Bert’s Biopic

Miami artist Bert Rodriguez does the unexpected. He held a clearance sale of his work at ArtLA, where his little pocket of commerce jolted gallery patrons. For the 2008 Whitney Biennial, he offered therapy sessions in a little white cube, prescribing art projects as treatment for people’s emotional baggage. So when he survived a traumatic hit-and-run accident while biking on Biscayne Boulevard a few years ago, we’re not completely sure if it was the result of performance art or just bad Miami driving (but we’re putting our money on the latter). It’s that blur between art and reality that makes Rodriguez such a worthwhile subject for a documentary.
Wet Heat Projects, the local film company of Bill Bilowit and Grela Orihuela, trailed the artist for three years as his oeuvre garnered national attention. In the film Making Sh*t Up, Rodriguez appears perplexed by the shit he’s allowed to get away with, saying “if art didn’t exist, I would probably be doing something like this and figuring out a way to share it with other people. And I’d probably fucking look crazy and be homeless.” The film, which includes commentary by marquee names such as artist Marina Abramovic and critic Jerry Saltz, premiered at the Miami International Film festival this past March. You have a second chance to see it this Thursday when it screens at Miami Beach Cinematheque.

Thu., June 2, 8 p.m., 2011