Watch Art and Craft

"Art and Craft" is a fascinating documentary that explores the mind of a highly gifted art forger named Mark A. Landis. Directed by Sam Cullman and Jennifer Grausman, the film takes us on a journey into the world of artistic deception and the obsession that drives it. Mark A. Landis is an unassuming man in his early 60s who has been duping museums all across the United States for over three decades. He's not your typical con artist, as he never demands money for his forgeries. Instead, he's driven by an inexplicable compulsion to create fake art and donate it to museums. He's donated to over 60 institutions across the United States, including the Smithsonian, The Art Institute of Chicago, and The Museum of Modern Art.

Throughout the documentary, we follow Mark as he works on his latest forgery and meet the people who have been affected by his elaborate deceptions. We also meet Matthew Leininger, a former curator at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, who has made it his life's mission to expose Landis' fraud. Matthew is convinced that Landis' forgeries have done irreparable damage to the collection of American art across the country, and he's determined to stop him.

However, as the film progresses, we learn that there's more to Mark A. Landis' story than mere deception. We learn that he's a man plagued by mental illness, and his forgeries serve as a coping mechanism that helps him deal with the trauma of his past. We also see how the museum system is failing him by not providing him with the mental health care he needs.

"Art and Craft" raises some fundamental questions about the nature of art, authenticity and authorship. It asks us to think about what constitutes a work of art, and whether it's the physical object that matters, or the story behind it. It's also a moving portrait of a man who's struggling to find his place in the world, and whose obsessive behavior is both admirable and tragic.

One of the most striking aspects of "Art and Craft" is how it manages to balance humor and pathos. The film is full of hilarious moments, as we watch Mark try to evade Matthew's surveillance and come up with new schemes to fool museums, but it's also a heartbreaking tale of a man who's been failed by a system that doesn't know how to help him.

The documentary also reveals the surprising and sometimes disturbing connection between art and mental illness. Many famous artists throughout history have suffered from mental illness or addiction, and their work has been shaped by their experiences. Mark A. Landis is a living example of this connection, as his art forgeries are a way for him to deal with his own mental health issues.

Overall, "Art and Craft" is a thought-provoking and emotionally-charged documentary that will leave audiences with a newfound appreciation of the complexity of art forgery and the people who engage in it. It's a triumph of storytelling that manages to entertain, educate and move viewers in equal measure. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the nature of art, mental health or human nature in general.

In conclusion, "Art and Craft" is a must-watch documentary for art enthusiasts and anyone interested in the fascinating world of art forgery. It's a remarkable film that raises important questions about the nature of art and the mental health of artists, and it features a memorable cast of characters that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Art and Craft is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 68.