ENCINITAS, CA — (September 18, 2009) — Lux Art Institute, the first LEED-certified art museum in San Diego County, in partnership with Art21, Inc. as part of its Art21 Access '09 initiative, will present a sneak preview of the fifth season of Art:21—Art in the Twenty-First Century, the only prime time national television series focused exclusively on contemporary art, on Thursday, October 8 at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. in the artist residence at Lux.

The event is free and open to the public, and free admission to sculptor Elizabeth Turk's exhibit in the studio will also be offered that day with extended open hours from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The event will feature a screening of Episode 2: Fantasy (featuring artists Jeff Koons, Mary Heilmann, Florian Maier-Aichen and Cao Fei) at 6:30 p.m. and Episode 3: Transformation (featuring artists Yinka Shonibare MBE, Cindy Sherman and Paul McCarthy) at 8:00 p.m. in the artist residence located below the Lux studio, allowing guests a rare opportunity to experience the artist's living space.

Due to limited capacity, those interested in the screenings must register for the event by emailing Director of Education Kara Leen at kleen@luxartinstitute.org or calling 760-436-6611, and specify which screening they would like to attend. An informal discussion led by Leen will follow each episode.

Art21 Access '09 is an international screening initiative created to increase knowledge of contemporary art, ignite dialogue, and inspire creative thinking through hundreds of public screenings and events that tailor the ideas presented in the series to the interests and concerns of local audiences. The season premieres on PBS October 7 with a new episode each Wednesday during the month at 10:00 p.m. (check local listings). Through in-depth profiles and interviews, the four-part series reveals the inspiration, vision and techniques behind the creative works of some of today's most thought-provoking artists.

"Art21 Access '09 draws the Art:21 television-viewing audience together in communities around the world and provides a wonderfully enhanced Art:21 experience," said Susan Sollins, Executive Producer of Art:21. "We hope that audiences will take full advantage of the events in their area and develop an understanding of the complex skills, techniques and knowledge that artists bring to their work. Our goal is that these events contribute to boosting the confidence of audiences worldwide to view and appreciate all art forms."

"Lux is all about giving special insight to the creative process by inviting visitors to interact with artists in a studio environment," says Leen. "The Art-21 film series gives the same kind of behind-the-scenes perspective with personal interviews and studio footage, so we think it's a great fit and a natural extension of our programming."

Art21 Access '09 events are presented in partnership with Americans for the Arts as part of National Arts and Humanities Month, the largest annual celebration of the arts and humanities in the nation, held every October. An updated list of Art21 Access '09 events and venues worldwide can be found at www.art21.org/access09.

Art21 Access '09 events are being hosted by museums, schools, libraries, art spaces, community centers, and universities. Each event features an exclusive advance screening of one or two episodes from Season Five of the documentary, as well as an educational component, such as talks by local, regional, and national artists, lectures, panel discussions, interactive art-making projects and question-and-answer sessions.

About Lux Art Institute

Lux Art Institute, located in Encinitas, Calif., is redefining the museum experience with the region's only artist-in-residence program that invites artists to live and work on site, while producing a commissioned work of art – start to finish. This one-of-a-kind institution invites visitors to not only "see art," but also to "see art happen."

Throughout each year, Lux invites several significant regional, national and international artists to participate in its residency. Visitors from across the country are able to participate in exclusive liaison-led tours, providing intimate access to the artist-in-residence, the artist's exhibition and the museum's permanent collection of indoor and outdoor art. Lux also offers a wide range of innovative programming for all ages.

The recipient of the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s top design award, the Grand Orchid, and the first art museum in California awarded LEED certification for new construction, Lux is located alongside one of Southern California’s few remaining coastal wetlands. The five-acre site also overlooks the San Elijo Lagoon and is surrounded by a wildlife preserve that stretches to the Pacific Ocean.

Through its Phase II Capital Campaign, Lux plans to add 25,000 square feet of galleries and classrooms. Once completed, the new building will also feature a hilltop plaza and a series of gardens climbing between the galleries and the Artist Pavilion.

Lux Art Institute is located at 1550 South El Camino Real in Encinitas, Calif. Hours are Thursday and Friday, 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and cost is $10 for two visits. For more information about donations, memberships, volunteer opportunities and more, visit http://www.luxartinstitute.org or call 760-436-6611.

About Art21

Over the past ten years, Art21 has established itself as the preeminent chronicler of contemporary art and artists through its Peabody Award-winning biennial television series Art:21—Art in the Twenty-First Century. The organization has used the power of digital media to expose millions of people of all ages to contemporary art and artists and has created a new paradigm for teaching and learning about the creative process.

In addition to its PBS series and year-round series-based education and public programs efforts, Art21 has expanded its film production and educational efforts in recent years. Several new initiatives have been launched in the past year, including the premiere of the new short-format documentary series Art21–Exclusive on multiple online platforms and expansion of the Art21 Blog. New programs are also in the works, including a feature film as well as Art21 Educators, an ongoing professional development program for teachers. www.art21.org.

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