This Moment in America: Artists in the Heartland
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Friday, May 22, at 10:30 PM
Saturday, May 23, at 3:30 AM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Sunday, May 24, at 6:30 PM
This half-hour film offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the American experience through the work of three acclaimed artists living and creating in Southwest Ohio: Dayton-based visual artist James Pate; Cincinnati folk duo The Montvales, composed of Sally Buice and Molly Rochelson; and Academy Award–winning filmmaker Steven Bognar. Through their creative processes and personal stories, the film explores themes of identity, justice, community, and what it means to be an American at this moment in history.
The documentary interweaves large-scale charcoal drawings that confront violence and systemic injustice, harmony-driven folk music rooted in storytelling and social reflection, and documentary films shaped by labor struggle and family legacy. Together, these artistic voices offer a nuanced portrait of the country as it approaches a historic milestone and invite you to consider where we go from here.