New documentary lets five Colorado artists speak for themselves

Over the past decade, I have written about all five of the Colorado artists featured in a new documentary, “Time and Other Materials,” trying mightily to use my words to convey the essence of their work, and to put it in the context of the times we live in.

But this surprising film takes the opposite approach: It lets the subjects speak for themselves. They just talk about their art in front of a camera, really, for the entire hour this production runs — and the way they explain their personal missions accomplishes that goal in ways that a critic could never do.

We come to understand these woman as they see their own professional successes and shortcomings, with brutal honesty. At the same time, we are reminded about the unique power of filmmaking to tell rich and authentic stories.

The credit goes to the co-directors, Amie Knox and Chad Herschberger, for seeing clearly the hook that makes the film work: These artists are not just crucial voices on the creative scene here, they also happen to be friends. The things they have in common reflect the experiences of many artists working today.

And that filter of friendship provides a complex look into how artists stay at it: They give, and we love them for that, but they need to get sometimes, too.

“That’s sort of what being an artist is. It’s being of service to the world and that can be a beautiful thing,” explains Rebecca DiDomenico, one of the featured five. “Then there’s a difficult part about that, too, which is the part where you feel like you’re depleted.”

That’s where her pals, with their encouragement and good advice offered freely and consistently over the years, come to the rescue: “You need some of the energy flowing in the other direction.”

“Time and Other Materials” sets that kinship up as a given in its first 10 minutes, and it is a bit sentimental, though it does not dwell on it. Instead, we are treated to five very distinct segments, each just under 10 minutes and precisely edited, that go deep into each artist’s work — very deep.

Each starts with a bit about where they grew up and how it influenced their development as artists. In that, we see how the actions parents make can profoundly influence their offspring’s future.

DiDomenico, for example, explains how her mother took her to see a Mondrian painting when she was 5. Her first reaction to the painter’s use of primary colors and simple, geometric shapes: “I said to her, ‘Well, I could do that,’ you know, the typical little kid response.”