channel 4
Equally unremarkable.


Sky Arts 1
Sat 5th May 8:00AM Joan Mitchell: Portrait Of An Abstract Painter ( 60 min )

The abstract-expressionist, once told she would have been more famous had she been "French, male and dead", presents her bold work just before her death.

9:00AM Harry Clarke: Darkness In Light ( 60 min )

New. A look at the beautifully-grotesque work of the stained glass artist and illustrator. Clarke fought the church for freedom of expression and also produced covers for Edgar Allan Poe.

Sun 6th May 8:00PM Artland USA ( 60 min ) NEW SERIES

Toby Amies joins Mame McCutchin to embark on another amazing road trip across the USA, in search of the most intriguing, unique and life-changing art they can find. (Part 1 of 12) 

Mon 7th May 1:15PM Dead Art: Prague ( 30 min )

Take a guided tour of the art and architecture of Vysehrad Cemetery in Prague, which holds a 'Who's Who' of Czech musicians, artists, writers, and actors.

2:15PM David Blaine On Chuck Close ( 60 min )

Illusionist David Blaine meets visual artist Chuck Close to discuss the ways in which they both manipulate reality and ignore accepted limits to create astonishing work.

9:00PM The World Of Miss World ( 60 min ) Ideals of beauty

New. Tony Palmer's remarkable film, which was thought lost for more than 30 years, traces the fascinating history of the Miss World beauty pageant and its founder Eric Morley. 

Weds 9th May 1:00PM Mastering The Art ( 30 min ) This is repeated all week, check Sky Arts TV Guide if you can't make this airing.

Braque: John takes his students to a rooftop overlooking London's South Bank, where they will be painting in the style of one of modern art's great revolutionaries, George Braque.

Thurs 10th May May be of interest. 

5:30AM Tim Marlow Meets Paul Smith ( 30 min )

Tim meets fashion designer Paul Smith in his London studio to discuss the artworks that have inspired him throughout his life. 

8:50AM Typeface ( 70 min )

Justine Nagan's insightful documentary visits the Hamilton Wood Type Museum in Wisconsin to explore how wood type printing is freshly inspiring artists in a digital age.


Sky Arts 2

Sun 6th May 5:00PM Eating Art ( 30 min ) Bit random, but may be of interest if you're interested in Warhol! 

Selling Food: Oliver Peyton heads to New York to meet award-winning chef Paul Liebrandt, who creates a dish inspired by Andy Warhol's iconic soup can print, Black Bean.  

Radio
Nothing to report